# Brain-Boosting Bacteria New Studies Show Eating Bacteria Boosts Brain Power By Allison Love | Published 2010-05-28 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bacteria-boosts-brain-power References: [gizmodo](http://gizmodo.com/5549103/eat-bacteria-to-boost-brain-power) & [sciencedirect](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T0F-4NC5T69-D&_user=10&_coverDate=05/11/2007&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=fdb19af2a2b38284df7a00bfe6d2d56a) Dorothy Matthews has just completed an interesting test that suggests bacteria boosts brain power. Testing on white mice (how cliche), Matthews found that the mice who were given the bacteria Mycobacterium vaccae hurried through a maze twice as fast as the mice who hadn't eaten it. Of course, the test didn't just happen once. Dorothy Matthews says the mice who were given the bacteria actually performed faster in "18 more trials over the next six weeks, showing they weren't just made more alert by a surprise change to their treat." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.5/10 - Popularity: 4% | Activity: 3% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Brain-boosting Bacteria for Cognitive Enhancement:** Opportunities to explore the development of brain-boosting supplements and functional foods with Mycobacterium vaccae as a key ingredient. - **Microbiome-based Therapeutics for Cognitive Impairment:** Potential to leverage the link between gut health and brain function to develop new therapeutic approaches for neurodegenerative diseases. - **Gut-brain Axis-targeted Solutions for Stress Management:** Creating products that help manage stress by modulating the gut-brain axis through the incorporation of Mycobacterium vaccae. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Food and Beverage:** Opportunities to develop functional foods containing Mycobacterium vaccae for cognitive enhancement. - **Pharmaceuticals:** Potential to leverage the gut-brain axis to develop novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. - **Cosmetics and Personal Care:** Creating skincare products aimed at enhancing cognitive function through modulation of the gut-brain axis. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Brain-Boosting Food Ranges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ms-brain-food.md) - [Brain-Boosting Protein Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantpowered-protein-bar.md) - [Gut-Brain Wellness Tests](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gut-brain-wellness-test.md) - [Targeted Probiotic Supplements](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-strains.md) - [Brain Nutrition Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/good-thinking-bar.md) - [Brain Development Smoothie Pouches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brainiac-foods-neuro.md) - [Four-Week Dietary Supplement Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dietary-supplement-system.md) - [Brain-Boosting Lemonades](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/braincare.md) - [Gut Health Strengthening Supplements](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-solutions-gutsmart.md)