Archive · 2 Aug 2025
Study: Stomach May Be a 'Sixth Sense' Influencing Eating
Your stomach might be smarter than you think!
Scientists discovered that your stomach can "talk" to your brain.
It does this by using special cells to find a protein from bacteria called flagellin.
When the stomach finds flagellin, it sends a signal to the brain, telling it that the stomach is full.
This could mean that tiny bugs in your tummy may also affect how happy or worried you feel, and could even lead to new ways to help with problems like being overweight or feeling stressed.
Scientists found the stomach can communicate with the brain, possibly signaling when to stop eating.
The stomach uses specialized cells (neuropods) to detect the bacterial protein flagellin.
When flagellin is detected, the brain receives a signal indicating fullness.
Mice lacking the receptor for flagellin overate and became obese in experiments.
Researchers suggest gut bacteria may influence mental health, including mood and anxiety.
- Who
- Scientists at Duke University
- What
- Researchers discovered a communication pathway between the stomach and the brain involving flagellin.
- When
- The study was published on August 02, 2025.
- Where
- Duke University in the United States (USA)
- Why
- To understand the stomach's role in eating behavior, potentially leading to new treatments for obesity and mental health conditions.
- Study Focus
- Stomach-brain communication
- Key Protein
- Flagellin
- Specialized Cells
- Neuropods
- Receptor
- TLR5 (Toll-Like Receptor 5)
- Potential Impact
- Obesity, mood, anxiety