A child’s likelihood of developing depression and anxiety might be connected to the health of their gut microbiome.
Young children whose gut bacteria included certain microorganisms showed higher chances of developing mood disorders by their tween years, researchers reported on October 30 in the journal Nature Communications.
The study revealed that specific gut bacteria in children correlated with differences in connectivity between emotion-processing brain networks—and these brain differences, in turn, were associated with anxiety and depression emerging later in childhood.
These findings suggest that gut bacteria may influence how a child’s brain circuits develop, particularly those governing emotional responses, researchers explained.
Senior researcher Bridget Callaghan, chair of developmental psychology at UCLA, stated in a news release: “By linking early-life microbiome patterns with brain connectivity and later symptoms of anxiety and depression, our study provides early evidence that gut microbes could help shape mental health during the critical school-age years.”
Study Design
For this research, investigators examined data from 55 children in Singapore who were participating in a long-term health study. The children provided stool samples at age 2 and underwent MRI brain scans at age 6, while caregivers completed surveys about the children’s behavioral challenges at age 7½.
Key Findings
The research team discovered that children with elevated levels of Clostridiales and Lachnospiraceae bacteria in their gut microbiomes faced increased risk of depression and anxiety symptoms.
Both bacterial groups have been previously connected to stress responses and depression in adult populations, Callaghan noted. Clostridiales bacteria are particularly concerning, as certain strains have been associated with serious conditions including tetanus, gangrene, and botulism.
Next Steps
Future studies will investigate precisely which bacterial species contribute to mood problems and whether the observed relationship represents a direct cause-and-effect connection, Callaghan said.
She explained: “We need to figure out what species within these larger groups are driving the findings. Once we have that information, there are relatively straightforward ways to change the microbiome, like probiotics or diet, that we could use to address issues.”
This research opens intriguing possibilities for early intervention strategies that could potentially prevent or reduce mental health challenges in children by targeting gut health during critical developmental windows.