Scientists Discover Biological Consequences of Racism
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Loading... - Matias Salinas
- 23 Jan 2023
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New research published in biological psychiatry has discovered a correlation between discrimination and an altered brain-gut microbiome.
Structural racism not only has psychological consequences but also impacts the body on a biological level. Discrimination has been shown to contribute to various mental and physical disorders such as obesity, depression, and addiction, however, the biological pathways linking social experiences to physical health effects remain largely unknown.
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry examines the role of the brain-gut microbiome (BGM) system in discrimination-related health issues. Past research on discrimination and illness has pointed to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which regulates stress, however, the authors of this study wanted to expand the scope of their research.
Recent studies have revealed that the BGM is also highly responsive to stressful experiences. Dysregulation of the BGM is associated with inflammation and long-term health issues resulting from immune cell, neuronal, and hormone signaling that link our experiences to our health. Read More…
