Depression, Anxiety Coming From Gut, Not Head?

By Alex Groberman, Wed, May 18, 2011

According to a new study published online in the journal Gastroenterology, the bacteria which colonizes in people’s stomachs may have a far more dramatic impact on mental health issues like depression and anxiety than previously thought.

Friendly flora

In a normal, healthy person, the gut develops a form of “friendly” flora that assists in the prevention of infection from bacteria and various forms of germs. If any of a number of common gastrointestinal disorders develop, though, several psychiatric and mental disorders, as well as late-onset autism may occur.

In order to come to their conclusions, researchers at McMaster University, Hamilton sought to determine the impact of antibiotics on gut bacteria. They utilized mice in the experiment, and attempted to gauge the alterations in brain chemistry that would occur. Eventually, they noted that mice became less anxious when given oral antibiotics with an increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) -- a chemical linked with depression and anxiety.

Stephen Collins, co-author of the study, had this to say by way of a press release:

"This was accompanied by restoration of normal behavior and brain chemistry. The exciting results provide stimulus for further investigating a microbial component to the causation of behavioral illnesses."

Collins also pointed out that that behavior is influenced by multiple factors.

While more studies still need to be done on the subject, this is an important first step in understanding some of the lesser-known causes of depression.

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