Heather's Help for IBS Blog
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In the first research to look at constipation’s impact on the aging brain, scientists have found concerning links.
Being chronically constipated, defined by the study authors as having a bowel movement only every three or more days, has been linked with a 73% higher risk of subjective cognitive decline, according to research presented Wednesday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Amsterdam.
Our study provided first-of-its-kind evidence that examined a wide spectrum of bowel movement frequency,said Dr. Chaoran Ma, the research’s first author and assistant professor in the department of nutrition at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
We were surprised at how strong the associations were, especially for those with very infrequent bowel movements.
Chronic constipation has already been linked with inflammation and mental disorders such as anxiety and depression, but there have been many unanswered questions about the relationship between digestive health and long-term cognitive function.
Bowel movement frequency and subjective cognitive function were also linked with the participants’ gut microbiomes, the authors found. Among those with infrequent bowel movements and worse cognitive function, there was a depletion in good bacteria that produce butyrates, fatty acids which support the gut barrier that prevents bacteria and other microbes from entering your bloodstream.
More about IBS constipation.
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Heather
Heather Van Vorous
Over 40 years dealing with IBS
