The document discusses the gut-brain axis, highlighting the extensive connection between the gut and brain, including how gut microbes influence mental health and neurobiology. It emphasizes the significant impact of the microbiome on emotions, behavior, and cognitive function, as well as the implications of antibiotics and glyphosate on gut health and overall well-being. Furthermore, it suggests strategies for maintaining gut-brain communication and addressing chronic diseases.

1. The Gut-Brain Axis

2. Divisions of the Nervous System
CNS PNS
Brain
Spinal
cord
Somatic Autonomic
Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Enteric Nervous
System

3. The Enteric
Nervous System
There are more neurons in
the gut (>100 million)
than there are in the
entire spinal cord.
There are a lot of
neurons in the ENS

4. Within the first few days of life the
human gut is colonized by commensal
intestinal microbiota.
Studies show that commensal,
probiotic, and pathogenic bacteria in
the gastrointestinal tract can activate
neural pathways and central nervous
system signaling systems.
Gut-brain axis: how the microbiome influences anxiety and depression, Foster JA, McVey Neufeld KA.
The Gut-brain Axis

5. Figure 1 Brain–gut axis
Mayer, E. A. et al. (2015) Towards a systems view of IBS
Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2015.121
Modified with permission from
Nature Publishing Group ©
Irwin, M.R. & Cole, S.W. Nat.
Rev. Immunol. 11, 625–632
(2011)103

6. The brain and the gut both develop from
the same tissue – during fetal development
one part becomes the central nervous
system, while the other develops into the
enteric nervous system. They are
connected via the Vagus nerve.
The gut has a large, semi-autonomous
brain, and its endocrine signaling to the
entire body is very elaborate.
Gut and Brain Tissue
jonlieffmd.com/blog/gut-feelings-the-brain-gut-microbe-axis

7. The microbiome is
affected by our
experiences and emotions.
In turn microbes in the gut
send chemical signals
(including
neurotransmitters)
affecting memory,
emotions and behavior in
important parts of the
brain. Gut microbes even
alter gene expression in the
gut.
How the Gut-brain
Axis works
jonlieffmd.com/blog/gut-feelings-the-brain-gut-microbe-axis

8. Host effects on the microbiota.
Hadar Neuman et al. FEMS Microbiol Rev
2015;femsre.fuu010
© FEMS 2015. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail:
journals.permissions@oup.com
BI-DIRECTIONAL INFLUENCE

9. EXAMPLES OF THE GUT AND ENS AFFECTING
THE BRAIN, CNS AND HEALTH

10. Early Gut Bacteria Regulate Happiness
• Scientists have shown that brain levels of serotonin, the
'happy hormone’, are regulated by the amount of bacteria in
the gut during early life.
• Normal adult brain function depends on the presence of gut
microbes during development.
• This research has multiple health implications as it shows that
manipulations of the microbiota (e.g. by antibiotics, diet, or
infection) can have profound knock-on effects on brain
function and mental well-being, including developing
microbial-based strategies for treatment for brain disorders.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120612115812.htm, from Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre,
University College Cork

11. Electronic Medicine Fights
Disease
Stimulation of the nervous system could replace drugs for
inflammatory and autoimmune conditions
•By Kevin J. Tracey
Vagus nerve stimulation
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Migraines
• Seizures
• Depression
Tracey KJ. Scientific American cover from March 2015.

12. Major factors
affecting our digestive
microbiome?
Host genetics
Pollution
Pharmaceuticals
Microbial
exposures
Psychological
status
Diet
Stress
the
Commensals Pathobionts

13. THE BIGGEST OFFENDERS

14. McBurney WT, McCartney A, Apun A et al. Perturbation of the enterobacterial microflora detected by
molecular analysis.
Microb Ecol Health Dis 1999; 11: 75–9.
A study investigating the effect of a short course of amoxicillin showed that the microbial ecology
of the intestinal tract was severely altered for up to 6 months after the end of antibiotic
administration
Löfmark S, Jernberg C, Jansson JK, Edlund C. Clindamycin-induced enrichment and long-term
persistence of resistant Bacteroides spp. and resistance genes. J Antimicrob Chemother2006; 58: 1160–
7.
1-week course of clindamycin caused changes in the Bacteroides community, and this
persisted for up to 2 years.
Mehdi S. Antibiotic-induced psychosis: a link to D-alanine? Med Hypotheses 2010; 75: 676–7.
The paper publishes evidence of patients developing psychosis after administration of
different antibiotics.
ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY

