DYK? Antibiotics can stop growth of new brain cells and cause a decrease in memory

Medicine such as antibiotics, have been known now for some time to increase our vulnerability to other ailments. The reason being because they mess up with the amounts of healthy microorganisms in our guts. Recent research has proven there is more to this.

As if killing gut bacteria wasn’t bad enough, antibiotics also have the ability to prevent new cell growth in brain cells specifically the area linked with memory, the hippocampus according to new research. Apparently, there is a type of white blood cell that communicates between the immune system, the brain and you’ve guessed it, the gut! You see the trend here. It’s a chain reaction that starts with the waning of these blood cells.

The memory, gut and immune matrix

So what are the pros versus cons of antibiotics? Are we better off without them in our bodies? We now know they can have major impacts on our bodies, leaving us at risk of getting the very disease we are trying not to get. So let us have a look at this peculiar link of the bacteria to our memory lobe.

Experiments carried out by researchers show that mice with normal gut bacteria and low white blood cells (caused by the use of antibiotics) have the same memory as those without the gut bacteria. But with increasing blood cells, there was a significant improvement in their memory. Basically, antibiotics have the effects similar to those without any gut bacteria. Just that is a worrying point.

Antidotes to antibiotics

There is some good news, depending on how you choose to view it. To counter the changes in your gut flora and future implications, bacteria balancing supplements can be taken. Probiotic supplements are enhancements that are starting to gain popularity around the world. They not only restore our gut bacteria levels, they also reduce the aging process effects and safeguard your vigor in general. For this case, it’s just a helping hand in stopping and reversing the damage caused by antibiotics to your microbiome.

Researches sprung from probiotics

From the mice experiments, it is obvious that probiotics have come in handy when it comes to memory improvement. This discovery has however sprung up several tests and research clinics. The main question is establishing the link between the brain and antibiotics. Does it have to be through the guts? This further launched more research on whether probiotics can be improved, recreated or re-engineered to assist with mental incapacities such as;

We have not just been moving forward with this. Scientists have taken a step back to evaluate whether this gut bacteria composition has significant effects on mental conditions, and how future medicines can have similar side effects on immune cell function.  

This further sparks the questions in our minds. Are we at a point where we need medicine to curb the side-effects of other medicine and it’s side effects? Always ask yourself this question before taking any medication, and speak to doctors about the very problems that may occur as a result of taking any medication. So you are fully informed about the risks, and can then look into finding a functional doctor to help if medication is suggested, before going this route.