In the first article, “Unlock the Mystery of Microbial Biofilms in Chronic and Recurrent Infections” we extensively explored information beneficial for those seeking to understand what biofilms are.
The biofilms in the human body serve as protection for the habitats of various microorganisms. Recent studies have shown that the composition of these biofilms can have a significant impact on mental health. It has been found that biofilms can affect the nervous system through complex mechanisms, such as the release of neurotransmitters (chemical substances that transmit signals between nerve cells) and inflammatory processes. This influence can affect both mood and the mental state of a person.
It has also become known that changes in the gut microbiome are associated with the development of mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, Alzheimer’s disease, or serious behavioural problems. At the same time, it has become clear that the role of biofilms must be taken into account in the development of new approaches to the treatment of these diseases.
Are Biofilm and Microbiome the Same Thing?
Biofilm and microbiome are two important concepts that play a key role in the functioning of various ecosystems, including the human body.
Biofilm is a layer of microorganisms that forms on surfaces and creates a protective structure that strengthens and protects microbes from the effects of external factors. This layer typically consists of a mixture of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms, and may also contain heavy metals and polymer materials secreted by the microbes.
On the other hand, the microbiome is the collection of all microorganisms that inhabit a particular environment, such as the gut, skin, soil, and others. It is formed by various bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms that coexist in a specific ecosystem, performing various functions, including protective and digestive.
In other words, the biofilm is a protective shell of the microbiome, that is, a part of it.
What are Pathogenic Biofilms?
Pathogenic biofilms can pose a danger to us by forming “colonies” of microorganisms capable of causing various diseases. They can form on various surfaces, including the mucous membrane of the intestines and other mucous membranes of our body.
Substances released from pathogenic biofilms can be toxic to the body. These may include various neurotoxins produced by microorganisms. Neurotoxins can cause inflammation, and tissue damage, suppress the immune system, or excessively stimulate the immune system, as well as trigger autoimmunity.
Pathogenic biofilms can also create special conditions for microorganisms, making them difficult to destroy. They can cause infections resistant to antibiotic treatment and make fighting them extremely difficult. Biofilms protect microorganisms so effectively that destroying the biofilm with antibiotics alone would require doses 500 times higher than those typically used in the treatment of infectious problems. Such a dose, of course, cannot be used as it can be extremely dangerous to our body.
Thus, pathogenic biofilms can pose a serious threat to health, requiring gradual intervention, careful destruction, and cautious treatment of what they hide from the immune system.
Impact of Pathogenic Biofilms on Children’s Mental Health
Biofilms form differently in children and adults due to differences in physiology, diet, immune system, and health status. It is important to consider this when studying and treating the impact of pathogenic biofilms on mental health. Here are factors that can influence biofilm formation in children and adults:
- Intestinal Physiology: Children’s intestines are in a developmental stage, which can lead to higher permeability and less effective cleansing mechanisms, promoting biofilm formation.
- Nutrition and Diet: Children and adults have different dietary habits. Children’s diets are often rich in sweets and processed foods, which can promote biofilm formation, while adults may have a more varied and healthier diet.
- Immune System: Children’s immune systems may be less developed, making them more susceptible to infections, which can promote biofilm formation.
- Health Status: The presence of chronic conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can increase the rate of biofilm formation and complicate treatment in both children and adults.
- Medications and Treatment: Medication intake and treatment procedures may differ between adults and children, which can more strongly affect the composition of the gut microbiome and the formation of new biofilms in children at a very young age.
Considering these factors, it is clear that the formation of pathogenic biofilms in children occurs more quickly and may have more serious consequences for their mental health and behavioural aspects. Factors such as brain growth and development in children make them particularly vulnerable to the effects of pathogenic biofilms, which can negatively impact behaviour formation in children.
Why Treat Pathogenic Biofilms in the Body: Importance of Treatment and Consequences of Untimely Treatment
Pathogenic biofilms in the body pose a serious threat to health for several reasons:
- Increased Risk of Infections: Pathogenic biofilms promote the growth and proliferation of harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. They are shielded from the immune system and can therefore multiply uncontrollably for extended periods. This increases the likelihood of infections in the body, leading to the development of various diseases.
- Inflammation and Immune Reactions: Biofilms trigger inflammatory processes in the body, activating the immune system. Persistent inflammation may be associated with the development of chronic diseases such as asthma, arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and others.
- Tissue and Organ Damage: Some pathogenic biofilms can penetrate tissues and organs, causing their damage and destruction. This can disrupt the functions of organs and organ systems, ultimately posing a threat to life
- Suppression of Normal Microbiota: Pathogenic biofilms can disrupt the balance of the microbiome in the body, reducing the number of beneficial microorganisms and creating favourable conditions for the growth of pathogenic species. This can lead to microbiota imbalance and further deterioration of health.
