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5d ago

Study Links Lower Oral Microbiome Diversity to Higher Depression Symptoms

Analysis of paired saliva samples with questionnaires from over 15,000 US adults highlights lifestyle influences on mouth microbiome diversity with implications for depression screening.

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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 examined NHANES data from 2009 to 2012, including saliva samples and depression questionnaires, for over 15,000 US adults.
  • The team found that participants with less diverse oral microbiomes were more likely to exhibit symptoms of depression.
  • Smoking, alcohol consumption and dental care were found to affect the strength of the link between oral bacteria diversity and depressive symptoms.
  • It remains unclear whether lower microbial diversity contributes to depression or if depressive behaviors drive changes in the oral microbiome.
  • The findings suggest that, with further research, oral microbiome profiles could serve as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for mood disorders.