Health: Healthy gut bugs mean a healthier brain in midlife

According to US researchers, a healthy gut microbiome – the bacteria, fungi, and other tiny organisms that live in our guts – in middle age is linked to better brain performance. They investigated gut microbiome data from 597 people with an average age of 55 who had completed brain function tests. Those who had more healthy bacteria called Barnesiella and Lachnospiraceae performed best on the cognitive tests, while those who had more un health Sutterella bacteria performed worst. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that highlights our gut bacteria play an important role in brain health, according to the researchers.

These findings support a link between the gut microbiome and brain function. A multivariate analysis revealed significant differences in the composition of microbial communities based on mental function.