In this regard, treating and destroying pathogenic biofilms is an important step in restoring health and preventing the development of serious complications. Such measures include the use of antibiotics, antiseptics, and antifungal agents, as well as procedures for toxin removal and restoration of a healthy microbiome.
How is the presence of biofilms related to emotional instability?
Increased stress on the body in the presence of pathogenic biofilms may be associated with several factors:
- Impact on the Immune System: The presence of pathogenic biofilms triggers an inflammatory reaction, leading to the production of cytokines – molecules that regulate the immune response and inflammation. These cytokines can affect the nervous system, causing changes in brain activity such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction.
- Impact on Brain Function: During inflammation, cytokines can increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from harmful substances. This increases the risk of cytokines entering the brain, which can amplify the negative effects of inflammation on brain function and contribute to conditions such as psychosis.
- Impact on Neuroplasticity and Cortisol Production: Inflammation caused by pathogenic biofilms can reduce neuroplasticity, leading to stronger stress responses, increased cortisol production, and a cascade of negative consequences for the body. Additionally, inflammation can activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which may lead to heightened stress reactions and worsened mental health.
- Impact on Neurotransmitters: Changes in the gut microbiome and inflammatory processes can affect the levels of neurotransmitters such as GABA, serotonin, and dopamine, which regulate mood and emotional reactions.
- Impact on the Digestive System: Pathogenic biofilms can disrupt the process of digestion and nutrient absorption, leading to deficiencies in essential elements such as selenium, magnesium, and vitamin B12. This can exacerbate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders. Furthermore, disruptions in nutrient absorption can cause changes in the gut microbiome, triggering inflammatory processes and intensifying their negative impact on mental health.
- Impact on the Thyroid Gland: The thyroid gland plays a crucial role in regulating metabolism and the nervous system. The presence of pathogenic biofilms can lead to inflammatory processes that increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. This allows cytokines and other substances to penetrate the brain, triggering autoimmune reactions such as chronic thyroiditis. Moreover, changes in the gut microbiome can lead to insufficient absorption of nutrients necessary for thyroid health, such as selenium and inositol, which can worsen its dysfunction.
- Impact on the Adrenal Glands: Persistent inflammation caused by biofilms can lead to hyperactivation of the immune system and increased production of cytokines. This can stimulate the adrenal glands to produce excess cortisol, leading to prolonged stress and disruption of their normal function. This condition can cause various mental and physical disorders, including depression and Addison’s crisis. The adrenal glands also require various nutrients such as vitamins C and E, magnesium, zinc, and other micronutrients, as well as some amino acids. Deficiency of these nutrients, caused by the presence of pathogenic biofilms in the intestine, can also negatively impact mental health.
What to Expect When Destroying Biofilms?
The destruction of biofilm is a crucial stage in the treatment process of infections hidden beneath it. When destroying biofilms in the body, several changes may occur that can affect the individual’s mental health:
- Mood Disorders: Disrupting biofilms can trigger inflammatory reactions in the body, which may affect neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, linked to mood regulation. This can lead to changes in the individual’s mood, including depression, anxiety, irritability, aggression, and other behavioural problems.
- Worsening Cognitive Functions: Inflammation caused by biofilm destruction can also impact brain function and cognitive abilities. This may manifest as memory impairment, reduced attention span, and slowed cognitive processes.
- Increased Stress and Anxiety: The body’s stress response may be heightened when biofilms are destroyed due to immune system activation and the release of stress hormones such as cortisol. This can lead to heightened feelings of anxiety, worry, and tension in the individual.
- Sleep and Emotional Regulation: Changes in the body’s biological balance caused by biofilm destruction can also affect sleep and emotional regulation. Individuals may experience sleep disturbances, insomnia or fragmented sleep, as well as worsening ability to emotionally regulate themselves.
Conclusion
Biofilms protect chronic infections that need to be treated. To do this, biofilms need to be destroyed, but this can be quite challenging and fraught with risks. Moreover, it may take a considerable amount of time.
You should definitely address the issue of pathogenic biofilms if you have it, but you should never attempt to do it yourself. By destroying biofilms, your body, which might have sensed that something was wrong but couldn’t see it, suddenly realizes that enemies have invaded it, that they are numerous and dangerous. This can cause the immune system and other body systems to go haywire, and this process can wreak havoc. As an example, sudden sepsis could arise, the cause of which could be a dislodged biofilm that triggered such a powerful immune system reaction.
The emotional problems we have just discussed are just the tip of the iceberg that you may feel. In reality, there are many more problems, and even specialists in this field find solving them challenging. Therefore, dealing with the issue of pathogenic biofilms should only be done under the guidance of a doctor who knows how to address this problem and has all the necessary tools at their disposal. I will discuss this further in the next article on this topic.