Scott C Anderson
@scottcanderson.bsky.social
Scientist and science writer. Author of The Psychobiotic Revolution with the brilliant scientists John Cryan and Ted Dinan. I write for Psychology Today and New Scientist. Find me at scottcanderson.substack.com
Friends and lovers don’t just share advice and gossip. Amazingly, they also share microbes.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/friends-lo...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/friends-lo...
Friends, Lovers, and Microbes
We may share more than good times with our friends and lovers.
scottcanderson.substack.com
January 24, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Friends and lovers don’t just share advice and gossip. Amazingly, they also share microbes.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/friends-lo...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/friends-lo...
A lot of claims are made for probiotics, but can they really reduce inflammation?
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/can-probio...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/can-probio...
Can Probiotics Reduce Inflammation?
Probiotics offer a drug-free way to treat inflammatory, autoimmune, and psychological disorders.
scottcanderson.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 3:17 PM
A lot of claims are made for probiotics, but can they really reduce inflammation?
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/can-probio...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/can-probio...
Is there is a microbial fingerprint of autism? By analyzing oral microbes, researchers can predict whether or not a child will develop autism with 80 percent accuracy.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/autism-inf...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/autism-inf...
Autism, Inflammation, and the Gut-Brain Axis
Inflammation may play a surprising role in autistic behavior.
scottcanderson.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:11 AM
Is there is a microbial fingerprint of autism? By analyzing oral microbes, researchers can predict whether or not a child will develop autism with 80 percent accuracy.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/autism-inf...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/autism-inf...
Our gut is lined with a delicate layer of cells constantly battered by the pathogens that hitch a ride with each bite of food. The danger of infection is high, and that’s why some 80% of our immune system is concentrated around our digestive system.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/can-probio...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/can-probio...
Can Probiotics Reduce Inflammation?
Probiotics offer a drug-free way to treat inflammatory, autoimmune, and psychological disorders.
scottcanderson.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Our gut is lined with a delicate layer of cells constantly battered by the pathogens that hitch a ride with each bite of food. The danger of infection is high, and that’s why some 80% of our immune system is concentrated around our digestive system.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/can-probio...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/can-probio...
Reposted by Scott C Anderson
I think we are in the middle of a huge shift in our understanding of our relationships with microbes. When we were kids, they were mostly regarded as harmful. Now we know that they are essential.
January 9, 2026 at 4:43 PM
I think we are in the middle of a huge shift in our understanding of our relationships with microbes. When we were kids, they were mostly regarded as harmful. Now we know that they are essential.
Laughing lowers your cortisol levels, resetting the immune system and altering gut microbes which then secrete molecules that further improve your mood.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/emotional-...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/emotional-...
Emotional Resilience
Emotions have a big impact on our health in times of stress. Use them to your advantage.
scottcanderson.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Laughing lowers your cortisol levels, resetting the immune system and altering gut microbes which then secrete molecules that further improve your mood.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/emotional-...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/emotional-...
How you breathe can alter cortisol levels, which can lower stress and improve your resilience.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
Breathing for Stress Relief
A simple breathing technique can improve your cortisol levels, boost your resilience, and even help your gut microbiome.
www.psychologytoday.com
December 20, 2025 at 6:01 PM
How you breathe can alter cortisol levels, which can lower stress and improve your resilience.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
Firstborns don’t have the luxury of a tested microbiota, typically passed down via sibling snot, to tutor their naïve immune system. That lack of education leads firstborns to overreact when exposed to new microbes.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/trials-of-...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/trials-of-...
Trials of the Firstborn
It's not easy being the first kid in a family, but at least you get to inoculate your sibs.
scottcanderson.substack.com
October 14, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Firstborns don’t have the luxury of a tested microbiota, typically passed down via sibling snot, to tutor their naïve immune system. That lack of education leads firstborns to overreact when exposed to new microbes.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/trials-of-...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/trials-of-...
Gut microbes likely play a role in ADHD, and that’s good news.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
The Intriguing Connection Between ADHD and Your Gut
New research finds that certain gut microbes are associated with ADHD. That's good news, because it means that changing your diet could help you manage your symptoms. Here's what we know.
www.psychologytoday.com
October 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Gut microbes likely play a role in ADHD, and that’s good news.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
Your amniotic bubble having popped, you become exposed to the world. It’s your big day and everything is cold, dry and infectious. You, of course, are naked. You have no real consciousness yet, and you won't remember this day, but you know enough to cry.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/birth-is-p...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/birth-is-p...
