Gut bacteria rewind ageing brain

Scientists at University College Cork, Ireland, have shown the effect that bacteria in the intestine can have on behaviour and brain function in mice.

The team took faecal samples from both young (3-4 months) and older (19-20 months) mice, and transplanted some of the gut microbiota into the intestine of old mice to compare their effect on the brain.

Mice which had received the younger bacteria sample showed improved brain function, demonstrated by their ability to navigate a water maze more quickly than the control mice.

“It was really great to see that full change in their microbiomes can really excel such effects on cognitive behaviour, like almost resembling the learning performance of young mice” author Marcus Böhme (pictured 3rd from left) told Inverse magazine.