Mind-altering microbes: how the microbiome affects brain and behavior: Elaine Hsiao at TEDxCaltech

Elaine Hsiao is a postdoctoral fellow in chemistry and biology at Caltech. She received her undergraduate degree in microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics from UCLA and her doctoral degree in neurobiology from Caltech with Professor Paul Patterson. She studied neuroimmune mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders and uncovered a role for the commensal microbiota in regulating autism-related behaviors, metabolism, and intestinal physiology. Elaine has received several honors, including predoctoral fellowships from the National Institute of Health, Autism Speaks and the Caltech Innovation Program. She is currently studying the mechanisms by which microbes modulate host production of neuroactive molecules and aims to better understand how the human microbiota influences health and disease.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[Cdictator]

This lady is brilliant. I spent 7 years of my life studying bacteroide fragilis.

[SRBOMBONICA]

Food does affect our mental health, my anxiety was the worst in college when I ate a lot of sweets and snacks and junk food, I had no idea at the time, why I felt so bad, also some food make people more aggressive, this is why fasting is done in religion, to ease the spiritual battle and help our spiritual fight against lust, envy,hatred,anger etc..

[AnthaKharana]

This presentation from 2013 deserves more views!

[dashit]

It is extremely sad that this video which has some of the most important recently discovered about how our brain works only has 20k views!  

Obviously everyone needs to know this information: That what lives in your gut affects your brain, directly!!  I suffered from an anxiety disorder all my life, it got really bad a few years ago.  before seeing this video a year ago I did the candida diet and cured myself of that horrible ailment.  Using probiotics and anti-fungal/anti-bacterial foods my gut is much more healthy and my brain works so much better.

[laomark]

Exellent Elaine. Your speach further reinforces what have experienced/ observed with aquatic animals ( aquaculture) and have been "defending"/promoting for 30 years. In fact I published 2 papers relating the importance of these microbes and that our current civilization quasi-obcessive desire to eliminate microbes is naive, unnatural and counter productive. What we should be doing is promoting the growth of selected beneficial microbes to overcome the detrimental ones. We have to join forces with the billion old evolution and "wisdom" of Nature, not fight against it! I have no doubt that this field will grow immensly and will spread to most areas of our lives and industries.

[MB-ngqo]

Actually constantly doing behaviors that boosts your normal microbiome is essential for overall good health ( exercise, eating high fiber diet, and taking probiotics regularly)
I have IBS and it totally gets to me, after switching to this healthy lifestyle my guts function amazingly and I feel much better!

[michaelpondo]

This one study is so true. It solve my problem of chronic fatigue and systemic pain. By learning how to balance these microbiomes. I have improved my health and mind plus my energy. And now at 75 i can have a good life after 50 yrs of suffering

[enric]

Excellent talk, such an amazing field of research.

[Ontheup]

Great video. Logically too. It's exciting to think what medical breakthroughs will follow.

[andrewburns]

I took parasite medicine in october of 2002. The doctor told me "there wont be anything alive in your stomach or digestive tract" after taking it. I had traveled a lot, so I took 2 rounds of them to make sure. this was before we knew about gut health.

at the time, I was in charge of 200 people in a foreign country, speaking the language, traveling, having the success I had always wanted. 2 months after taking the pills I was tossing and turning all night, sweating all over, skin burning like it was on fire at times, got hit with a depression darker than I knew could exist. I couldn't get control of my mind for 6 months, stopped communicating with others and climbed into a cave in my mind that i've stayed in for the most part of 15 years now.

Never knew what happened, I just knew I changed. Disconnected from all friends and family for 15 years, thinking I had some sort of nervous breakdown. Now I realize I started operating at 10% serotonin and have been slowly climbing, but without knowledge of bacteria until recently. I'm thinking this is my road back to health.

what are the best probiotic replacements you have found?

[nardanarda]

I've been wondering if the duality of our mind has something to do with our inner ecosystem? Who's really is in control?

[iterbeijing]

Brilliant. Have seen reports in the media of parents completely adjusting their child's diet, which has affected autism symptoms in positive ways. There's no question that diet is everything.

[Novak]

Good bacteria in the gut also produces serotonin and B vitamins, this adds to the explanation between the brain and gut.

[carrollhoagland]

A bit out of date now as we know that it is about a 1:1 ratio of human cells to bacteria cells ... this field changes with the technology. Never the less, the gut bacteria is now being studies as an "Organ" and many consider is as important as the liver.
70 Going On 100

[rogerbird]

She failed to mention to EAT YOUR And don't use artificial ANYTHING in your food. This is includes industrially derived oils like so-called canola oil. Stick with olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil, etc., oils that you might find in a less industrialized society.

[TimmyTheAnarchist]

This makes me even more of a hypochondriac than I was before.

[LaureenForman]

Finally, the word is getting out! Had the honor of meeting Paul Patterson and had a whole hour with him to ask questions about immune issues and Autism. He brought to my attention a great meeting in September 2012 about Autoimmune Issues/CNS and got to see him for a bit while there. We need to get this out of the clinic soon as the Autism rates are not getting any lower.

[tomdjhill]

I work with people with Autism. They ALL are on high sugar high carb diets, not what we choose but what their families have given them. Some will only drink Coke. Nearly all have stomach issues, I've never met an Autistic child that has a healthy whole food diet.

[ontheedge]

Yesterday I was really hungry and was aware my stomach was doing a lot of my thinking .. it was more of a revelation than just a passing thought . This speaker is giving me that revelation even more and I should test to quickly explain why .
I have always had anxiety and it’s always affected my eating in a big way . I had very bad stomach aches specially from the age of about 5 to 15 Then I started to get super bad heartburn at 15 until this very day . I could manage with tums as long as I always had some I was ok ! Then I was almost killed at work and crushed my insides rupturing organs shattering pelvis and slicing my femoral artery and the had to cut fairly big portion of my bowel out ... .... I have developed chronic migraines believe a lot of the reason I do get them is from my horrible working guts . I am almost 50 now and have had enough time with it to feel this lady is correct and I appreciate the knowledge . It’s a great help thanks 🥳

[davidsp]

She is so smart and cute. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!