Talk about a gut-brain connection.
Scientists have long known about the link between our stomachs and our brains, warning that our diets and gut health have a large impact on mood and mental health.
And a new study published Monday may have found a way to flush the brain fog and attention issues that accompany depression down the toilet.
Cognition issues are common with depression and mental disorders, including trouble with thinking, planning tasks, and both short- and long-term memory.
A team of researchers from the University of Birmingham and the University of Oxford conducted a study looking at the effects of prucalopride, a prescription drug for constipation, on cognitive issues.
Those who took the laxative performed better and faster on cognitive tests to measure focus, attention span, planning, balancing multiple tasks, short- and long-term memory and emotional cognition tasks.
Fifty patients between the ages of 18 and 40 with a history of depressive episodes were recruited to take either a 2 milligram dose of the laxative — the amount used for chronic constipation — or a placebo for seven to ten days.
Both before and after taking the drug, participants took a variety of tests that included a working memory task, an auditory verbal learning and memory task and a task on attention and processing speed.
Prucalopride works by gently stimulating bowel movements, but it also activates a serotonin receptor in the gut and brain known as the fourth serotonin receptor, or 5HT4.
These receptors work both to increase gut motility and how fast the bowels empty, and are heavily involved with learning, memory, mood and anxiety.
According to researchers, the medication could help an often overlooked effect of depression.
“For many people, recovery from depression is incomplete because difficulties with memory and concentration persist,” senior author Professor Susannah Murphy said in a press release.
“This study provides early evidence that 5HT4 receptor agonists could help restore aspects of cognitive function, opening an exciting new direction for treatment development,” she added.
This study follows previous research from 2024 that also showed 5HT4 receptor agonists used for constipation may also reduce the risk of depression in those with no history of the illness.
Another study found that experiencing depressive symptoms could lead to worsened memory and thinking skills when hitting middle age.
And what we eat can play a role in brain health, especially as we age.
“Evidence suggests that the gut microbiome may influence inflammation, metabolism, and brain function through the gut-brain axis,” Dr. Randy D’Amico, director of the Brain and Spine Metastasis Program of Neurosurgery at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital, previously told The Post.
