From losing inhibitions and anger to schizophrenia and dementia – science is uncovering the role small critters play in a range of illnesses and behaviours.
Three stories about researchers who have dabbled in self-experimentation – with varying results.
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The bacteria in a mother’s breast milk are important because it helps develop a baby’s gut. Research shows this bacteria are different depending on where mothers live and what they eat.
New research suggests our gut microbes have their own circadian rhythms that in turn influence our organ functions. Is this an explanation for how disrupting our daily patterns can cause health problems?
When we can’t lose weight, we tend to want to blame something outside our control. Could it be related to the mictobiota – the bacteria and other organisms – that colonise your gut?
The particular makeup of a newborn’s gut microbes is important as it has been shown to affect their risk of developing certain diseases later in childhood and adulthood.
A combination of factors – pollution, disease and overfishing – is harming corals but scientists have found clues to effective treatment by studying corals’ microbiome.
Could it be that in some cases, changes in the gut are actually driving mood disorders rather than the other way around? Mounting evidence suggests this is likely to be the case.