Chronic abdominal discomfort directly affects our brain

Gastrointestinal tract and brain are closely related
In chronic abdominal pain, no organic cause is often detectable and it is assumed that a psychosomatic symptoms. Recent studies show that there is a proven link between inflammatory bowel disease and the brain, although it works in both directions. A research team around Dr. Peter Holzer, Professor of Experimental Neuro-Gastroenterology at the Institute for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology of the Medical University of Graz, has found that brain function and social behavior are influenced by chronic abdominal pain.
The gastrointestinal tract exchanges information with the brain via at least four different channels: via signals from the intestinal microbiome, intestinal hormones, immune messengers (cytokines) and sensory neurons, explains Professor Holzer, who is also the research unit for Translational Neuro-Gastroenterology at the Medical University Graz leads.

The current research shows, according to the expert, that mental problems can manifest not only in the gastrointestinal tract, but that conversely, mental disorders may be due to influences from the gastrointestinal tract. According to the expert, signals from the gastrointestinal tract have effects on mood, emotions, cognitive processes and appetite, but can also cause nausea and pain and influence the susceptibility to stress.

Chronic pain has an influence on the brain and social behavior. (Image: ag visual / fotolia.com)

Signaling in the brain influenced
The pathologically altered information flow between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain may be responsible for mental disorders, especially in functional stomach and intestinal diseases (for example, irritable bowel syndrome), Professor Holzer and colleagues report. In experiments with mice, the researchers have shown that pain and susceptibility to stress are closely related to inflammatory bowel disease.

Chronic abdominal pain leads to significant changes in cerebral signaling in the brain. These study results offer new starting points for explaining the "central sensitization and the sensory and emotional processing of visceral pain stimuli in the brain," the scientists report in the journal "Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience"..

Communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain
The intestinal flora or intestinal microbiome is composed of various types of bacteria, which are influenced for example by the diet, but also by intestinal diseases or stress. On the other hand, the intestinal flora, for example, has a significant effect on the metabolism, the immune system, the sensation of pain, the susceptibility to stress as well as the general mood, learning and memory, explains Professor Holzer.

According to the researchers, social behavior is linked to complaints in the digestive tract such as chronic abdominal pain. The previously identified information channels between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain obviously play a crucial role here. However, it remains "important for a comprehensive understanding of chronic pain syndromes to consider all, not just neural information paths between the periphery and the brain," said Professor Holzer of the Austrian daily newspaper "Der Standard" on the study results so far. The normalization of impaired brain function must, in his opinion, be taken into account in the treatment of chronic abdominal pain.

Consider the connection with the brain for abdominal pain
According to the expert, numerous medications have already been developed for abdominal pain, but these did not stand up to clinical examination. "Many targets were found and medications were developed. But in clinical trials on patients, these have proved to be little or not effective, "the standard quoted" the researcher. The explanation of the chronic abdominal pain with concentration on the pain-sensitive nerve fibers in the gastrointestinal tract is not sufficient here. In addition to the hypersensitivity of nerves in the gastrointestinal tract, something else plays a role, "which is closer to the brain." In order to treat chronic abdominal pain successfully, therefore, in his view, a consideration of the changes in the brain. (Fp)