Scientists Put Human Gut Bacteria Into Mice and Found Their Brains Showed Primate-like Activity
ZME Science••health
Key Points:
- A new Northwestern University study reveals that gut microbes influence brain development and function across primate species, with transplanted microbes from different primates causing mouse brains to exhibit gene expression patterns similar to those primates.
- The research found that microbes from large-brained primates enhance activity in genes related to energy production and synaptic plasticity, which are critical for learning, memory, and complex behaviors.
- Mice colonized with microbes from smaller-brained primates showed gene expression patterns linked to neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism, suggesting a potential causal role of gut microbes in these conditions.
- This study provides experimental evidence supporting the gut-brain axis concept, showing that gut bacteria can directly alter brain gene
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