Scientists and medical professionals have long been highlighting the importance of gut bacteria. As such, a new study suggests that gut bacteria could potentially impact a baby's brain development.
Brain Development
According to Newsweek, scientists say that a baby's brain development could be influenced by a person's belly microbes. The new study highlights the importance of microbes inside a person's gut and their impact on their health.
People normally have trillions of microbes inside their guts that are important to the range of their bodily processes, which could impact things like mental health to digestion. It's estimated that the gut has over 100 million nerve cells, considered as the highest concentration of any body part, except the brain.
Newsweek reports how people are starting to learn more about the importance of microbes in the early stages of development of a person's life. A study in the PLOS One scientific journal explains the importance of microbiomes.
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Importance of the Microbiome
Sebastian Hunter, a University of British Columbia researcher and leader of the study, explained the importance of microbiomes in the early development of a person. He highlighted how it had a huge impact on the nervous to immune systems and more.
Hunter highlighted that they've observed the association of microbiome dysbiosis with major neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders. He highlighted that this takes place during brain development.
Per ScienceDirect, dysbiosis happens when the gut microbial community experiences an "imbalance." This is often associated with disease and happens due to the change in levels of community members or microbes.
As noted by Newsweek, this often happens when a person experiences a reduction in good bacteria, allowing bad bacteria to take over.
Studying Babies
Hunter carried out the study by analyzing the data they received from studying 56 babies from four to six months. Each baby went through at least one of three tests for the researchers to evaluate their cognitive abilities.
Researchers then studied their stool samples to better analyze the babies' gut microbiomes. As such, the team discovered children who had better social attention performance had higher Bifidobacteria and Eggerthella levels.
According to Healthline, Bifidobacterium bifidum, otherwise known as probiotics, is a group of bacteria located around a person's stomach and intestines. As noted by Biomed Central, Eggerthella is Gram-positive and is a normal human microflora. It's also anaerobic and non-sporulating.
Scientific Findings
The researchers were able to find associations, with Hunter saying Bifidobacterium had the most relevancy in a child's brain development. He also highlighted how certain bacteria from the genus were considered antibiotics and were strongly associated with the immunity of the host.
He also highlighted how the probiotics could promote synapses and microglial function formation. As such, the Bifidobacteria can be considered among the first microbe types to grow in a baby's cut.
Hunter also pointed out how the probiotics were important in a baby's digestion of healthy sugars coming from breast milk. He also highlighted how they provide B vitamins and fatty acids.
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