“A Gut Feeling” – Link Between the Gut and the Brain

19 Jan “A Gut Feeling” – Link Between the Gut and the Brain

By Connie Opfell, LCSW

An interesting article, “A Gut Check for Many Ailments,” in The Wall Street Journal this week discusses the research that is looking at communication between the gut and the brain. Many people with psychiatric and brain conditions also report gastrointestinal issues – this new research indicates problems in the gut may cause problems in the brain, just as a mental ailment, such as anxiety, can upset the stomach. For example, researchers are looking into possible connections between autism and gastrointestinal ailments.