The gut-brain axis is a direct line of communication between the gut and the brain, facilitated by sensory cells that rapidly transmit information.
This axis goes beyond the role of hormones and highlights the coordinated operation of all organs in the body.
The gut, being exposed to the external environment, plays a crucial role in sensing various stimuli and sending signals to the brain. (Time 0:00:00)
Exploring the Intriguing Gut-Brain Axis and Gut Sensing System
Summary:
The gut brain axis is a direct line of communication between the gut and the brain, enabled by sensory cells in the gut that quickly send information to the brain.
This axis transcends the traditional focus on hormones and emphasizes the synchronized functioning of all organs. The gut, although part of the body, is unique as it is exposed to the external environment, signifying its essential role in sensing stimuli and communicating with the brain.
Transcript:
Speaker 2
Dr. Diego Borges. Great to have you here.
Speaker 1
Thank you for having me, Andrew.
Speaker 2
I am super excited to learn from you today as I know everyone else is and if they don't realize why soon they will, which is that you work on one of the more fascinating aspects of us, which Is our gut, our gut sensing. The gut brain axis, which I think most people don't realize is nearby but separate from the so-called microbiome. So we're not talking about the microbiome, a very interesting and important topic, of course, but we are going to talk about this thing that we call our gut sense and how it impacts everything From our cravings to our brain health and our cognition. So once again, welcome. And I just want to kick things off by asking you to educate us, explain, you know, what is this gut brain axis that we hear about and what's going on in our gut besides digestion.
Speaker 1
Well, Andrew, thank you so much for having me here. Thrill to be here. I knew that since we met a few years ago that we will have this ongoing conversation and a great conversation. The gut and the brain, you know, people call it an axis because traditionally it thought to be an imaginary line that was connected through hormones. So since 1902, when the first hormone secreting was reported by Bailey's and Sterling, it was known that when we eat, then hormones, these molecules in the gut are released and then They will enter the bloodstream and then eventually will have a cause in distant organs. And for the next hundred or so years, the field focus on the hormones. And as a consequence, there was no direct line of communication between the gut and the brain. But as often I say, you don't say or we don't say the nose brain axis, right, like or the eye brain axis, right? And all of the organs are in sync, working in sync. So in the gut, there are also some sensory cells that are able to detect the outside world and then quickly communicate that information to the brain. And I say the outside world because the gut is the only organ that passes throughout our body, but it is still exposed to the outside. If you think about it, if you will swallow a marble, it still has the chance to get out. Please don't do that, anybody. But it is still exposed to the surface. (Time 0:06:49)
