Is there a link between stroke and changes in gut bacteria?

A recently published study looks at whether a stroke can affect cause changes in gut bacteria and  whether these changes could affect the brain’s recovery process.

A stroke can cause changes in gut bacteria that could last for a long time and impact health outcomes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that every 40 seconds, someone in the United States experiences a stroke. A stroke is a cardiovascular event that cuts off the brain’s oxygenated blood supply.  A stroke can cause damage to the brain because brain cells begin to die without oxygen and nutrients.

Recent studies suggest that a stroke could also have an immediate and long-lasting impact on other parts of the body.  One of these studies suggests that, following a stroke, the bacterial population in the gut undergoes important changes and that these effects can last for a long time.  The findings of this study are presented in the journal Stroke.

Changing Bacterial Balance

To learn more about the effect of a stroke on gut bacteria, the researchers worked with mice, which they split into two groups.  In the first group, the researchers caused a stroke, while the other group remained healthy.  After causing the stroke in the first group of mice, the researchers assessed the mice in both groups at 3, 14, and 28 days after.

The team found that the mice in the stroke group showed long-lasting changes in their gut bacteria. The most persistent changes in post-stroke gut bacteria were decreases in beneficial bacteria families, Bifidobacteriaceae and Lactobacillaceae. These types of bacteria not only help maintain a healthy digestive system, but they may also lead to a better recovery in individuals who have been through a stroke.

They also saw significant increases in the harmful bacteria families, Helicobacteraceae and Enterobacteriaceae.  In addition the researchers saw changes in intestinal structure.  There was evidence of chronic intestinal inflammation.  These changes in intestine structure affect the ability to absorb nutrients, and could compromise recovery after health events, such as a stroke.

The researchers concluded that if it ends up being that the gut has an influence on the repair of the brain, maybe stroke treatments shouldn’t just be focused on what we can do for the brain. Maybe we need to think about what can we do for the gut.