Faecal transplantation – a cure for forgetfulness
We sometimes pay lip service to bacteria in our gut as we strive to improve our health. This concern is rarely more than remembering to pick up a few small bottles of probiotic yoghurts when you go shopping for…
Recent discoveries have led researchers to conclude that the gut is important for cognitive function. A lot of research has been done to understand what is called the gut-brain pathway, which is a collective term given to biochemical signalling paths which occur between the gastrointestinal system and the central nervous systems. Researchers began to investigate the role of gut flora in ageing as they gained a better understanding of the gut-brain axis.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia performed a faecal transfer from older mice to younger mice in order to determine the exact effects of ageing gut bacteria on the gut-brain connection. After the transplant, young mice were put through a series of tests in order to evaluate their cognitive abilities. The younger mice had significant changes to their microbial profile, and also showed a significantly reduced capacity for spatial learning as well as decreased memory. The mice showed altered expressions of proteins related to neurotransmission, neuroplasticity and changes in their hippocampus. This is the part of the brain that allows the mice both to remember new information as well as previous memories.
This research has proven that there is a connection between the microbiome in the gut changing and the expression of proteins within the central nervous systems. This is a very good thing, because not only can the problem be easily fixed (with the aforementioned faecal graft), but also it provides us with clues on how to compensate for the age-related change in the microbiome of the gut by tailoring medication to mimic its role as a younger microbiome. The discovery opens up a range of possibilities for regenerative medicines. It also highlights the importance of considering gut bacteria more as a symbiotic collection than a simple collection of microorganisms.
Source:
https://www.regenerativemedicinedaily.com/faecal-transplantation-the-cure-for-forgetfulness
