Knight Initiative scientists tracked every moment of the life of the African turquoise killifish, showing that behavior alone can forecast whether an animal will live a long or short life

A new study from Emory University explains the gut-brain connection, indicating that live bacteria from the gut can directly enter the brain, with potential implications for neurological health. Researchers also identified similar low-levels of bacteria in the brains of mouse models of neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s and more. During this study, a group of germ-free mice consumed a “Paigen’s Diet,” similar to a Western Diet, with a 45% carbohydrate and 35% fat content. These diets in humans are known to contribute to intestinal permeability or a “leaky gut” where compounds can escape the intestine. The resulting gut microbiome changes seen in the mice were associated with increased intestinal barrier permeability, or leakage, enabling live bacteria to travel from the intestine directly to the brain via the vagus nerve, without any detectable amounts of bacteria in the blood or other organs. 

Researchers have identified a network of connections linking the brainstem and spinal cord that helps control hand and arm movements, revealing an unexpected layer of the nervous system enabling people to grasp, hold, and manipulate objects.