The gut microbiome and linkage to brain function in patients with bipolar depression: a preliminary study

Objective The N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype glutamate receptor antagonist ketamine has rapid antidepressant and antisuicidal effects in treating treatment-resistant bipolar depression (TRBD). The neurocognitive effects of repeated ketamine infusions in TRBD are not known. Methods Six intravenous infusions of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg over 40 min) were administered on a Monday–Wednesday–Friday schedule during a 12-day period on 16 patients with TRBD followed by a 2-week observational period. The assessment of neurocognitive function was conducted using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery at baseline, 13 and 26 days. Tasks were designed to test speed of processing, working memory, visual learning and verbal learning. Results A significant improvement was found only in scores of speed of processing (F = 9.9, p = 0.001) after a 2-week observational period, which was accounted for by the improvement of depression symptoms. There were no significant changes over time in terms of working memory, visual learning and verbal learning. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the improvement of depression symptoms through six ketamine infusions was greater among TRBD patients with lower working memory at baseline (r = 0.54, p = 0.03). In multiple regression analysis, the significant correlation was still maintained (beta = 0.67, t = 2.2, p = 0.04). Conclusion This preliminary study indicated that six ketamine infusions were not harmful but were slightly beneficial for speed of processing in TRBD. However, this change was mainly accounted for the improvement of depression symptoms over time. Lower baseline working memory appears to be associated with greater antidepressant response after completion of six ketamine infusions in patients with TRBD.

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Gut microbiome and brain functional connectivity in infants-a preliminary study focusing on the amygdala

Psychopharmacology ◽

10.1007/s00213-018-5161-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 236 (5) ◽

pp. 1641-1651 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Wei Gao ◽

Andrew P. Salzwedel ◽

Alexander L. Carlson ◽

Kai Xia ◽

M. Andrea Azcarate-Peril ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

Brain Functional Connectivity

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The gut microbiome from patients with schizophrenia modulates the glutamate-glutamine-GABA cycle and schizophrenia-relevant behaviors in mice

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.aau8317 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. eaau8317 ◽

Cited By ~ 98

Author(s):

Peng Zheng ◽

Benhua Zeng ◽

Meiling Liu ◽

Jianjun Chen ◽

Junxi Pan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiome ◽

Brain Function ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Diversity Index ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Germ Free ◽

Α Diversity ◽

Neurologic Function

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a devastating mental disorder with poorly defined underlying molecular mechanisms. The gut microbiome can modulate brain function and behaviors through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Here, we found that unmedicated and medicated patients with SCZ had a decreased microbiome α-diversity index and marked disturbances of gut microbial composition versus healthy controls (HCs). Several unique bacterial taxa (e.g., Veillonellaceae and Lachnospiraceae) were associated with SCZ severity. A specific microbial panel (Aerococcaceae, Bifidobacteriaceae, Brucellaceae, Pasteurellaceae, and Rikenellaceae) enabled discriminating patients with SCZ from HCs with 0.769 area under the curve. Compared to HCs, germ-free mice receiving SCZ microbiome fecal transplants had lower glutamate and higher glutamine and GABA in the hippocampus and displayed SCZ-relevant behaviors similar to other mouse models of SCZ involving glutamatergic hypofunction. Together, our findings suggest that the SCZ microbiome itself can alter neurochemistry and neurologic function in ways that may be relevant to SCZ pathology.

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The brain-gut axis profiles in patients with bipolar depression: a preliminary study

European Neuropsychopharmacology ◽

10.1016/s0924-977x(17)31483-9 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 27 ◽

pp. S820-S821

Author(s):

S. Hu ◽

Q. Lu ◽

J. Lai ◽

T. Huang ◽

Y. Xu

Keyword(s):

Bipolar Depression ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

The Brain

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Electroconvulsive therapy in elderly - a preliminary study

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.572 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. s230-s230

Author(s):

C. Agostinho ◽

M. Duarte ◽

R. Alves ◽

I. Cunha ◽

A.M. Batista

Keyword(s):

Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Bipolar Depression ◽

Severe Depression ◽

Unipolar Depression ◽

Normal Range ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

Competing Interest

IntroductionStudies with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in elderly focus mainly on the assessment of possible side effects on the cognitive functioning; there are few studies that evaluate the effectiveness.ObjectiveEvaluate the effectiveness of this treatment in the population over 65 years.AimsPerform a preliminary study to evaluate the response to ECT of ≥ 65 years patients with depression.MethodsWe carry out a descriptive study based on patients treated in the last 10 years in the ECT Unit of Centro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa.ResultsOur initial sample consisted of 457 patients. We select patients aged ≥ 65 years with depression, and with complete data, including electroconvulsive parameters, and initial and final Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) scores (n = 59). Of this, 81.36% (n = 48) had unipolar depression, and 18.64% (n = 11) had bipolar depression. In the first group, the mean variation between the initial and final scores in HRSD was 13.88 points, and 27.10% (n = 13) of the patients ended the treatment in the normal range of HRSD score. In the second group, the mean variation was 12.82, and 63.60% (n = 7) ended the treatment in the normal range of HRSD. Considering the initial and final HRSD scores, it appears that unipolar depression group presents higher values (severe depression) (P < 0.05). When we compare the mean variation between the initial and final HRSD scores, we didn’t observe a statistically significant difference between the two groups. There was a clinical improvement in both.ConclusionsThe acute treatment with ECT appears to improve depressive symptoms in bipolar and unipolar depression, when considering an elderly population.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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P-204 - Clinical features of bipolar depression versus unipolar depression: a preliminary study

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(12)74371-7 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 27 ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

R.S. Romosan ◽

F. Romosan ◽

M. Ienciu ◽

L. Ile ◽

I. Papava ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Features ◽

Bipolar Depression ◽

Unipolar Depression ◽

Preliminary Study

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742. Gut Microbiome and Brain Functional Connectivity in Infants: A Preliminary Study Focusing on the Amygdala

Biological Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.02.809 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 81 (10) ◽

pp. S300-S301 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andrew Salzwedel ◽

Wei Gao ◽

Alexander Carlson ◽

Vladana Milisavljevic ◽

Kai Xia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

Brain Functional Connectivity

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The Interaction between Dietary Components, Gut Microbiome, and Endurance Performance

10.5772/intechopen.97846 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Basista Rabina Sharma ◽

Ravindra P. Veeranna

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiome ◽

Brain Function ◽

Psychological Factors ◽

Genetic Factor ◽

Endurance Performance ◽

Host Immunity ◽

Optimal Performance ◽

Food Supplements ◽

Training History ◽

Dietary Components

Research so far indicates that gut microbiome and diet interactions influence obesity, diabetes, host immunity, and brain function. The ability of athletes to perform to optimum for a more extended time, as well as the ability to resist, withstand, recover from, and have immunity to fatigue, injury depends on the genetic factor, age, sex, training history, psychological factors, mode, intensity and frequency of training and their interactions with the external dietary components. However, recent evidence indicates that the gut microbiome may also potentially influence the development of endurance in response to the type and composition of the external diet, including several food supplements. Thus, the gut microbiome has become another target in the athlete’s pursuit of optimal performance. This chapter discusses the effect of exercise on the gut microbiome, the interplay between dietary components and supplements on the gut microbiome, and its impact on endurance performance.

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The Relationship Between Acidity and Short-Term Student Performance on Exams

Journal of Student Research ◽

10.47611/jsrhs.v8i2.739 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Justin Raymond Croyle ◽

Patricia Talarczyk

Keyword(s):

High School Students ◽

Student Performance ◽

Brain Function ◽

Olfactory Receptors ◽

Short Term ◽

School Students ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

The Relationship ◽

Taste And Smell ◽

Medium Acidity

All students have to take exams at some point in their schooling careers and often in overwhelming amounts. With tests carrying great importance, students try to optimize their performance on these tests in a variety of ways. A widely-practiced strategy is eating peppermint or candy during the test in hopes of boosting brain performance. Peppermint has been known to stimulate olfactory receptors in humans. Similarly, acidity is an alternative powerful taste stimulant. Although acidity stimulates taste receptors and not olfactory receptors, taste and smell are very closely related which makes peppermint and acidity have similar overall effects. Since peppermint has shown improved memory and cognition in students, this study will now examine how acidity effects brain performance. This inquiry was investigated by giving 84 local high school students beverages of ranging acidity levels and soon after having them complete a timed, four-function math exam to test their brain performance. With average test scores of 38.62, 36.05, and 40.02 for the highest acidity, medium acidity, and lowest acidity beverage respectively with a control (no drink) average of 39.33, acidity does not appear to have an effect on student brain stimulation (p=.53). In conclusion, there was no statistically significant correlation between acidity and student brain function, but this was only a preliminary study and similar concepts should be further explored in the future.

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