Gut health has implications beyond the gastrointestinal tract, and several new studies are looking at how testing gut health can diagnose and treat other conditions, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
One such project is determining whether sampling gut neurons through a colonoscopy can help diagnose and track Parkinson's disease without invasive brain biopsies. Other research has linked gut health to bone formation, learning and memory, depression and anxiety. Just as mental conditions can upset the stomach, gastrointestinal issues can cause problems in the brain.
Pankaj J. Pasricha, MD, chief of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at Stanford University School of Medicine, conducted a study to test this theory by irritating the stomachs of newborn rats. Even after the physical disturbance healed, the rats showed more depressed and anxious behavior — giving up more quickly in tasks — than the other rats.
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One such project is determining whether sampling gut neurons through a colonoscopy can help diagnose and track Parkinson's disease without invasive brain biopsies. Other research has linked gut health to bone formation, learning and memory, depression and anxiety. Just as mental conditions can upset the stomach, gastrointestinal issues can cause problems in the brain.
Pankaj J. Pasricha, MD, chief of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at Stanford University School of Medicine, conducted a study to test this theory by irritating the stomachs of newborn rats. Even after the physical disturbance healed, the rats showed more depressed and anxious behavior — giving up more quickly in tasks — than the other rats.
Related Articles on Gastroenterology:
Dr. Tim Rubin Featured on Medical Show for Fecal Transplant Procedure
Study: Colectomy Does not Prevent Recurring Acute Diverticulitis
FDA Panel Says LINX Implantable Device to Treat GERD is Safe, Effective