The microbiota behind the mental health epidemic

Abstract

Our microbiota plays a significant role in overall human health through communication with our brain, known as the MGB axis. The microbiota-gut-brain, or MGB axis, allows the microbiota and nervous system to communicate bidirectionally through the vagus nerve. This crucial transmission of vital information is upheld by the vagus nerve to sufficiently relay information regarding the regulation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway as well as upholding communication between the nucleus tractus solitarius and the gastrointestinal tract, both of which have been found connecting to correlations within mental illnesses such as depression, PTSD, schizophrenia, autism, and a plethora of other conditions. In cases of autism, researchers have found an increase in bacteria such as prevotellaceae and parabaderoids, while there was a decrease in Bifidobacterium and Collinsella compared to the control group. The interactions within the MBG axis responsible for psychiatric health are immense and still being explored. An example of such interconnectivity would be the production of neurotransmitters such as 90% of the serotonin in our body, crucial for regulating mood. This is accomplished by bifidobacterium infantis converting tryptophan into serotonin. Taking this new information into consideration the ramifications of the modern diet could be taken into consideration to explain the epidemic of poor mental health within modern generations. Specifically modern research entails that there is a rise in dysbiosis occurring as diversity and quantities of gut bacteria decrease due to the poor levels of nutrient-filled foods. A new approach to mental health treatment would consider a patient's microbiota and diet to assess what steps can be achieved to formulate a proper microbiota that produces adequate amounts of needed neurotransmitters such as serotonin, GABA, and dopamine that help combat many arising disorders.