Research has shown that certain microorganisms in the gut are associated with cognitive development in children.
381 children (18 months old~~) were the subjects of the same-group study (RESONANCE) conducted as part of the ‘Effects of the Environment on Children’s Health’ (ECHO) study by a research team led by Professor Vanja Klepag-Seray of Life Sciences at Wellesley University in the United States. MedicalXpress reported on the 2nd that this fact was revealed after analyzing data from a 10-year-old.
The research team conducted age-appropriate cognitive function assessments several times until the children turned 10 years old. A week before the evaluation, fecal samples were collected and the intestinal microbial population was analyzed.
Overall, it has been found that as age increases, the intestinal microbial community becomes more diverse.
In addition, from the age of 18 months, the diversity of intestinal microorganisms and the metabolism of short-chain fatty acids, which are essential nutrients for intestinal health, began to show a significant correlation with cognitive function evaluation scores.
Microorganisms such as Alistipes obesi and Blautia wexlerae are diversifying, and short-chain fatty acid-secreting species such as Eubacterium eligens and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii are becoming more diverse. As the number of people increased, cognitive function scores increased.
On the other hand, children with low cognitive function scores had many microorganisms such as Rumonococcus gnavus.
These results show the importance of intestinal health in childhood, and the research team emphasized that it is necessary to manage diet and lifestyle habits from an early age.
Recently, research results have shown that intestinal microorganisms are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer’s dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and depression.
This supports the gut-brain axis theory, which states that a signal transmission pathway exists between the intestines and the brain. The gut-brain axis theory states that by-products shed from intestinal bacterial cells travel through the blood and affect brain function.
The gut-brain axis has recently emerged as one of the sensitive research areas.
The results of this study were published in the latest issue of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) journal ‘Science Advances’.
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2024-01-03 08:58:02
#Childrens #cognitive #development #related #intestinal #microorganisms #Donga #Science
