PROBIOTICS FOR COGNITIVE AND MENTAL HEALTH
The invention relates to bacteria of the species Lactobacillus paracasei and/or compositions comprising Lactobacillus paracasei for use in preventing and/or treating a mental illness, a symptom affecting mental health and/or a condition associated with chronic stress, in a mammal. The invention further relates to methods and uses of said bacteria of the species Lactobacillus paracasei and/or compositions. The invention can be applied in restoring, maintaining, and/or promoting mental (including cognitive) health and has potential applications, inter alia, in the area of dietary and food supplements, medicaments and pharmaceuticals.
1 . A method for preventing and/or treating a mental illness, a symptom affecting mental health and/or a condition associated with chronic stress in a mammal in need thereof, wherein the method comprises administering to the mammal bacteria of the species Lactobacillus paracasei.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises preventing and/or treating a mental illness selected from a mood disorder, an anxiety disorder and depression.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises preventing and/or treating a symptom affecting mental health selected from anxiety, mood swings and depression.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the method comprises preventing and/or treating a condition associated with chronic stress, and
the condition associated with chronic stress is a gastrointestinal disorder.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises administering to the mammal probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises administering to the mammal Lactobacillus paracasei strain Lpc-37, deposited at the DSMZ under deposit number DSM 32661.
7 . (canceled)
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bacteria of the Lactobacillus paracasei species consist essentially of a single strain of Lactobacillus paracasei.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises administering to the mammal bacteria of the Lactobacillus plantarum species.
10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the method comprises administering to the mammal Lactobacillus paracasei strain Lpc-37, deposited at the DSMZ under deposit number DSM 32661.
11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises preventing or counteracting chronic stress-induced increases in plasma corticosterone or cortisol concentration.
12 . The method the according to claim 9 , wherein the method comprises preventing and/or treating at least one mental illness selected from a mood disorder, an anxiety disorder and depression.
13 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the method comprises preventing and/or treating at least one symptom affecting mental health selected from anxiety, mood swings and depression.
14 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises preventing or treating a mental illness or a symptom affecting mental health, wherein:
the mental illness is a mental illness that results in diminished cognitive function, and
the symptom affecting mental health is diminished cognitive function.
15 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein:
the method comprises preventing and/or treating a condition associated with chronic stress, and
the condition associated with chronic stress is a gastrointestinal disorder.
16 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bacteria of the species Lactobacillus paracasei are administered to the mammal as part of a composition in the form of a food product, a dietary supplement or a pharmaceutically acceptable composition.
17 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bacteria of the species Lactobacillus paracasei are administered to the mammal as part of a a spray dried or freeze-dried composition.
18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the composition comprises a cryoprotectant.
19 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the bacteria of the species Lactobacillus paracasei are present in the composition in an amount of from 10 6 to 10 12 CFU per dose.
20 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the bacteria of the species Lactobacillus plantarum are:
Lactobacillus plantarum strain LP12418, deposited at the DSMZ as DSM 32655, or
Lactobacillus plantarum strain LP12407, deposited at the DSMZ as DSM 32654.
21 . A method for treating or preventing a mental illness or a symptom of mental illness in a mammal in need thereof, wherein the method comprises administering, simultaneously or sequentially, to the mammal:
Lactobacillus paracasei strain Lpc-37, deposited at the DSMZ under deposit number DSM 32661, and
at least one other bacterial strain selected from the group consisting of:
Lactobacillus plantarum strain LP12418, deposited at the DSMZ as DSM 32655, and
Lactobacillus plantarum strain LP12407, deposited at the DSMZ as DSM 32654.
22 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the gastrointestinal disorder is irritable bowel syndrome.
23 . A composition, wherein the composition comprises:
Lactobacillus paracasei bacteria; and
Lactobacillus plantarum bacteria selected from:
Lactobacillus plantarum strain LP12418 (deposited at the DSMZ as DSM 32655), and
Lactobacillus plantarum strain LP12407 (deposited at the DSMZ as DSM 32654).
24 . A composition according to claim 23 , wherein the Lactobacillus paracasei strain is Lactobacillus paracasei strain Lpc-37 (deposited at the DSMZ under deposit number DSM 32661).