Probiotics for cognitive and mental health

Abstract

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).