Gut Microbes Shape Brain Evolution & Mental Health: Study Reveals Deep Connection

• Northwestern University study shows gut microbes profoundly influence brain development and function.
• Transplanting primate gut microbes into germ-free mice altered their brain characteristics to match donor species.
• Microbes from large-brained primates (humans, squirrel monkeys) boosted energy production and learning pathways in mice.
• Smaller-brained primate microbes linked to gene patterns associated with neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and autism.
• Findings suggest gut bacteria played a significant role in brain evolution and offer new avenues for treating neurodevelopmental disorders.

Why It Matters: Gut microbes profoundly influence brain development, function, and may have shaped human evolution.