A group of Canadian scientists from different fields have conducted a pilot study aiming to find correlations between the gut microbiota and cognitive ability. The hypothesis is that bacteria present in our digestive system have a certain connection as to how our brain develops, how we think or feel, and even how neurological diseases come about. Some go so far as to say that even consciousness itself may find its link in the gut microbiota.
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What they did was they collected samples from dozens of babies’ poo and looked into their cognitive development. Brett Finlay, the microbiologist in the team, had shared concerns that if they were to find a strong positive correlation between a particular bacteria or group of bacteria that directly affects babies’ cognitive ability, coined “IQ bugs”, then it might cause too much of a stir, with parents hankering to give their children these IQ bugs.
Thankfully, the study found nothing of the sort. However, their paper did suggest that the early microbiome has an impact on a baby’s brain and behavior development. This opens the way for further research as the area of study associated with the gut-brain axis is quite new in the field, and leaves much to be explored. Who knows? Maybe they might find a correlation between depression and a baby’s gut bacteria. If so, it would allow us to target those bacteria such that we can guide a child’s development to steer away from going down that path.
In any case, it’s a very young field, and it’s showing enough promise that a lot of microbiologists are flocking to it. For more details on their research, check it out at National Post.
(Image credit: CDC/Unsplash)
Source: neatorama