Researchers from the University of Virginia School of Medicine were able to reverse symptoms of depression in mice by feeding them a probiotic bacteria found in live-culture yogurt. Their hope is that their findings will have the same effect on humans.
According to the scientists, gut bacteria plays a part in depression, and feeding their subjects (in this case, mice) bacteria Lactobacillus, returned them to a normal mood. Without the probiotics, the mice reverted to their previous depressed moods.
Lead researcher Alban Gaultier says his findings could mean patients won’t have to “bother with complex drugs and side effects," and instead they can just “play with the microbiome,” which is the bacteria in the gut.
(Indy100)