brain chemistry

Brain Chemistry Balance Key to Young Women’s Anxiety

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Summary: The development of anxiety in girls and young women might be attributed to the imbalance of brain chemicals GABA and glutamate. Researchers found that during maturation, the increase in GABA levels coupled with a decrease in glutamate levels in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex could be indicators of anxiety levels.

This discovery opens up new avenues for targeted anxiety treatments, focusing on restoring the balance between these two chemicals. By understanding these chemical fluctuations during crucial developmental stages, such as adolescence, this research holds the promise of early detection and intervention for anxiety disorders, particularly in young females.

Key Facts:

  1. Chemical Imbalance Linked to Anxiety: An imbalance between GABA, a calming neurotransmitter, and glutamate, associated with increased brain activity, has been identified as a crucial factor in the development of anxiety in young women.
  2. Targeted Treatments on the Horizon: This study suggests that treatments aiming to adjust the levels of GABA and glutamate could offer new, effective ways to combat anxiety in girls and young women.
  3. Innovative Use of Brain Imaging: Utilizing magnetic resonance spectroscopy, researchers were able to measure the levels of these neurotransmitters, providing insights into the neurochemical underpinnings of anxiety.

Source: University of Surrey

The development of anxiety in girls and young women may stem from an imbalance between two crucial brain chemicals, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) and Glutamate, according to a new study from the University of Surrey. This discovery offers promising insights into potential treatment avenues for girls and women dealing with anxiety.  

The study revealed that as young women mature, the levels of GABA (a calming brain chemical) increase, while those of glutamate, known for its role in boosting brain activity, decrease. 

This shows a young woman.
By unravelling the mysteries of brain chemistry, the researchers aim to offer more effective treatments for anxiety, ultimately empowering girls and young women to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Dr Nicola Johnstone, a Research Fellow at the University of Surrey’s School of Psychology and co-author of the study, said: 

“Our research indicates that the equilibrium between GABA and glutamate in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex serves as a vital indicator of anxiety levels. While glutamate propels brain activity, GABA acts as a brake. Our findings suggest that anxiety, often characterised by impaired rational thought, is intricately linked to the overactive braking system in the brain.” 

These revelations not only shed light on the underlying mechanisms of anxiety but also pave the way for targeted interventions that address the delicate balance of GABA and glutamate in the brain.  

Dr Kathrin Cohen Kadosh, Associate Professor in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Surrey and co-author of the study, said: 

“Grasping how key brain chemicals, GABA and glutamate, fluctuate during important growth stages like adolescence is vital for spotting and stopping anxiety disorders early. This study shines a light on the possibility of focusing on these brain chemicals for new treatments, particularly in young women.” 

By unravelling the mysteries of brain chemistry, the researchers aim to offer more effective treatments for anxiety, ultimately empowering girls and young women to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. 

The research used 81 participants from two age groups:  

  • 49 participants aged 10-12 years  
  • 32 participants aged 18-25 years 

The team used a brain imaging technique called magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure the levels of the brain chemicals in different areas of the brain.  

Abstract

Excitatory and inhibitory neurochemical markers of anxiety in young females

Between the ages of 10–25 years the maturing brain is sensitive to a multitude of changes, including neurochemical variations in metabolites. Of the different metabolites, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has long been linked neurobiologically to anxiety symptomology, which begins to manifest in adolescence.

To prevent persistent anxiety difficulties into adulthood, we need to understand the maturational trajectories of neurochemicals and how these relate to anxiety levels during this sensitive period.

We used magnetic resonance spectroscopy in a sample of younger (aged 10–11) and older (aged 18–25) females to estimate GABA and glutamate levels in brain regions linked to emotion regulation processing, as well as a conceptually distinct control region.

Within the Bayesian framework, we found that GABA increased and glutamate decreased with age, negative associations between anxiety and glutamate and GABA ratios in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and a positive relationship of GABA with anxiety levels.

The results support the neural over-inhibition hypothesis of anxiety based on GABAergic activity.

Stunning scientific discovery finds that gut bacteria control your brain chemistry, altering moods and more.

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Researchers from the University of Exeter Medical School and University of Zaragoza in Spain have uncovered a new way that the community of microorganisms symbiotically living in the human gut may contribute to helping regulate brain chemistry. The remarkable study was published in the journal PLOS ONE.

The human gut alone hosts approximately 100 trillion bacteria and other microbes of many different species, which are collectively known as the gut microbiome or microbiota (our body’s overall microbiome also includes microbes living on the skin and in other parts of the body). Studies have shown that the gut microbiome plays a key role in regulating everything from digestion and metabolism to immune function and even mood, but the mechanisms of this action remain largely a mystery.

Image: Stunning scientific discovery finds that gut bacteria control your brain chemistry, altering moods and more

Microbes manipulate serotonin levels

Prior research has shown that a disrupted microbiome may contribute to the development of inflammatory disease, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Research has also confirmed that people with IBD have a different gut microbiome composition than healthy people.

The current study was funded by the Foundation for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in Aragón, Spain (ARAINF), in order to further study this connection. The researchers focused their investigations on a protein known as TLR2, which is a key marker of the presence of certain microbes in the intestines. Studies have also suggested that IBD may be triggered by the failure of TLR2 to function correctly.

In experiments conducted in cell cultures and in living mice, the researchers found that TLR2 actually helps regulate levels of the chemical serotonin. Although perhaps most well-known as a neurotransmitter that carries signals for the brain, serotonin also plays a key role in regulating bowel function.

The findings suggest that certain gut microbes can, through the action of TLR2, modulate levels of serotonin and therefore directly influence human physiology and brain chemistry.

Could the gut microbiome also modify serotonin levels to cause changes in mood or brain function? A 2014 review of the evidence into whether gut microbes can influence human emotions and behavior, published in the journal BioEssays, concluded that there is strong theoretical support for the idea but that evidence remains circumstantial. For example, studies suggest that some microbes can release chemicals that change the activity of the vagus nerve, which runs from the gut to the brain. Another study showed a different makeup of gut microbes in people who regularly crave chocolate, regardless of what they had recently eaten.

“Microbes have the capacity to manipulate behavior and mood through altering the neural signals in the vagus nerve, changing taste receptors, producing toxins to make us feel bad, and releasing chemical rewards to make us feel good,” said senior author Athena Aktipis. (RELATED: Find more news about scientific discoveries at Scientific.news.)

Far-reaching effects

A 2015 study published in the journal Nature found another mechanism by which gut microbes might influence human physiology. That study showed that the common industrial food ingredients known as emulsifiers (detergents used to improve food’s texture and shelf life) produce changes in the gut microbiome that lead to more of the inflammation associated with IBD and metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of physiological symptoms linked with a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, liver disease and Alzheimer’s disease. It is associated with high levels of systemic inflammation. IBD, in turn, is characterized by abnormal inflammation of the digestive tract. Both conditions have dramatically increased since the time period that saw the widespread adoption of chemical food additives.

Inflammation is an immune response, thus suggesting at least one mechanism by which gut microbes interact directly with the immune system.

Another recent study linked the gut microbiome with the development of Parkinson’s disease, while others have linked a disrupted microbiome with the development of autism.

Sources:

MedicalXpress.com

NaturalNews.com