An Italian research published on Science describes an important biological mechanism that links the health of our gut to that of the brain. This mechanism is activated in the presence of certain intestinal diseases, to prevent inflammation from spreading to the central nervous system.
There is a “but” … The downside is that the same phenomenon also seems to be responsible for manifestations such as depression and anxiety, which are often associated with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.
The study, coordinated by Maria Rescigno, head of the Laboratory of Mucosal and Microbiota Immunology at Humanitas (Milan), focused on the choroid plexus, a brain structure that helps filter the substances contained in the blood, preventing harmful ones from reaching the nervous system.
The results. Researchers have documented that, in the presence of inflammatory molecules, the filter tightens the meshes to protect the brain. These molecules, normally absent, penetrate the vessels when diseases such as Chron’s disease or ulcerative colitis make the barrier that separates the intestine from the circulatory system more permeable.
The study also confirmed that correct communication between the intestine and the brain is delicate and important for our well-being. Experiments on animal models have in fact shown that, while protecting the nervous system, closing the “gate” that connects the brain and the intestine causes anxious behavior and memory problems.