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microbiome

·May 6, 2025·6 min read

Ultra-Processed Foods Disrupt Infant Gut Health

A Brazilian study of 728 infants found that ultra-processed foods can harm gut microbiota diversity, with stronger effects in children who were not breastfed. Breastfed infants had higher levels of beneficial Bifidobacterium, while non-breastfed children consuming processed products showed elevated levels of bacteria linked to obesity and gastrointestinal issues.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 23, 2025·6 min read

Gut Microbiome Shifts Rapidly After Alcohol Use

A new study shows that combining heavy alcohol use with burn trauma causes severe disruptions in the gut microbiome, leading to inflammation and a weakened gut barrier. Within a day of injury, beneficial bacteria plummet, harmful microbes rise, and levels of butyrate—a key anti-inflammatory compound—drop significantly.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 16, 2025·4 min read

Gut Microbiome May Hold Key to Treating Sleep Apnea

A new review highlights growing evidence linking gut health to sleep apnea, suggesting that changes in gut microbiota may influence the severity of sleep-disordered breathing. These microbial imbalances are associated with increased inflammation, leaky gut, and impaired gut-brain communication—all of which may exacerbate obstructive sleep apnea.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·April 14, 2025·5 min read

Gut Imbalances in Autism Linked to Brain and Behavior Changes

New research reveals that gut imbalances in children with autism may influence brain activity and behavior by disrupting the production of key neurotransmitters like serotonin. Scientists found that changes in gut-derived metabolites are linked to differences in brain structure and function in children with autism.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·April 8, 2025·4 min read

Oral Bacteria May Help Detect Autism with 81% Accuracy

A new study has identified a strong link between oral microbiota and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), revealing 11 bacterial species with potential as biomarkers. By analyzing oral samples from children aged 3–6, researchers developed a prediction model that identifies autism with 81% accuracy.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·January 31, 2025·5 min read

Imaging Reveals Gut-Brain Connection in Alzheimer’s Disease

Scientists have used advanced X-ray phase-contrast tomography (XPCT) to uncover how gut health may influence Alzheimer’s disease. The study found structural changes in the gut of Alzheimer’s-affected mice, revealing abnormalities in intestinal cells, neurons, and mucus secretion.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 28, 2025·3 min read

Oral Microbiome May Influence Cognitive Decline and Brain Health

The microbial ecosystems in our mouths may impact cognitive function as we age, with pathogenic bacteria linked to cognitive decline. Researchers found that beneficial bacteria, such as Neisseria, are associated with improved memory and attention, while harmful bacteria like Porphyromonas correlate with mild cognitive impairment.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·January 18, 2025·7 min read

Processed Red Meat Linked to Higher Dementia Risk

A study of over 133,000 individuals found that consuming processed red meat daily increases dementia risk by up to 13%, while replacing it with alternatives like nuts, legumes, or fish may lower the risk by 20%. Higher processed meat intake was associated with accelerated cognitive aging and increased subjective cognitive decline (SCD).

Featured Neuroscience

·January 4, 2025·4 min read

Mediterranean Diet Improves Memory via Gut Microbiome Changes

A new study reveals that the Mediterranean diet may enhance cognitive function by altering gut microbiota. Rats fed a Mediterranean-style diet showed distinct bacterial changes linked to better memory, cognitive flexibility, and working memory compared to those on a Western diet.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·December 20, 2024·8 min read

Chronic Gut Virus May Play a Role in Alzheimer’s Development

Researchers have linked chronic intestinal infections caused by cytomegalovirus (HCMV) to a unique subtype of Alzheimer’s disease. The virus may travel from the gut to the brain via the vagus nerve, altering immune responses and contributing to hallmark Alzheimer’s changes like amyloid plaques and tau tangles. While HCMV infection is common and typically harmless, this study found that it may cause chronic brain inflammation in certain individuals.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 12, 2024·8 min read

Gut Serotonin Plays Role in Depression and Mood

Serotonin in the gut epithelium plays a critical role in modulating mood and may provide a safer target for treating depression and anxiety. In animal studies, increasing gut serotonin improved mood symptoms without causing digestive issues, unlike systemic antidepressant treatments.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 3, 2024·5 min read

Gut Microbes May Have Powered Evolution of Larger Brains

A new study suggests that gut microbes played a key role in the evolution of larger brains in primates by influencing energy production and usage. Researchers implanted microbes from humans, squirrel monkeys (large-brained species), and macaques (small-brained species) into mice, observing that microbes from larger-brained primates enhanced energy production, while those from smaller-brained primates favored fat storage.