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scientific
50 wellness
Can Psychobiotics Help Your Mood?
yourwellness.com
Scientists at the APC Microbiome Institute in Ireland may have
found a way to counter low mood and erratic behaviour just
by eating the right foods. Their study looked at including two
prebiotics in the diet that encouraged the growth of certain
gut bacteria that appears to have a direct impact on mood and
behaviour. Prof John Cryan, with Prof Ted Dinan, tested two
promising prebiotic candidates called Fos and Gos, found in a
range of foods rich in fibre, to see if they could reduce chronic
stress and anxiety. Says Prof Cryan, “We could see changes in
different gene expression relevant to stress in the brain. We may
have a whole new ‘psychobiotic’ way of managing disorders such
as depression and anxiety disorders.”
The research is at a very early stage and the team is hoping to
set up a human trial as soon as possible to assess which prebiotic
alone, or in combination, might provide the best results.
Stress Increases
Risk Of Excessive
Drinking
A study at the University of Pennsylvania has
warned that stress could be a contributor to
the downward spiral of alcoholism. The team
found that periods of stress causes changes in
the brain’s chemical makeup and can encourage
an increase in drinking by altering the reward
system. It changes what the body thinks it needs
to survive, so stressed drinkers keep coming
back for more.
Their research found that signals in the brain
released by stress involve the same neurological
pathways as those stimulated through addictive
substances. Misfiring neurons causes changes in
the brain’s reward centre prompting excessive
drinking.
Understanding this brain chemistry could
be helpful when it comes to treating people
suffering from conditions such as post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). Says Professor Dr John
Dani, “This line of research has implications for
people with PTSD who have an increased risk
for over-use of alcohol and drugs.”
- Frederick Sanger
Scientific research is one
of the most exciting and
rewarding of occupations.
Stem Cells
Could Create An
Endless Blood
Supply
A UK-based research team has overcome
a major barrier to creating red blood cells
in the lab that could eventually ease blood
shortages. The scientists infected stem cells
with cervical cancer genes to create the first
‘immortal’ adult red blood cells that could
multiply an infinite number of times. As the
cells mature, the nucleus is expelled giving the
cells a signature dimpled shape. Jan Frayne
and her team at the University of Bristol were
able to filter these cells out, so the final batch
did not contain active cancer genes. These
stem cells could then be used to create Type O
cells, known as the ‘universal donor’, as it can
be used for nearly any patient’s blood group.
There are other benefits of lab-grown blood
too as it doesn’t contain other materials such as
blood-clotting platelets or infections, so avoids
problems for people with certain conditions, as
well as the transmission of other diseases.
The first human trials will begin in England
later this year, however, right now, the mass
production of blood using the method would
be prohibitively expensive.