This shows brain scans
Bacterial imbalance in the gut is linked with Alzheimer’s disease, autism and other brain disorders, yet the exact causes are unclear. Image is credited to RMIT University.

New gut-brain link: How gut mucus could help treat brain disorders

Summary: Changes in gut mucus may contribute to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurological disorders. Researchers noted changes in types of gut mucus bacteria in those with a range of neurological disorders compared to their healthy peers. Findings suggest those with reduced gut mucus protection may be more susceptible to gastrointestinal problems.

Source: RMIT University

Mucus is the first line of defense against bad bacteria in our gut. But could it also be part of our defense against diseases of the brain?

Bacterial imbalance in the gut is linked with Alzheimer’s disease, autism, and other brain disorders, yet the exact causes are unclear.

Now a new research review of 113 neurological, gut, and microbiology studies led by RMIT University suggests a common thread – changes in gut mucus.

Senior author Associate Professor Elisa Hill-Yardin said these changes could be contributing to bacterial imbalance and exacerbating the core symptoms of neurological diseases.

“Mucus is a critical protective layer that helps balance good and bad bacteria in your gut but you need just the right amount – not too little and not too much,” Hill-Yardin said.

“Researchers have previously shown that changes to intestinal mucus affect the balance of bacteria in the gut but until now, no-one has made the connection between gut mucus and the brain.

“Our review reveals that people with autism, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and Multiple Sclerosis have different types of bacteria in their gut mucus compared with healthy people, and different amounts of good and bad bacteria.

“It’s a new gut-brain connection that opens up fresh avenues for scientists to explore, as we search for ways to better treat disorders of the brain by targeting our ‘second brain’ – the gut.”

Gut mucus is different depending on where it’s found in the gastrointestinal tract – in the small intestine it’s more porous so nutrients from food can be easily absorbed, while in the colon, the mucus is thick and should be impenetrable to bacteria.

The mucus is full of peptides that kill bacteria, especially in the small intestine, but it can also act as an energy source, feeding some of the bacteria that live inside it.

Gut neurons and brain disorders

Scientists are learning that brain disorders can affect neurons in the gut. For example, RMIT researchers have shown that neurons in both the brain and the gut nervous systems are affected in autism.

The new review suggests that reduced gut mucus protection may make patients with neurological diseases more susceptible to gastrointestinal problems.

Hill-Yardin said severe gut dysfunction could exacerbate the symptoms of brain disorders, significantly affecting quality of life for patients and their families.

“If we can understand the role that gut mucus plays in brain disease, we can try to develop treatments that harness this precise part of the gut-brain axis,” she said.

“Our work shows that microbial engineering, and tweaking the gut mucus to boost good bacteria, have potential as therapeutic options for neurological disorders.”

Hill Yardin, an ARC Future Fellow and Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow at RMIT, led the review with collaborators from University of Melbourne and La Trobe University.

About this neuroscience research article

Source:
RMIT University
Media Contacts:
Gosia Kaszubska – RMIT University
Image Source:
The image is credited to RMIT University.

Original Research: Open access
“The role of the gastrointestinal mucus system in intestinal homeostasis: implications for neurological disorders”. by Elisa Hill-Yardin et al.
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology doi:10.3389/fcimb.2020.00248

Abstract

The role of the gastrointestinal mucus system in intestinal homeostasis: implications for neurological disorders

Mucus is integral to gut health and its properties may be affected in neurological disease. Mucus comprises a hydrated network of polymers including glycosylated mucin proteins. We propose that factors that influence the nervous system may also affect the volume, viscosity, porosity of mucus composition and subsequently, gastrointestinal (GI) microbial populations. The gut has its own intrinsic neuronal network, the enteric nervous system, which extends the length of the GI tract and innervates the mucosal epithelium. The ENS regulates gut function including mucus secretion and renewal. Both dysbiosis and gut dysfunction are commonly reported in several neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease as well in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders including autism. Since some microbes use mucus as a prominent energy source, changes in mucus properties could alter, and even exacerbate, dysbiosis-related gut symptoms in neurological disorders. This review summarizes existing knowledge of the structure and function of the mucus of the GI tract and highlights areas to be addressed in future research to better understand how intestinal homeostasis is impacted in neurological disorders.

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  1. My daughter has crps (a neurological pain condition). We have noticed on our crps groups some common issues between the children. Is it worth contacting these groups for this info. Eg tummy pain and lots have other issues like autism, not that my daughter does, but if the gut effects both things this makes sense, right?

  2. This raises the question whether regular “resetting” of the gut microbiome might alleviate the risks. Our genetic ancestry was exposed to fluctuating food supply. They often went days to weeks without access to food. In this time the intestinal microbes were likely decimated, to be replaced upon re-feeding by microbes on and in the food eaten then. These food borne microbiome is adapted to the food they come with, which also had a seasonal fluctuation. That meant that there is no one “correct” microbiome. It changes with location, climate, season and several other factors. In my experience regular fasting from one to 40 days at a time has numerous benefits, as I have noticed over the past 45 years supervising such fasting periods. Of course we need to be cautious and employ inter alia the biochemistry laboratory to ensure safety but at least we have a record of ZERO mortality in this time…

  3. I suffer with spasmodic dysphonia as well as dystonia. One doctor calls it essential tremor. Is there anything that would help this. I might be will the be used for testing. Thank you

  4. Now with gut and small intestinal mucus secretions. Check parietal cell production of hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor secretions. Less secretions of hydrochloric acid would weaken and effect amount of mucus secretions.

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