A new partnership between the University of Reading and Dutch company Winclove Probiotics is sponsoring research which will be looking at how probiotics can positively influence cognitive function and mood outcomes in humans. They will assess biological changes, such as neurotransmitters or hormones, which may underpin any observed effects.
The gut-brain axis is right at the frontier of science at the moment with potential to help us understand how we can improve mental health and maximise our cognitive abilities.
PhD student Jess Eastwood has started this three year study under supervision of principal investigators Dr Daniel Lamport and Professor Claire Williams (Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences), and Dr Gemma Walton (Food and Nutritional Sciences) to look at this important area. The results of the study will contribute to the development new probiotic formulations.