AHS16 - Ancestral Health Symposium 2016

The gut interacts with the central nervous system (CNS) through extrinsic and enteric nerves, cellular messengers, and the microbiome. The gut microbiome is the sum of the bacteria that can be found in the human gut, and these bacteria engage in bidirectional communication with the central nervous system (CNS). The high co-morbidity between functional gut disorders--such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)--and mood disorders suggests a shared cause, and current evidence points toward the microbiome as that cause. This presentation will discuss: how a gut microbiome is established during early-life; how an organism and its microbiome can be altered throughout life via diet, administration of probiotics, and infection by pathogenic bacteria; and the possible mechanisms by which the gut microbiome modifies mood and behavior. Additionally, practical applications of the research and its consequences for everyday life will be discussed.