Study Links Gut Bacteria to Anxiety Reduction, Suggests Potential New Treatments

Research reveals gut microbes and their metabolites can regulate brain activity tied to anxiety, offering hope for innovative therapies.

Scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School and the National Neuroscience Institute found that gut bacteria influence anxiety-related behaviors through brain activity modulation.
The study demonstrated that germ-free mice exhibited heightened anxiety and overactive brain cells in the basolateral amygdala, a region crucial for processing fear and stress.
Introducing live gut bacteria or microbial metabolites like indole to germ-free mice reduced anxiety behaviors and normalized brain cell activity.
The findings suggest that probiotics or indole-based supplements could serve as potential alternatives or complements to traditional anxiety medications.
Researchers plan to conduct clinical trials to explore the effectiveness of gut-based therapies for anxiety in humans, potentially marking a shift in mental health treatment approaches.