Particle.news
Download on the App Store
5 ARTICLES
·
5d ago

Study Links Low Oral Microbiome Diversity to Depression Symptoms

Data from over 15,000 U.S. adults revealed the association, with researchers now probing whether changes in oral microbes precede or follow depressive symptoms.

Image
The researchers found that people with less diversity in their oral microbiomes were more likely to have symptoms of depression. Credit: Neuroscience News
Researchers are beginning to understand how what's inside our mouths may be just as important as what comes out of them in terms of evaluating depression

Overview

  • Researchers at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing analyzed NHANES data from 2009–2012, comparing PHQ-9 depression scores with gene-sequenced saliva samples from more than 15,000 U.S. adults.
  • Participants with lower oral microbiome diversity exhibited higher depression symptoms after adjustments for demographic and health factors.
  • Lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, alcohol use, and dental care significantly modified the strength of the microbiome–depression relationship.
  • The study’s cross-sectional design leaves causality unclear, prompting ongoing research into whether microbial shifts trigger depression or arise from changes in behavior and immune function.
  • Findings point to the potential for oral microbiome profiles to become biomarkers or treatment targets for mood disorders as part of broader mental health and dementia research.