Brain Ponderings podcast with Mark Mattson John Cryan: Gut Microbiome – Brain Communication in Health and Disease
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May 7, 2024 Professor John Cryan discusses gut microbiome-brain communication in health and disease, emphasizing the impacts of diet, lifestyle, and gut bacteria on brain health. The podcast explores the mechanisms of microbial influence on the brain involving the vagus nerve and bacterial chemicals. Topics include optimizing gut bacterial composition for lifelong brain health, treatment of neurological disorders, and the importance of fermented foods and fiber.
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Gut Microbiome Responds to Stress
- John Cryan discovered that stressed animals had different gut microbiomes in adulthood, sparking his interest in brain-gut interactions.
- This led to seminal work showing specific bacteria can reduce the effects of stress in animal models.
Humans as Microbial Ecosystems
- The human microbiome vastly outnumbers our own cells and genes, making us more microbial than human genetically.
- Evolutionarily, microbial signals have always influenced the brain, and mitochondria are remnants of ancient bacteria.
Microbiomes Are Dynamic and Individual
- Individual microbiomes stabilize by age 2-4 and vary with lifestyle, diet, environment, and genetics.
- Cohabiting individuals share similar microbiomes; diverse environments like cities or farms shape microbial composition.