Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on the gut microbiome: A case report

Artifon, Milena; Schestatsky, Pedro; Griebler, Nathália; Tossi, Gabriel Mayer; Beraldo, Lucas Menghin; Dias, Caroline Pietta

doi:10.1016/j.brs.2020.07.019

Cited by 7 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…However, recently, a higher abundance of Roseburia has also previously been linked to changes in gut microbiome in mice and to cerebral hypometabolism (Sanguinetti et al, 2018). Interestingly, previous studies of the gut microbiome following brain stimulation (using different protocols in patients with weight disorders) have shown an increase in Clostridia , the class to which Roseburia belongs, and these were interpreted as being anti-inflammatory and therefore beneficial ( Artifon et al, 2020 ; Ferrulli et al, 2021 ), although different taxonomic sub-levels were involved compared to our study. Our study highlights that it is difficult to interpret changes in bacteria at the phyla level because taxa within the Firmicutes phylum have different functions.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 61%

“…The use of brain-specific treatment methods can help to dissect the top-down effects of depression treatment on the gut microbiome. Non-invasive brain stimulation has exhibited potential positive effects on the gut microbiome in patients with weight disorders through subsequent improvements in weight ( Artifon et al, 2020 ; Ferrulli et al, 2021 ). Here we use repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive FDA-approved treatment for depression ( O'Reardon et al, 2007 ) that uses electromagnetic induction to alter the excitability of the brain ( George et al, 2000 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changes in the rodent gut microbiome following chronic restraint stress and low-intensity rTMS

Seewoo

Chua

Arena-Foster

et al. 2022

Neurobiology of Stress

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Gut microbiome composition is associated with mood-relating behaviours, including those reflecting depression-like phenotypes. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive neuromodulation technique, is an effective treatment for depression, but its effects on the gut microbiome remain largely unknown. This study assessed microbial changes from rat faecal samples longitudinally following chronic restraint stress (CRS) and 10 Hz low-intensity rTMS treatment. CRS increased abundance within the Proteobacteria (Deltaproteobacteria, Desulfovibrionales) and Firmicutes ( Anaerostipes, Frinsingococcus ) , with decreases in Firmicutes family (Acidaminococcaceae) and genera ( Roseburia , Phascolarctobacterium and Fusicatenibacter ) persisting for up to 4 weeks post CRS. The decrease in Firmicutes was not observed in the handling control and LI-rTMS groups, suggesting that handling alone may have sustained changes in gut microbiome associated with CRS. Nonetheless, LI-rTMS was specifically associated with an increase in Roseburia genus that developed 2 weeks after treatment, and the abundance of both Roseburia and Fusicatenibacter genera was significantly correlated with rTMS behavioural and MRI outcomes. In addition, LI-rTMS treated rats had a reduction in apoptosis pathways and several indicators of reduced inflammatory processes. These findings provide evidence that the brain can influence the gut microbiome in a “top-down” manner, presumably via stimulation of descending pathways, and/or indirectly via behavioural modification.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 61%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in the rodent gut microbiome following chronic restraint stress and low-intensity rTMS

Seewoo

Chua

Arena-Foster

et al. 2022

Neurobiology of Stress

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Moreover, the findings support the hypothesis of the existence of complex bidirectional communication between the brain and intestine known as the brain-gut-microbiome axis [90,91]. Several pathways, including the vagus nerve, the immune and endocrine system, as well as the enteric nervous system, mediate the bidirectional communication between the brain and the gut microbiota [92]. The vagus nerve, which is a major afferent pathway from the abdominal cavity to the CNS, seems to be the fastest and most direct way for the microbiota to influence the brain [92,93].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…Several pathways, including the vagus nerve, the immune and endocrine system, as well as the enteric nervous system, mediate the bidirectional communication between the brain and the gut microbiota [92]. The vagus nerve, which is a major afferent pathway from the abdominal cavity to the CNS, seems to be the fastest and most direct way for the microbiota to influence the brain [92,93]. There are reports suggesting that the microbiome may activate this pathway, influencing brain action at the physiological and behavioral level [94].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Repetitive transcranial direct current stimulation modulates the brain–gut–microbiome axis in obese rodents

