Gut feeling: Is bacteria the secret to better stroke recovery?

Gut health can affect overall well-being. Scientists have already shown that the trillions of bacteria in our guts can influence various aspects of health.

Previous studies have also shown a link between gut bacteria and stroke risk.

Before this study, little was known about how gut microbes might influence recovery after a stroke.

The text below is a bit nerdy. If you are not particularly interested in those crazy, names of the bacteria - you can easily read the blog, just skip the Latin :)

The Study
This study set out to investigate whether certain gut microbes impact how well a person bounces back after an ischemic stroke in the brain. This is the most common type of stroke, usually caused by a blocked artery.

The researchers analyzed information from over 18,000 participants, looking at 211 types of gut bacteria and comparing this with data related to stroke outcomes.

They were particularly interested in two areas: overall stroke recovery and how well patients regained movement (called motor recovery).

Good and Bad Bacteria
The researchers identified several bacterial types possibly linked to better or worse stroke recovery outcomes.

For example, certain bacteria, like the family Peptostreptococcaceaeand specific types of Lachnospiraceae, appeared to be associated with more favorable recovery, while others, like Eubacterium oxidoreducens and Ruminococcaceae, were linked to poorer outcomes.

The bacterium Odoribacter showed a connection to better functional recovery, while Oxalobacteraceae seemed to support improved motor recovery. On the flip side, bacteria such as Enterobacteriales were associated with weaker muscle function after a stroke.

The study’s analysis pointed out that changes in gut bacteria could impact how well these nerve connections work, possibly affecting stroke prognosis.

How those germs affect the brain recovery
It is thought that the gut microbes influence the brain's via the synapses — the tiny structures where nerve cells connect and communicate with each other.

If the gut bacteria play a role in regulating synapse activity, it could help or hinder the brain's ability to heal and recover after a stroke.

It is believed that gut bacteria modulate our nervous system through the breakdown products made when they degrade our food. One of the more interesting findings was that many of the beneficial bacteria involved were associated with the production of specific kinds of fat: short-chain fatty acids.

Do certain foods prevent stroke?
These compounds, produced during the fermentation of dietary fibers in the gut, have been shown to reduce inflammation and support brain health. This suggests that a diet rich in fiber, which promotes beneficial gut bacteria, might be a helpful addition to stroke recovery strategies.

The research provides new evidence that the gut microbiome could be a target for improving stroke recovery, potentially through dietary changes or probiotics aimed at increasing beneficial bacteria.

While it’s still early days for incorporating gut health strategies into stroke recovery protocols, it hints that keeping those gut bacteria happy isn’t just about digestion; it might just be the key to bouncing back after a stroke.

After all, they say to "trust your gut"—maybe it’s time to take that advice a little more literally!

About the scientific paper:

First author: Dian Qu, China
Published in: Frontiers in Immunology, October 2024.
Link to paper: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1414653/full