Scientists are developing bacteria to help fight depression

Two scientists from the Department of Psychiatry and APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork have spent 14 years investigating how our gut bacteria influences our brains.  Professors Ted Dinan and John Cryan are the scientists said to be the first to discover the link between mood and gut bacteria.  The two are now developing a “psychobiotic” (a probiotic product for treating milder forms of depression) to help treat depression.  Their research has shown that individuals suffering from clinical depression have much less diversity in their gut bacteria than individuals who are not depressed.  The research also identified one strain of bacteria that when ingested in adequate amounts  helped to reduce anxiety levels in individuals.

NOTE:  The APC Microbiome Institute at University College Cork, founded in 2003 is a world leading research centre co-funded  by the Irish Government and the European Union.