A massive study of nearly 400,000 people has established a causal link between gut bacteria and insomnia for the first time. Researchers found that certain microbes increase the risk of insomnia, while others appear protective. The study used Mendelian randomization to tease out cause-and-effect evidence, revealing complex interactions between the gut and sleep.
Fourteen bacterial taxa were linked to increased insomnia risk, including the Clostridium innocuum group. In contrast, eight genera appeared to shield against poor sleep, with genus Odoribacter showing a bidirectional relationship with insomnia. The study highlights the importance of the gut-brain axis and suggests that treating insomnia should be a whole-body approach.
While limitations exist, this research advances our understanding of the biological link between microbes and mental health. It opens the door to microbiome sampling and targeted treatments, including probiotics and dietary changes, to help treat sleeping disorders.
Source: https://newatlas.com/sleep/gut-bacteria-insomnia