Would you get a poop transplant if it could prevent depression?
Recently, many medical researchers have pushed for a greater understanding of poop, and have made some startling discoveries. Many of our health problems are related to damaged or missing gut bacteria; the solution may lie in transplanting healthy bacteria into a "sick" person. Listen to this podcast to learn more about fecal transplants (20 minutes)!
Scientists are also looking at the link between mental health and gut health. Among the discoveries:
- Transplanting gut bacteria alters depression-related behavior in animals
- Research examines link between stomach bacteria, PTSD
- "Aspects of the illness that were impacted through fecal transplants included ... anxiety-like behaviour."
As our understanding of the connection between gut and brain advances, we might see more of these types of treatments for mental health!
Had you heard about fecal transplant research? What do you think about it?
I saw a presentation at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in San Diego back in 2016 about this. I can't remember the names of the research group, but basically they implanted fecal samples into mice, some from a woman with generalized anxiety disorder (experimental group) and the rest from a non-affected woman (control group). The mice in the experimental group developed anxiety-like behaviours.
It was pretty neat.
The title of your post wins the award for most creative yet on EENet Connect! LOL.
So much more meaning to so many expressions! An entire cultural change!
I've always described being depressed as looking at the world through fecal-coloured glasses; no longer a metaphor?
Pretty interesting, though. Certainly a more holistic approach then a psychotropic.
Simon, thank you for posting this!
I agree that our gut microbiota absolutely influences our physical and mental health.
Anyone interested in gut health should definitely check out the book called The Good Gut, by Justin and Erica Sonnenburg. And for more info on the Sonnenburg's research in this area, check out their lab.
On a related note, I asked a specialist about what the evidence is saying regarding repairing gut health after taking antibiotics. He said that the to date, the only thing that has conclusive benefits is fecal transplants.
So much to learn from this field!