← All stories
Health, Longevity & Biohacking

Mouse Studies Show Depression and Anxiety Can Be Transmitted Through Gut Microbiome Transplants

ZOE Science & Nutrition · LIVE Q&A: Your gut health, dementia and weight loss questions answered by Prof Tim Spector, Prof Sarah Berry & Dr Federica Amati · June 25, 2026
Mouse Studies Show Depression and Anxiety Can Be Transmitted Through Gut Microbiome Transplants
ZOE Science & Nutrition
ZOE Science & Nutrition
LIVE Q&A: Your gut health, dementia and weight loss questions answered by Prof Tim Spector, Prof Sarah Berry & Dr Federica Amati
"You take an anxious mouse, you take their poo, you transplant it into a germ-free sterile mouse. You can make that mouse anxious. And by using antibiotics and things, you can reverse that process."
Tim Spector described animal studies demonstrating that mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, and even schizophrenia symptoms can be transferred between mice via fecal transplants. While acknowledging humans aren't mice, he cited this as strong mechanistic evidence for the gut-brain connection in mental illness.
From this episode
ZOE Science & Nutrition
ZOE Science & Nutrition

LIVE Q&A: Your gut health, dementia and weight loss questions answered by Prof Tim Spector, Prof Sarah Berry & Dr Federica Amati

August 3, 2026 · 5 Egleze moments
Read episode summary and key points →

More moments from this episode

Health, Longevity & BiohackingFood Industry Designs Products to Mimic Baby Food to Increase Consumption and ProfitsHealth, Longevity & BiohackingBerry Claims Government Wasting Money on Weight Loss Drugs Without Nutritional SupportHealth, Longevity & BiohackingUK Nutrition Committee Refuses to Declare Ultra Processed Food Unhealthy Despite Global ConsensusHealth, Longevity & BiohackingSpector Claims 80 Percent of Dementia Cases Are Preventable Through Lifestyle Changes
More stories More from ZOE Science & Nutrition