15. ELEVATED LPS FROM LEAKY GUT AND THE BRAIN
ØDRIVES INTESTINAL DYSBIOSIS BY CHRONIC INFLAMMATION AND MACROPHAGE
RECRUITEMENT TO THE MUCOSA WHICH DRIVES ATTACK OF COMMENSALS
ØDRIVES LEPTIN RESISTANCE BY ENTERING AND DISRUPTING THE ENTERIC NERVOUS
SYSTEM LEADING TO THE DISTRUPTION OF THE GUT-BRAIN AXIS
ØDRIVES A SLOWING OF GASTRIC EMPTYING AND CAUSES LOWER GUT MOTILITY
ØDISRUPTS GHRELIN FUNCTION WHICH IMPACTS MOOD AND APPETITE
ØDISRUPTS THE BLOOD-BRAIN-BARRIER AND CAUSES NEUROINFLAMMATION
ØRECRUITES LEUKOCYTES TO THE BBB AND CAUSES INFLAMMATION WHICH DISRUPTS
FUNCTIONS LIKE DOPAMINE RECPTOR BLOCKAGE – DEPRESSION FACTOR
ØLEADS TO COGNITIVE DECLINE AND NEURODYSFUNTION
ØCAN GET INTO THE HIPPOCAMPUS AND AMYGDALA AND DISRUPT MEMORY AND
RECALL FUNCTION – BRAIN FOG!
ØINCREASES TURNOVER OF SEROTONIN THUS REDUCES LEVELS AT THE SYNAPSE AND CNS
WHICH CAN LEAD TO DEPRESSION AND REDUCED FOOD INTAKE – POSSIBLE MECHANISM
FOR ANOREXIA
ØDISRUPTS THE HPA AXIS CAUSES LARGE STIMULATION OF CORTICOSTEROID RELEASING
HORMONE (CRH) – LEADS TO POOR STRESS MANAGEMENT AND ANXIETY
ØCHRONIC LPS IN SENSORY NEURONS IN THE DORSAL ROOT STIMULATE NOCICEPTORS
WHICH LEADS TO CHRONIC PAIN.

17. Glyphosate’s Suppression of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Amino Acid Biosynthesis by the Gut Microbiome:
Pathways to Modern Diseases by Anthony Samsel and Stephanie Seneff
How does glyphosate affect humans?
The GM industry claims that glyphosate affects plants by the disruption of the shikimate
pathway, which is involved in the synthesis of the essential aromatic amino acids. The
industry further claims that glyphosate is not harmful to humans or mammals because they
lack the shikimate pathway.
However, this pathway is present in gut bacteria, which are negatively affected by
glyphosate. It selectively targets beneficial bacteria, and does not affect pathogens.
In addition, glyphosate inhibits cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. CYP enzymes play
crucial roles in biology, one of which is to detoxify xenobiotics (foreign compounds). By
reducing the body’s ability to detoxify other food-borne chemical residues and
environmental toxins, glyphosate enhances their damaging effects. The negative impact on
the body manifests slowly as inflammation damages cellular systems throughout the body.

18. http://www.foeeurope.org/sites/default/files/press_releases/foee_4_human_contamination_glyphosate.pdf
Glyphosate cannot be washed away
Glyphosate is transported from the
leaves into the grains and fruit.
During milling it is concentrated in
wheat bran by a factor of four.
It cannot be removed by washing or
cooking, and is passed into milk and
eggs.

19. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/06/25/glyphosate-residue.aspx
According to Dr. S. Seneff, research scientist at MIT, glyphosate is possibly "the most
important factor in the development of multiple chronic diseases and conditions that
have become prevalent in Westernized societies,” including but not limited to:
Diseases strongly linked to Glyphosate

20. GLYPHOSATE: DESTRUCTOR OF HUMAN HEALTH AND BIODIVERSITY by Rosemary Mason MB ChB FRCA
US data for % GE corn
and soy crops planted
and glyphosate applied
plotted against the
number of new cases of
diabetes (adjusted)
diagnosed annually.
Crop and glyphosate
data from the United
States Department of
Agriculture; diabetes data
from U.S. Centers for
Disease Control (CDC).

21. GLYPHOSATE: DESTRUCTOR OF HUMAN HEALTH AND BIODIVERSITY by Rosemary Mason MB ChB FRCA
US data for % GE
corn and soy crops
planted and
glyphosate applied to
corn & soy plotted
against % of U.S.
population who are
obese (BMI 30.0-
99.8).
Crop and glyphosate
data from the USDA;
obesity data from U.S.
CDC. By kind
permission of Dr
Nancy Swanson.

22. GLYPHOSATE: DESTRUCTOR OF HUMAN HEALTH AND BIODIVERSITY by Rosemary Mason MB ChB FRCA
Number of children with
autism plotted against
glyphosate use on GE
corn and soy. Autism data
were obtained from the
U.S. Department of
Education, under the
Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA).
This plot is shown using
data from USDE for the
number of autistic children
receiving services. By
kind permission of Dr
Nancy Swanson.

23. GLYPHOSATE: DESTRUCTOR OF HUMAN HEALTH AND BIODIVERSITY by Rosemary Mason MB ChB FRCA
Glyphosate and Super-
weeds: Glyphosate
applied to Corn, Soy
and Cotton crops in the
U.S. and the number of
confirmed glyphosate-
resistant weeds.
Glyphosate data from USDA;
super-weed data from Charles
Benbrook. By kind permission
of Dr Nancy Swanson.

24. GLYPHOSATE: DESTRUCTOR OF HUMAN HEALTH AND BIODIVERSITY by Rosemary Mason MB ChB FRCA
Persons with liver
and bile duct cancer
plotted against
glyphosate applied
to corn and soy and
% GE corn & soy
planted in the US.
By kind permission of
Dr Nancy Swanson.
Data from USDA and
US CDC

25. GLYPHOSATE: DESTRUCTOR OF HUMAN HEALTH AND BIODIVERSITY by Rosemary Mason MB ChB FRCA
Adjusted Death
Rate from
Parkinson’s
disease.
Data from USDA and
CDC. By kind
permission of Dr
Nancy Swanson

26. GLYPHOSATE: DESTRUCTOR OF HUMAN HEALTH AND BIODIVERSITY by Rosemary Mason MB ChB FRCA
Deaths per 100,000
from Senile Dementia
plotted against
glyphosate
applications on corn
and soy.
Data from USDA and
CDC. By kind
permission of Dr
Nancy Swanson

27. GLYPHOSATE: DESTRUCTOR OF HUMAN HEALTH AND BIODIVERSITY by Rosemary Mason MB ChB FRCA
Incidence of thyroid
cancer (adjusted)
related to glyphosate
applied to corn & soy
crops and % GE soy
& corn crops in the
US.
Data from USDA and
CDC. Graph reproduced
by kind permission of Dr
Nancy Swanson.

28. CONCLUSION
• The gut affects the brain and the brain affects the gut – our behavior can control our gut in
several ways.
• Virtually every neurotransmitter discovered is found in the gut and/or ENS
• Virtually every hormone that affects the brain is made by and/or regulated by the gut
• Dysbiosis is linked to numerous forms of “brain” dysfunction: Alcoholism, CFS, RLS, ASD, Anxiety,
Depression, Hepatic Encephalopathy, psychosis, anorexia, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, etc.
• Environmental factors are paramount – i.e. antibiotics, glyphosate, personal care products, etc.
• Vagus nerve activation can play a significant role in treating mood and behavior disorders and
as it turns out, chronic disease.
• The best things you can do to help your brain and your gut communicate effectively are:
• Maintain diversity
• Clean up your diet and your environment and advocate for your family’s health
• Activate your vagus
• If in a rut, focus on the gut.

29. TAKE
YOUR
SPORES!!!!
THANK YOU ALL!!