“If you’ve been through hell, keep going.” – Winston Churchill
Surprisingly, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people between the ages of 18 and 29. For friends and family, it’s heartbreaking.
These days, we are still connected solitudethey are stealing our work artificial intelligence (AI) and robots, climate change darkens our future and the pandemic is no longer theoretical. There are many stresses. But there is another factor inside our bodies that can threaten our mental state: microbes.
A 2021 exploratory study from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston found a slight link between suicide and gut microbes, but that wasn’t the final word. Over the following years, new research found important new connections.
Oral microbes
A recent Chinese study found a link between oral microbes and suicide the tendency of students of upper grades. They compared 45 healthy controls with 45 children with suicidal ideation and found a microbial connection.
In particular, they found Enterobacter, Escherichia, Shigellaand Parabacteroids in the mouth the microbiome of suicidal children. In contrast, healthy controls had higher levels Rikenellaceae and Alistips.
Microbiomes are small ecosystems, and like any good ecology, diversity is key stability. If rabbits are the only food for bobcats, then when rabbits die, bobcats will soon follow. But if there are multiple prey animals, bobcats are more likely to survive.
Indeed, the microbial diversity of suicidal children was significantly lower than that of the control group. It is destabilizing and provides many opportunities for the destruction of beneficial microbes. This imbalanced state is called dysbiosis, and it is a major symptom of suicidal tendencies.
This establishes an association but does not directly indicate causation. Although dysbiosis is probably instrumental, gut-brain axis It’s a two-way street: Germs affect the brain, but the brain can also affect microbes.
From a strict science reading, this is less than satisfactory, but loops like this are common in biology. Does it even matter? Two-way traffic actually gives us two possible paths of intervention. We can improve our microbiome with it dietor we can improve our mood with it therapy. Since we can modify both sides of the loop, we can effectively double the possible interference. In any case, it can allow us to turn an evil period into a good one.
Gut microbes
Another study, this one from Iran, found a link between suicide and the gut microbiome. As in the oral studies, they found a decrease in microbial diversity among the suicidal subjects.
They found specific microbes associated with suicidal thoughts, ie Fusicatenibacter, Don’t tell me, Veylonellaand Megasphere. They also found microbes associated with mental health, including: Clostridium, Butyrikokk, Desulfovibrio girlsand Parabacteroides merdae.
Notably, these healthy bacteria help produce short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, which act as ambrosia to intestinal cells, healing and nourishing them at the same time. Butyrate is an amazing substance that can travel to the brain, where it encourages the growth of new nerve cells and improves their performance. memory, knowledgeand mood.
The researchers tested the so-called “leaky gut” hypothesis, which describes how small breaks in the intestinal wall can allow toxins and even microbes to enter the bloodstream. Iranian researchers found evidence of intestinal failure in patients who attempted suicide. When the stomach is empty, the immune system kicks in and chases away invaders as the heart sends them to all parts of our body, including the brain.
The brain has a barrier that keeps germs and immune cells out because both can kill cells. Although most of our organs can regenerate tissue to some extent, the brain is special. When nerve cells die, so do memories.
The brain senses inflammation and responds accordingly anxiety. It is an adaptive response that has been refined by evolution to encourage us to avoid social contact and prevent the spread of disease.
Chronic inflammation
If the cause is just a sushi bite, the bowel movements should resolve quickly and we can go back. But if the abuse is constant, say from a sensitive diet or an overbearing boss, then something else happens. In stress becomes chronic, which can weaken the brain barrier, and the immune system can spill over into the brain itself. This can lead to major brain disorders, including psychosis.
In fact, Iranian researchers noted that an important inflammatory molecule, interleukin-6, was increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of suicide attempters. Interestingly, the association was even stronger among those who chose violent methods.
About 90 percent of suicides occur in people with a pre-existing mental disorder, and researchers have shown that the gut-brain axis is specifically affected. mental conditions. They found that anti-inflammatory bacteria were favored Faecalibacterium in people who were reduced by it depression. They also found changes in bacteria in people with psychosis and schizophrenia. These findings are consistent with previous studies of the gut-brain axis.
Researchers note that suicidal ideation has many factors. There are genetic components and environmental insults that contribute. But we have no control over ourselves genesand much of anxiety and depression is due to a lack of control over the abusive environment.
But we can they change our microbes.
What to do
While these studies don’t show causation, it’s not crazy to think that improving your microbiome can improve your mood and reduce your thoughts. self harm. Microbes that improve mood are called psychobiotics.
We know what they like: lots of fiber (from vegetables) and enzymes (like kraut, kimchi, and yogurt). It is part of the Mediterranean diet, which aims to promote a long and happy life. We know this too alcohol and opioids can exacerbate leaky gut.
It may not eliminate all the stress in our lives, but improving our microbiome is practically useless and very beneficial. As this study suggests, it may even save lives.
If you or someone you love is having suicidal thoughts, get help right away. For 24/7 help, call 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or contact the crisis text line by texting TALK to 741741. To find a therapist near you, visit Current Psychology Therapy Directory.