et al. 2022

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Background Complex interactions between the brain, gut and adipose tissue allow to recognize obesity as a neurometabolic disorder. The recent data have shown that gut microbiota can play a potential role in obesity development. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a safe and non-invasive technique to modulate the activity of cerebral cortex and other connected brain areas also in context of appetite control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of repetitive anodal tDCS (AtDCS) of prefrontal cortex on feeding behavior, metabolic status and selected phyla of gut microbiota in rats with obesity induced by high-calorie diet (HCD). Methods 32 female Wistar rats were equally divided into 4 subgroups depending on diet effect (lean versus obese) and type of stimulation (active versus sham tDCS versus no stimulation). Feed intake, body weight, blood lipoproteins and leptin levels as well as Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in intestines and stool were examined. Results HCD changed feeding behavior and metabolic parameters typically for obesity-related ranges and resulted in an abundance of Firmicutes at the expanse of Bacteroidetes in the large intestine and stool. AtDCS decreased appetite, body weight, and cholesterol levels. In addition, AtDCS reduced ratio of the average number of Firmicutes to average number of Bacteroidetes in all examined tissues. Conclusions Repetitive AtDCS is not only effective for appetite restriction but can also modulate gut microbiome composition which demonstrates the existence of the brain–gut–microbiome axis and points at this technique as a promising complementary treatment for obesity. However, the effects should be further replicated in human studies.

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“…Although to date no clinical trials investigated the effects of TMS on gut microbiota composition in obesity, among the other neurostimulation techniques, transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), targeted to the right dorsolateral PFC for 10 weeks, revealed effectiveness in inducing beneficial changes in the gut microbiome in an individual with overweight and cravings for sugary foods [ 29 ]. In addition, vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) exhibited a potential to modulate the enteric microbiota in preclinical studies [ 30 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Affects Gut Microbiota Composition in Obesity: Results of Randomized Clinical Trial

Ferrulli

Drago

Gandini

et al. 2021

IJMS

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Growing evidence highlights the crucial role of gut microbiota in affecting different aspects of obesity. Considering the ability of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) to modulate the cortical excitability, the reward system, and, indirectly, the autonomic nervous system (ANS), we hypothesized a potential role of dTMS in affecting the brain-gut communication pathways, and the gut microbiota composition in obesity. In a hospital setting, 22 subjects with obesity (5 M, 17 F; 44.9 ± 2.2 years; BMI 37.5 ± 1.0 kg/m2) were randomized into three groups receiving 15 sessions (3 per week for 5 weeks) of high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF) dTMS, or sham stimulation. Fecal samples were collected at baseline and after 5 weeks of treatment. Total bacterial DNA was extracted from fecal samples using the QIAamp DNA Stool Mini Kit (Qiagen, Italy) and analyzed by a metagenomics approach (Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine). After 5 weeks, a significant weight loss was found in HF (HF: −4.1 ± 0.8%, LF: −1.9 ± 0.8%, sham: −1.3 ± 0.6%, p = 0.042) compared to LF and sham groups, associated with a decrease in norepinephrine compared to baseline (HF: −61.5 ± 15.2%, p < 0.01; LF: −31.8 ± 17.1%, p < 0.05; sham: −35.8 ± 21.0%, p > 0.05). Furthermore, an increase in Faecalibacterium (+154.3% vs. baseline, p < 0.05) and Alistipes (+153.4% vs. baseline, p < 0.05) genera, and a significant decrease in Lactobacillus (−77.1% vs. baseline, p < 0.05) were found in HF. Faecalibacterium variations were not significant compared to baseline in the other two groups (LF: +106.6%, sham: +27.6%; p > 0.05) as well as Alistipes (LF: −54.9%, sham: −15.1%; p > 0.05) and Lactobacillus (LF: −26.0%, sham: +228.3%; p > 0.05) variations. Norepinephrine change significantly correlated with Bacteroides (r2 = 0.734; p < 0.05), Eubacterium (r2 = 0.734; p < 0.05), and Parasutterella (r2 = 0.618; p < 0.05) abundance variations in HF. In conclusion, HF dTMS treatment revealed to be effective in modulating gut microbiota composition in subjects with obesity, reversing obesity-associated microbiota variations, and promoting bacterial species representative of healthy subjects with anti-inflammatory properties.

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Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on the gut microbiome: A case report

Cited by 7 publications

References 10 publications

Changes in the rodent gut microbiome following chronic restraint stress and low-intensity rTMS

Changes in the rodent gut microbiome following chronic restraint stress and low-intensity rTMS

Repetitive transcranial direct current stimulation modulates the brain–gut–microbiome axis in obese rodents

Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Affects Gut Microbiota Composition in Obesity: Results of Randomized Clinical Trial

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