Did you know that there are up to six pounds of bacteria in our gut? That is almost twice the weight of the average human brain. If you knew that fact already, I bet you didn't know that the same bacteria in our gut could potentially have a large impact on our mental health. An article, "Creative Minds: Can Microbes Influence Mental Health?" (January 27, 2014) by Dr. Francis Collins of the National Institutes of Health, discusses how the bacteria in our gut influences our minds. The person in charge of this research is Elaine Hsiao; a senior research fellow at the California Institute of Technology.
The article starts off describing Hsiao and letting us know of how she came to be interested in this research. Collins lists Hsiao's prior education and experience to credit her knowledge of the subject, incorporating the ethos element into her article. Collins then states that, "One species of bacterium, for example, sends messages that are carried via the vagus nerve, which links the intestinal lining to the brain. When this species is present, the mice demonstrate fewer depressive behaviors than when it’s absent." This statement just shows one of the ways that the bacteria from our gut can affect our brains. It is also said that mice who displayed behaviors of autism and were given probiotics had a dissipation in their abnormalities of behavior. I found this fact to be very promising. Eventually leading to probiotics to treat symptoms of autism would be an incredible accomplishment.
I understand that microbes play a crucial role in the surviving of the human species, in retrospect one could say we're just a big microbe storage system. Looking at the fact that microbes do make human existence possible, it would make a lot of sense that microbes have a lot to do with the brain and our human behaviors. Understanding that the immune system works alongside with "normal microbes", the article made it clear that Hsiao is working specifically on how gut microbes have an impact on, "immunity, functioning of the brain and behaviors in mouse models of neurodevelopment disorders." Hsiao is also studying how microbes can have and influence on one's seratonin levels. Most of us are familiar with seratonin and its links to depression but Collins states that it, "...also helps to regulate heart function, constriction of blood vessels, and differentiation of red blood cells." Collins also says that Hsiaos plan is to eventually, "identify specific types of bacteria that modulate human serotonin levels, figure out the biochemical pathways they use, and understand the links to human disease."
I think that this is a fantastic field of study. Using our own bacteria to form a defense against neurological diseases sounds completely practical. There are so many side-effects to different medications that treat depression and other mental diseases. Eventually moving to treating mental and neurological diseases with our own bacteria would be a much healthier version of treatment. I think that there are nearly unlimited uses for microbes. The fact microbes support life is purely amazing, so there has to be more to them that humans just don't know yet. I recently learned in my Biology 110 course that microbes weren't heavily studied until the last twenty, or so years. This shows that there is so much more room for discovery and so much more for humans to learn about microbes. Microbes are infinite.
Wow up 6 pounds of bacteria in our gut, isn't that disturbing? I had heard something like that before but what really caught my eye was the fact that it can have an impact on our mental health. Very weird how what kills us also makes us stay alive, really interesting how we need some of these microbes to stay alive yet they can kill us in any second. I definitely agree on treating mental and neurological diseases with our own bacteria is the healthiest way to treat depression there are way too many cons to these medications for depression. After taking this class I see how important these little creatures we don't see really are and how much we need them but how dangerous they could be. Really informative article.
ReplyDeleteFor the past fifteen to twenty years, bacteria discoveries were not common. Yet as technology grew bigger and better, each research from scientists have had larger impacts on society and life. The fact that Hsiao tested how medication can affect the way the mind acts when microbes are being killed in our bodies. Going to a personal experience on the point that letting our defenses work on their own is the most healthier and beneficial way for survival. Flu shots are known to be really helpful this time around. Yet as a personal point I would argue that. When I am forced to get the flu shot, my body gets a side effect and that side effect is me getting sick after getting the shot. Letting my immune system work on its own makes my defenses that much stronger and of course prevents me from getting sick. Each discovery of bacteria and microbes are getting to the point where each discovery is an incredible accomplishment and find.
ReplyDeleteWe have studied microbes for over 300 years, but it's only in the last 15-20 that we've really starting learning much about the microbes that live in and on humans. This advance is really due to the technical advances in our ability to sequence the DNA of these microbes--let's hear it for engineers and molecular biologists!
ReplyDelete