Wow! As someone who suffers from chronic digestive problems, and who is also very interested in the brain, I’ve just had my socks knocked off by a study reported in JAMA(http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/292/7/852).
Here’s what I’ve learned so far: harmful bacteria from the large intestine can invade the small intestine and appear to cause (of play a role in the development of) all kinds of surprising problems including mood disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression, in addition to fibromyalgia, and behavioral problems like inappropriate anger and violence, as well as intestinal gas, bloating, diarrhea and constipation.
It turns out that Dr. Mark Pimental has developed a treatment to clean up the small intestine bacterial problem. He uses a non-absorbed antibiotic–Xifaxin. Dr. Hyman also uses the drug with terrific results.
I headed straight for my doctor, book in hand, and requested the drug but unfortunately, it is not available in Canada. I hope to find a way to obtain it. My own private detective work on my body/mind has led me to the conclusion that digestion has an incredible impact on my cognition and I am excited to learn more.