Scientists search far and wide for treatments and cures for the diseases that cause great amounts of human suffering, from cancer to Parkinson’s.
But the treatments for these and other debilitating conditions may be far closer to home than many realise. Research has long shown a strong connection between disease and the gut microbiome, and now scientists are learning how to harness specific microbes in our gut to help treat these and other conditions seemingly unrelated to the digestive system.
That the gut microbiome – home to some 100 trillion organisms – plays a role in health is undisputed among scientists; numerous studies show that gut microbiota play a role in gastrointestinal conditions, obesity and nutritional issues, as well as diabetes. This idea is not new; there is evidence that ancient peoples, going back to fourth century China, consumed bacteria-rich human faecal matter to treat digestive illnesses. And now science has advanced to the point where researchers are able to identify which exact microbes are involved, and leverage them for treatments in the form of pills and other medications. In fact this year the FDA approved the first microbiota therapeutic drug; the drug will be used to treat recurring Clostridioides difficile infections, a serious gastrointestinal infection often spread in hospitals.
But recent research has also shown clear connections between gut health and a host of other conditions, and is increasingly revealing how the gut – specifically certain microbes – can be leveraged to treat these conditions in other parts of the body. This is one of the most promising areas of medicine.
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