Life Can Start Out Crappy
Birth is full of microbes. That’s how nature planned it.
scottcanderson.substack.com
September 21, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Your amniotic bubble having popped, you become exposed to the world. It’s your big day and everything is cold, dry and infectious. You, of course, are naked. You have no real consciousness yet, and you won't remember this day, but you know enough to cry.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/birth-is-p...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/birth-is-p...
The idea that beneficial bacteria could be passed down by mothers is shocking to many doctors and scientists, who think that microbes associated with embryos are universally pathogenic. Yet researchers keep finding microbes wherever they look.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/embryos-ar...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/embryos-ar...
Embryos Are Living In a Microbial World
Embryos are full of potential, but very vulnerable. And microbes play a surprising role.
scottcanderson.substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 12:59 PM
The idea that beneficial bacteria could be passed down by mothers is shocking to many doctors and scientists, who think that microbes associated with embryos are universally pathogenic. Yet researchers keep finding microbes wherever they look.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/embryos-ar...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/embryos-ar...
There is a connection between maternal depression and preterm birth. Surprisingly, even paternal depression can contribute to the preterm risk. However, there are hints that psychobiotic treatment can help minimize this effect.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/a-bed-fit-...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/a-bed-fit-...
A Bed Fit for an Egg
As an embryo develops, microbes play a mysterious role.
scottcanderson.substack.com
September 5, 2025 at 3:15 PM
There is a connection between maternal depression and preterm birth. Surprisingly, even paternal depression can contribute to the preterm risk. However, there are hints that psychobiotic treatment can help minimize this effect.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/a-bed-fit-...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/a-bed-fit-...
Reproductive biology is pretty perfunctory when it comes to the male contribution. In many animals, the male is actually optional. If one isn't around, the mother can execute the whole business on her own in a process called parthenogenesis.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/boy-meets-...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/boy-meets-...
Boy Meets Girl
From an awkward and inauspicious meeting of two cells, a miracle happens.
scottcanderson.substack.com
August 29, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Reproductive biology is pretty perfunctory when it comes to the male contribution. In many animals, the male is actually optional. If one isn't around, the mother can execute the whole business on her own in a process called parthenogenesis.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/boy-meets-...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/boy-meets-...
Studies by John Cryan and Ted Dinan have demonstrated that beneficial microbe can cause epigenetic effects in the brain, favoring the growth of new nerve cells and enhancing cognition. Amazing science!
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/epigenetic...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/epigenetic...
Epigenetics and Development
If your genes represent the blueprint, epigenetics represent the construction crew.
scottcanderson.substack.com
August 22, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Studies by John Cryan and Ted Dinan have demonstrated that beneficial microbe can cause epigenetic effects in the brain, favoring the growth of new nerve cells and enhancing cognition. Amazing science!
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/epigenetic...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/epigenetic...
The “Mozart Effect” probably doesn’t make you smarter, but it may improve gut microbes, which is arguably stranger.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
Could Mozart Change Your Microbes?
We know music has an impact on our mood, but strangely enough, it also appears to change our gut microbes. Here's what we've learned.
www.psychologytoday.com
August 18, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The “Mozart Effect” probably doesn’t make you smarter, but it may improve gut microbes, which is arguably stranger.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
Pregnant women who are stressed can suffer from an impaired microbiome. That can be passed down to their babies, affecting their weight, mood, and attitude, often into their teens or later.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
Pregnant Moms Need Pampering
Pregnant mothers, like all of us, are stressed by modern life. This can have a long-term impact on their kids. Here are some tips for mitigating the stress.
www.psychologytoday.com
July 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Pregnant women who are stressed can suffer from an impaired microbiome. That can be passed down to their babies, affecting their weight, mood, and attitude, often into their teens or later.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
Can a microbe help with postpartum depression? Learn more about a bacterium that improves gut health, soothes the immune system, reduces cortisol and boosts oxytocin.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/can-gut-mi...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/can-gut-mi...
Can Gut Microbes Improve Postpartum Depression?
