Gut Feelings

“Trust your gut” goes the advice, but the 'second brain' in our intestines is already guiding us through life. Researchers believe chemical messages passed through the gut-brain axis affect our mental health, shaping our thoughts and behaviours. They may also hold clues to brain disorders. Here an advanced form of electron tomography virtually strips back layers of tissue in a mouse’s intestine to highlight one of several gland-like crypts in green. Crypts usually produced chemicals needed for gut health, but its pattern of cells (yellow and blue) is different to healthy crypts. This mouse suffers from symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s disease, perhaps revealing links between a malfunctioning ‘dysbiotic’ gut and neurodegeneration. Spotting similar signs in our similar tissues may lead to early diagnosis and more effective management of human Alzheimer’s disease.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Video from work by Francesca Palermo and colleagues
• Institute of Nanotechnology – CNR, Rome, Italy
• Video originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
• Published in Science Advances, January 2025