Southampton scientists working to unlock link between gut and brain health

Scientists from Southampton are investigating how gut health might influence our brain, immune system and mental wellbeing.

They say it could potentially lead to new treatments for conditions like anxiety, depression, and dementia.

Academics from the University of Southampton will lead a new gut-immunology-brain axis network launching in the UK which brings together experts from across the country.

It will investigate how lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, and stress influence the communication networks between the gut, immune functions and brain.

Network lead Professor Jonathan Swann at Southampton said: "The gut is often referred to as our second brain - and there's growing evidence to suggest the health of our gut and the microbes that inhabit it can influence our mood and even our cognitive abilities.

"The gut and brain are intimately connected, and we already know that intestinal distress can lead to serious illnesses like anxiety, stress or depression.

"This new network will bring together expertise from across the UK to help us dive deeper into these diverse connections and investigate untapped areas of research such as the link between poor gut health and dementia in older age, the microbial role in infant brain development, and even their contribution to autism and ADHD.”

According to the scientists, the network will look at the gut’s role in immune function, inflammation, and conditions like diabetes and obesity.

It will also investigate the contribution of the gut microbiome to the onset of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s disease, said Professor Jessica Teeling also from Southampton.

She said: “There is growing evidence that shows the gut, brain and immune system play a critical role in mood, cognitive function, and chronic brain illness - but we don’t yet fully understand how.

“The results from this new network could lead to advice to help people choose diets that boosts mental resilience, identify new therapies for brain-related disorders or improving gut health to support well-being.”

The network includes researchers from the universities of Southampton and Cambridge, King’s College London and the Quadram Institute.

It will collaborate with leading international researchers to ensure findings can be translated into real-world applications as quickly as possible.

The project, which runs for four years, has received £4.5million in funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Its executive chair Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith said: "We now understand that the gut plays a far bigger role in physical, mental and cognitive health than previously thought.

“Understanding of interactions between biological systems is of major importance to our understanding of human health and disease.

“This research network will help us uncover how the gut microbiome, immune responses, and brain function interact – leading to new, evidence-based strategies to improve well-being across all stages of life."

Read more about the UK Gut-Immunology-Brain Axis Network .