10/09/2025
Gut bacteria was just linked to severe insomnia.
Th results come according to a study of over 400,000 people that uncovered a strong link between sleep troubles and the composition of the microbes in your digestive system.
Conducted by researchers in China and the US, the study traced how certain gut bacteria types can influence sleep patterns. The analysis, based on genetic and health data from more than 400,000 individuals of European descent, identified 14 bacterial types associated with increased insomnia risk and 8 that appeared to lower the odds. One particular group called Clostridium innocuum was linked to higher insomnia risk, despite not typically being considered dangerous. But the connection isn't one-way: the study also found that insomnia itself can disrupt the balance of gut microbes, creating a feedback loop where poor sleep worsens gut health, and vice versa.
This two-way relationship supports existing knowledge of the gut-brain axis, the communication network between your digestive system and brain, which has already been tied to stress, autism, and neurodegenerative conditions. The study hints that specific bacteria may affect sleep by triggering or blocking chemical processes involving neurotransmitters and inflammation pathways, though the exact mechanics still need untangling. While gut microbes are just one piece of the insomnia puzzle, other factors such as stress, environment and lifestyle can worsen insomnia. The hope is that future therapies, including targeted prebiotics, probiotics, or even f***l transplants, could eventually treat insomnia by restoring microbial balance.