The Gut Brain Connection – How Your Gut Impacts Your Mood and Brain Health

On the blog today I have my sister and Naturopath Chloe Dennison talking about the Gut Brain Connection. I hope you find this article as fascinating as I did!

Did you know that over 25% of Australian adults report high levels of anxiety or depression?

In fact, for antidepressant prescriptions per capita, Australia has the second highest rate in the world which is shockingly increasing by around 25% each year. As a result, the gut-brain axis is fast becoming a hot area for research to decipher if your microbiome could influence your mood, and overall brain health.

How Your Gut Communicates with Your Brain

The communication between your gut and brain is bi-directional, meaning that changes to your brain such as from chronic stress, can negatively impact your gut health. On the other hand an unhealthy digestive system due to high sugar intake, and low fibre can lead to worsening of your mood and brain health.

Your brain and gut are so intimately connected that they communicate through a number of different pathways such as:

– the vagus nerve
– neurotransmitters such as serotonin where 90% is made in the digestive system
– the immune system
– hormonal system
– bacterial metabolites such as short chain fatty acids.

If any of the above pathways are disturbed in any way, it can lead to a disruption in your neurotransmitter balance, increase inflammation and lead to changes in your HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis).

Conditions that have been linked to the gut-brain axis include the following:

– ADHD
– Depression
– Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
– Bipolar disorder
– Anorexia
– Schizophrenia
– Alzheimer’s
– Anxiety-like behaviours
– Learning and memory impairment

How High Levels of Bad Gut Microbes Can Affect Your Brain

Dysbiosis is a term to indicate an overgrowth of bad bacteria in the digestive system which commonly leads to an alteration in the gut lining. This leaky gut lining, also known as leaky gut syndrome allows endo-toxins called lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from bacteria to transfer into the blood stream from the gut.

This endotoxin (LPS) can cross the blood brain barrier and initiate neuro-inflammation which has been linked to conditions such as depression and autism.

Low Microbial Diversity and Depression

Not only does an overgrowth of bad bacteria contribute to depression, but having a low abundance of beneficial bacteria in your digestive system could also contribute to an increased risk of depression.

In a 2019 review of human studies on the gut microbiota and mood disorders, it was shown that those experiencing a depressive like state had a lower amount of bacteria that produce short chain fatty acids.

A microbiome that has an abundance of short chain fatty acid producing bacteria are associated with a higher microbial diversity and a healthier digestive system.

If you are curious on how many good or bad bugs you have in your digestive system, a microbiome analysis will help you uncover just that. Click here to learn about the type of functional medicine testing I use in my clients with digestive issues.

Constipation and Parkinson’s Disease

One of the strongest risk factors for increasing the risk of Parkinson’s disease, is constipation. 80% of people suffering with Parkinson’s disease experience a history of ongoing constipation. This suggests that Parkinson’s disease may in fact start in the gut, long before motor symptoms even begin.

The microbiome of those with Parkinson’s disease are found to have an overgrowth of bad bacteria including an abundance of Enterobacter and Prevotella, both of which are gram negative bacteria that produce lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

High amounts of LPS can increase leaky gut syndrome, gut inflammation which could then also contribute to brain inflammation.

Curious to Know if Your Gut Health is Affecting Your Brain Health?

I hope that this article helps you to uncover another area of health that is worth considering if you are experiencing low mood, anxiety or if you have a familial history of Parkinson’s disease.

Addressing your gut health could be a missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to improving your mood and overall brain health.

If you are experiencing digestive concerns and would like some Naturopathic care on improving your gut brain connection, then you can book an online consultation here.