The gut microbiome influences loneliness in interesting and unexpected ways. Although there is still much to learn about the microbiota that reside within the gut, it is known that there are up to 5 possible routes of communication between the gut microbiome and the brain (Wang et. al). Because of this communication, this suggests that there must be some relation between the gut microbiome and the brain when it experiences the stress of loneliness. In addition, the gut microbiome is also influenced highly by the environment we are in, allowing us to realize that our environment, gut microbiome, and brain are all linked (Grice et. al). This means that the gut microbiome serves as a sort of mediator between our environment and mental health, and has a role that needs further exploration.

 

    The influence of the environment is confirmed with the discovery that an individual’s gut microbiota typically mirrors the microbiota of the individuals that surround them (Dill-McFarland et. al). In other terms, you are more likely to have a microbiota that mirrors the person that lives with you than you are to have a microbiota that mirrors your parents’ or siblings’. This would mean that you would typically tend to mirror the mental health of the individuals around you as well, as similar microbiome composition would theoretically lead to similar communication with the brain. In fact, the gut microbiome may lead to neural development and development of behavior patterns. These behaviors can range from depressive to therapeutic depending on the alteration (Rogers et. al). This confirms that the microbiome has a bearing on our brain chemistry. From this information, the question as to how much our environment affects this bearing and sways it has yet to be answered. Although we know that there is an influence, it is not yet controllable and malleable as a science as of yet. However, with these findings it is clear that controlling the microbiome via the environment or directly can change an individual’s mental health, so it is an avenue that should be explored further.