August 9, 2024

Alex Moss 

12th Grade

A.M. Barbe High School 

The exact origins of who discovered the microbiome are not known, however, scientists such as Theodore Escherich, Joshua Lederberg, and Sergei Winogradsky helped pave the way. Residing within each of us, mainly in our gastrointestinal system, are trillions of bacteria. It is approximated that we hold up to three pounds of bacteria within our bodies. This collection of bacteria is known as our microbiota. Our microbiota plays a significant role in overall human health through communication with our brain known as the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB axis). 

The MGB axis, allows the microbiota and nervous system to communicate bidirectionally through the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the tenth cranial nerve extending into the gastrointestinal system. 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 MGB 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. The Raphe nuclei, resting in the brain stem, are only responsible for producing a minuscule portion of the serotonin used by our brain. 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 a rise in dysbiosis occurring as diversity and quantities of gut bacteria decrease due to the inadequate levels of nutrient-filled foods. Other factors that are contributing to the epidemic of dysbiosis include an overused prescription of antibiotics that destroy healthy microbacteria. Sterile births utilizing C-sections are also depriving infants of vital bacteria found in the lining of the uterus. 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. 

The introduction of more pre and probiotics to people's diets would be highly beneficial for many people who have poor diets or states of mental health. These pre and probiotics are not a cure-all but are a step in the right direction for a future with more sustainable states of health. Another way to increase healthy microbiomes would be through proper consumption of fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods such as kimchi, greek yogurt, and kombucha. Highly processed foods and sugary foods with a high glycemic index are very harmful to the bacteria that reside within us.