Emerging research suggests that a bacteria found in yogurt could improve maternal mood.
scottcanderson.substack.com
July 25, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Can a microbe help with postpartum depression? Learn more about a bacterium that improves gut health, soothes the immune system, reduces cortisol and boosts oxytocin.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/can-gut-mi...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/can-gut-mi...
The gut-brain axis explains the astonishing connections between the microbes that live in your gut and your brain issues, including OCD. When your gut microbes are out of balance, your mood may suffer, and your OCD may worsen.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/ocd-and-th...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/ocd-and-th...
OCD and the Gut-Brain Axis
Could Your Gut Flora Be Fueling OCD?
scottcanderson.substack.com
July 18, 2025 at 6:44 PM
The gut-brain axis explains the astonishing connections between the microbes that live in your gut and your brain issues, including OCD. When your gut microbes are out of balance, your mood may suffer, and your OCD may worsen.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/ocd-and-th...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/ocd-and-th...
Stressed moms have higher levels of cortisol, but also lower levels of oxytocin, the “cuddle hormone.” This one-two punch affects rat moms so deeply that they stop licking their pups. In that way, moms transfer stress to their pups.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
Can Gut Microbes Improve Postpartum Depression?
A common microbe, found in yogurt, could improve mothers' moods after birth, research suggests—potentially helping ward off postpartum depression.
www.psychologytoday.com
July 7, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Stressed moms have higher levels of cortisol, but also lower levels of oxytocin, the “cuddle hormone.” This one-two punch affects rat moms so deeply that they stop licking their pups. In that way, moms transfer stress to their pups.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood...
Is there is a microbial fingerprint of autism? By analyzing oral microbes, researchers can predict whether or not a child will develop autism with 80 percent accuracy.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/autism-inf...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/autism-inf...
Autism, Inflammation, and the Gut-Brain Axis
Inflammation may play a surprising role in autistic behavior.
scottcanderson.substack.com
July 5, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Is there is a microbial fingerprint of autism? By analyzing oral microbes, researchers can predict whether or not a child will develop autism with 80 percent accuracy.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/autism-inf...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/autism-inf...
Got kidney stones? Your gut microbes may have something to do with that.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/even-kidne...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/even-kidne...
Even Kidneys Have a Microbiome
Good microbes in your kidneys can prevent kidney stones. Bad diet and antibiotics may encourage them.
scottcanderson.substack.com
June 25, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Got kidney stones? Your gut microbes may have something to do with that.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/even-kidne...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/even-kidne...
What a fecal transplant lacks in dignity, it makes up for in efficacy.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/a-surprisi...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/a-surprisi...
A Surprising Fix for a Personality-Changing Liver Disease
“Our bodies have a finely tuned, built-in detoxifying system: It's called our liver, and it can detoxify our bodies better than any cleanse or fast.” —Harley Pasternak
scottcanderson.substack.com
June 23, 2025 at 4:02 AM
What a fecal transplant lacks in dignity, it makes up for in efficacy.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/a-surprisi...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/a-surprisi...
Variations in gut microbiome composition may influence drug metabolism, potentially explaining why some patients respond better to treatment than others. It may not be sufficient to test drugs without considering the microbiome.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/is-your-gu...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/is-your-gu...
Is Your Gut Sabotaging Your Meds? Part 1
The state of your gut has a surprising impact on your meds—and vice versa.
scottcanderson.substack.com
June 20, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Variations in gut microbiome composition may influence drug metabolism, potentially explaining why some patients respond better to treatment than others. It may not be sufficient to test drugs without considering the microbiome.
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/is-your-gu...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/is-your-gu...
I’ve been stress eating since the election. It turns out that gut microbes play a major role in stress eating. That’s actually great, because we have some control over our microbiome. Ready for some cool science?
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/stress-eat...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/stress-eat...
Stress Eating and the Microbiome
Can you treat eating disorders with a microbiome-friendly diet?
scottcanderson.substack.com
June 18, 2025 at 2:04 AM
I’ve been stress eating since the election. It turns out that gut microbes play a major role in stress eating. That’s actually great, because we have some control over our microbiome. Ready for some cool science?
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/stress-eat...
scottcanderson.substack.com/p/stress-eat...