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Brand New Research Shows Gut/Brain Connection in Unexpected Ways

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Posted 5/26/2016 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
Researchers at the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in Germany gave ABX to mice to the extent that it killed their intestinal flora. This in turn reduced a specific type of monocyte which is important for neuron growth in the Hippocampus area of the brain. Memory function is found in the Hippocampus. Inspection of the brain tissue revealed that ABX reduced these monocytes which in turn greatly reduced neuron growth. These same mice also suffered impaired memory in testing.

The researchers found that the combination of probiotics and exercise (exercise wheel) greatly reversed the damage in the Hippocampus.

My take on this study is that a person taking long term ABX should do everything in their power to mitigate against the damaging effects of ABX in the gut. The research revealed a definite brain/gut connection.

The article gave a lot of great info that is relevant to the experience of those taking long term ABX. I won't give any more details here, as they are too numerous to mention. I have attached several articles touching upon the subject.


The first is a preparatory background article entitled "The monocyte-macrophage axis in the intestine":

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0008874914000574


The second is a short article from the Max Delbruck Center that describes the result of the study.

https://www.mdc-berlin.de/46002175/en/news/2016/20160520-Healthy-intestinal-flora-keeps-the-mind-sharp-_-with-some-help-from-the-immune-system


The last article is a long, extremely detailed expansion of the previous short article, with lots of charts and graphs that was published in "Cell Reports" only a few days ago.

http://www.cell.com/cell-reports/pdfExtended/S2211-1247%2816%2930518-6

Don

Post Edited (Heathersdad) : 5/26/2016 1:08:49 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/26/2016 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
This is great - thanks Don. Will read your other links when I get a chance.

NDs have known about the gut-brain connection for a very long time. But what solidified it for me is the recent discovery of connecting blood vessels. YAY!

As a long-term abx user I agree with your statements and I think it is absolutely critical to implement a protocol BEFORE starting treatment (I'll post more on this another time) a management protocol while in tx as well as a long-term plan for optimal gut health.

I started out life with low "good" bacteria (DNA mutation) along with a couple other gut challenges. I've been on IV abx for 18 months and probably have at least another 6 months to go.

I'm proactive and doing a lot of good stuff and have experimented with protocols not well known about and have learned some interesting things. But I am nearly certain that my long-term gut health will be dependent upon fecal micro biome transplant post-treatment. For someone like me, there's just no way to rebuild "manually." In my research so far, I've come across lots of really good results from transplants so it's nice to have hope.

-p
Posted 5/26/2016 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
Pirouette- Thanks for the comments. I, in turn, agree with your comments!

You are very correct in stating that ND's have known about the brain-gut connection for a long time. That has always been my experience. Unfortunately, even up to just a few years ago, there was a lot of harassment and rabid disagreement with those of us that understood the issues in this way. We and our our ND physicians were called every uncharitable label under the sun!

The problem is that the large institutions get the lions share of the grant money. The small individual physician practices don't have the resources to conduct such a study with strict scientific controls. In the end, it is good to see that the "science" is finally catching up! Eventually it will trickle down to every practicing physician.

You are definitely wise to have a proactive approach in your treatment! I recommend that you read the third article that I have provided. Fecal transplants for a subset of the mice were a part of the study.

And finally.... yes, keep up the hope!!!

Don

Post Edited (Heathersdad) : 5/26/2016 3:10:40 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/26/2016 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
yes - eventually, "science" will catch up. At least MDs are now washing their hands... ;)

I will definitely read about the mice. In previous studies I've read, they have found 100% correlation with transplanted fecal biomes. In one study they transplanted fecal samples of several sets of twins (one skinny, one obese) into pairs of mice. They found that the mice who had the obese twin's sample planted within them became obese, however, the revise was not true.

Another paper identified a woman who did a transplant as a last resort for c-diff (which is the only disorder the CDC will allow MDs to treat using the transplant, currently, but that will change) and used her obese daughter's sample, and within months became obese (further implicating bacteria inn obesity...)

Really good stuff happening already. The website listing all of the clinical trials (forget the name) has at least 50-60 different studies on transplants right now. I think the biggest challenge (besides getting an MD to help you - and many people are doing it themselves) is to find the right donor. There are a couple of donor services but I'm not yet convinced by current "donor standards" yet.

More later...

-p
Posted 5/26/2016 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
It almost makes me wish I could bank my own feces before doing hardcore abx! Do you worry that you may pick up something bad from fecal donor?
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