Bugs, Bowels, and Behavior: The Groundbreaking Story of the Gut-Brain Connection
We share our body with trillions of guests—bacteria, fungi, and viruses. These microorganisms outnumber human cells by a ratio of about 10:1. Our gastrointestinal (GI) tract alone teems with an estimated 500 different species of bacteria. Research increasingly suggests a complex connection between the GI system, the microbial bugs that reside there, and the brain. When this link is out of sync or symbiosis is disrupted by diet, toxins, or medications, chronic illness can result. In this multiauthor book, which is compelling but a tad too technical, contributors make the case that human behavior is influenced by the ecology of the gut. Much of the discussion involves speculation that autism (and possibly other neurological and psychiatric symptoms) is associated with an unhealthy bowel and the status of the microbiome. Readers may be repulsed or intrigued by descriptions of fecal transplantation to rectify diarrhea or drinking porcine whipworm eggs as a research treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. Even when the digestive system sounds disgusting, it is never dull. --Tony Miksanek