Our Brains Have a Microbiome Too
And its health and diversity may influence or cause cognitive decline, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s
It baffles and intrigues me that despite all the advancements in science and technology, there’s still so much we don’t know — we don’t even know how much we don’t know — about our bodies and how they work. We’ve made some progress recently, however, as scientists discover and learn about the many, many microbial communities that share our bodies.
Scientists have identified these communities on and in us, though experts have long thought our brains are exempt. So the discovery of bacteria, viruses, and fungi in our brains has shocked scientists and revolutionized our understanding of cognitive health and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
The Body’s Microbiome
Our bodies are covered and filled with trillions of bacteria, viruses, and other tiny life, collectively known as the microbiome. Your nasal cavity, mouth, lungs, genitals, skin, scalp, and entire digestive system all have distinctive microbiomes. These microscopic communities are as unique to us as our fingerprints, and while some cause us harm, we can’t survive without most of them.
