GUT IT OUT

THE GUT-BRAIN LINK HAS LONG BEEN THOUGHT TO BE SENSITIVE TO EMOTIONS, BUT SCIENTISTS ARE NOW REVEALING ITS TRUE EXTENT...

- GLYNIS HORNING

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University report the discovery of 'a second brain': "Hidden in the walls of the digestive system, this 'brain in your gut' is revolutionising medicine's understanding of the link between digestion, mood, health and even the way you think." This second brain is the enteric nervous system (ENS), consisting of more than 100 million nerve cells that line our gastrointestinal tract from our throat to our bottom. "It doesn't seem capable of thought as we know it, but it communicates back and forth with our big brain - with profound results," says Dr Jay Pasricha, the Director of Johns Hopkins Center for Neurogastroenterology.

It seems our ENS triggers the major mood changes many of us experience with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bloating, stomach upsets and pain. It has long been known that anxiety and depression have been linked to these problems, according to Dr Pasricha. In fact, now it seems that it may be the other way around - that our gastrointestinal system may trigger changes in our mood in the opposite direction.

There is evidence that people with IBS and functional bowel problems are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression a significant finding since up to 40% of us are affected.