The Connection Between Oral Microbiome and Mental Health
The oral microbiome, which refers to the diverse community of bacteria in our mouths, has been linked to various physical and mental health conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression. Recent studies have shown that an out-of-whack oral microbiome can have a significant impact on our overall well-being.
The Study on Newlywed Couples
In a recent study, researchers investigated whether the oral microbiome can be transferred between people through kissing, and whether such transfer can affect mental health. The study involved 268 newlywed couples, where one spouse had insomnia with anxiety and depression, while the other was a healthy control. The researchers collected data on the couples’ oral microbiome composition and salivary cortisol levels at the beginning and end of the six-month study period.
Methodology and Findings
The study found that after six months of marriage, healthy spouses showed increased depression and anxiety scores, and poorer sleep quality. The changes were more pronounced in female spouses. The researchers also observed that the composition of the bacteria found in the mouths of healthy spouses changed considerably, becoming increasingly similar to their affected partners. This suggests that oral microbiota transfer between individuals in close contact, such as couples, may mediate depression and anxiety.
Implications of the Study
The study’s findings have implications for holistic, personalized, and preventive medicine, especially in the context of mental health treatment. The researchers noted that oral microbiome transfer between couples makes sense, given that other forms of physiological synchrony have been documented, including synchronized heartbeats and sleep concordance. The study’s results also highlight the importance of considering the oral microbiome in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions.
Limitations and Future Research
While the study provides valuable insights into the connection between oral microbiome and mental health, it has some limitations. The use of self-reporting to measure insomnia, depression, and anxiety, and the measurement of only morning salivary cortisol levels, may have affected the accuracy of the results. Additionally, the researchers failed to control for shared lifestyle factors such as diet, and bacterial samples were only collected from the tonsils and pharynx, rather than the full oral microbiome. Further research is needed to establish whether the association between oral microbiome transfer and mental health is causal, and to explore the implications of this connection for mental health treatment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study provides evidence that depression and anxiety can be passed from one spouse to the other via the oral microbiome, which is transferred during close contact, such as kissing. The findings highlight the importance of considering the oral microbiome in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions, and suggest that oral microbiome transfer between couples may be a key factor in the development of mental health conditions. Further research is needed to fully understand the connection between oral microbiome and mental health, and to explore the implications of this connection for holistic, personalized, and preventive medicine.
