The Fascinating Science of the Gut-Brain Connection

This month, we will take a deep dive into the exciting and “exploding” world of the microbiome.
Did you know that your enteric nervous system, considered the “second brain” has more neurons than your spinal cord? Did you know that your gut microbes make the majority of your seratonin and dopamine? Will doctors someday be managing your mental health with targeted nutrition? Are neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s modifiable through diet? What about autism and ADHD? Diabetes, heart disease? Are microbes actually in the driver’s seat?
Join us in November as we explore what may revolutionize how we practice medicine and perhaps how you choose to feed your body.

Gut Microbiome Explained in Simple Words
7 min Introduction to Microbiome.
TAP: Microbiome Overview
https://youtu.be/JaXMGFShqDE?is=KUmI8so8Wwn2uvVj

From Gut to Brain: Microbiome Pathways in Mental Health
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecnp-podcast-series/id1560973815?i=1000766189706
9 min
Gut microbial communities influence stress, mood, cognition, and behavior. This conversation dives into the mechanisms of the microbiome–brain axis, the clinical promise of psychobiotics, and future psychiatric treatments. [1, 2]

Science Friday: Gut Brain Connection
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/science-friday/id73329284?i=1000775944166
37 min
TAP: Gut-Brain Connection
The enteric nervous system leverages its 500 million nerve cells to continuously synthesize neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine and transmit them via the vagus nerve—signaling upward from the gut to the brain to impact mood, homeostasis, and the pathology of conditions like Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer’s.

Human gut microbiome | microbiome animation | microbiome | gutmicrobiome | microbiota guthealth
2 min. TAP: Cool Short
Brief but dramatic demonstrative video

What is the gut microbiome?
3 min
Short overview of Microbiome
TAP: Short Overview

TAP: Gut-Brain Axis
33 min
Integrative Gut Health: The Gut-Brain Axis
George Washington School of Medicine
https://youtu.be/5EHYlJ0SzRA?is=hHvII0hrlVn79oK

TAP: How Your Gut Controls Your Decisions
How Your Gut Bacteria Control Your Decisions (It's Not What You Think)
9 min
How microbes make neurotransmitters.

TAP: You Truly Are What You Eat
What Happens To Your Gut When You Eat Only Processed Food (Week By Week)
11 min
Affect of Processed Food on the Gut and Health

Important notes for all attendees:

1st and most important:
Welcome and thank you for joining us at our MeetUp!

2nd. Do the homework!
This event is a group discussion about the media and is not a group listen party. Be sure to have listened to/read the materials BEFORE joining us. It will help you stay in the loop!

3rd. Food & Beverage
Wine, beer and Topo Chico are available at the bar! Meals are not served at Winehaus but sometimes charcuterie boards are available. You are welcome to bring your dinner or order delivery from a local business and eat during the discussion!

4th. A typical meetup looks like this:
We start with an icebreaker question and introductions around the table, often with gentil banter about the icebreaker or uproarious laughter (hey, it happens!), then the organizer throws out questions to incite conversation!

Note: We do our best to stay on topic and ensure everyone is able to share, but we recognize there are times when great contributions may not make it into the discussion. If you have something you really want to say and need an outlet to do so, please join our Discord server and participate virtually as well as in person! Click here to Join FWWSS on Discord.

5th. No one is obligated for any length of time. Sometimes the discussion ends around 8:00 and sometimes we talk past 9:00.