Scientists uncover that babies’ gut bacteria may influence future emotional health

Scientists Discover Link Between Babies’ Gut Bacteria and Emotional Health

A recent study from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Health suggests that the composition of a child's early gut microbiome may influence their likelihood of developing depression, anxiety, or other internalizing symptoms during childhood.

Impact of Gut Bacteria on Brain Networks

Researchers observed that young children with higher levels of gut bacteria from the Clostridiales order and the Lachnospiraceae family showed an increased risk of experiencing internalizing symptoms—a term encompassing depression and anxiety—in middle childhood. This connection appears to be indirect, linked to how early gut microbes influence communication across brain networks related to emotions.

Brain Connectivity and Emotional Health

The study found that the microbiome composition in early life was associated with differences in connectivity within emotion-related brain circuits connected to anxiety and depression later in childhood. This suggests that early gut bacteria may help shape brain pathways that affect emotional well-being.

“If unaddressed, symptoms of depression and anxiety can carry a higher risk of mental health challenges persisting as children develop into adolescence and adulthood,” said Dr. Bridget Callaghan, associate professor of Psychology at UCLA and the study’s senior author.

Significance of the Findings

The research highlights the potential role of gut bacteria in the early programming of brain circuits tied to emotional health, emphasizing the importance of early-life factors in mental health development.

Author’s summary: This study reveals how infants’ gut bacteria may shape brain networks that influence emotional health, potentially affecting the risk of depression and anxiety in childhood.

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nutritioninsight.com nutritioninsight.com — 2025-11-04

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