FeaturedNeuroscience·January 28, 2025·3 min readOral Microbiome May Influence Cognitive Decline and Brain HealthThe 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.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·January 18, 2025·7 min readProcessed Red Meat Linked to Higher Dementia RiskA 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).Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·January 4, 2025·4 min readMediterranean Diet Improves Memory via Gut Microbiome ChangesA 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.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·December 20, 2024·8 min readChronic Gut Virus May Play a Role in Alzheimer’s DevelopmentResearchers 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.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·December 12, 2024·8 min readGut Serotonin Plays Role in Depression and MoodSerotonin 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.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·December 3, 2024·5 min readGut Microbes May Have Powered Evolution of Larger BrainsA 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.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·December 2, 2024·6 min readPersonal Gut Environments Shape How We Digest, Absorb FoodIndividual differences in gut physiology and environment play a major role in shaping our gut microbiome and how we process food. Using a smart capsule to measure pH, temperature, and pressure, researchers found significant variations in digestion time and gut conditions between people.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·November 21, 2024·5 min readParkinson’s Medication Alters Microbiome, Induces Iron DeficiencyThe Parkinson's drug entacapone disrupts the gut microbiome by inducing iron deficiency, favoring the growth of potentially harmful bacteria like E. coli. Using advanced molecular techniques, researchers identified that entacapone interferes with iron availability, a critical resource for many gut microbes.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·November 21, 2024·4 min readStimulating the Vagus Nerve to Tackle Gut Inflammation in IBDResearchers have discovered that vagus nerve stimulation may reduce gut inflammation and improve outcomes for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The study reveals how electrical stimulation of this brain-gut nerve impacts SUMOylation, a cellular process driving immune responses, to alleviate symptoms and promote healing.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·November 14, 2024·3 min readMicrobial Load, Not Disease, Shapes Gut Microbiome SignaturesA new study reveals that changes in gut microbial load, influenced by factors like diet, age, and antibiotics, drive the presence of bacteria previously linked to diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. Using a machine learning model, researchers found that microbial load variations explained bacterial signatures in patients' microbiomes more strongly than the diseases themselves.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·November 7, 2024·5 min readGut Bacteria Could Hold the Key to Promoting Healthy AgingCertain gut bacteria may play crucial roles in aging, with implications for promoting healthier aging. Research conducted on over 200 octogenarians found a decline in key bacteria, such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and a compensatory increase in other species that help maintain gut health.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·November 5, 2024·5 min readGut Bacteria Modulate Stress Responses Over TimeNew research has unveiled how gut bacteria play a key role in regulating stress by interacting with circadian rhythms, opening possibilities for microbiome-based therapies for mental health. Researchers found that depletion of certain gut bacteria can lead to time-specific increases in stress responses through the HPA axis, the body's central stress response system. Specific bacteria, such as Limosilactobacillus reuteri, were identified as crucial to modulating stress hormones throughout the day.Read More
