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Large-Scale Study Reveals Strange Link Between Antibiotics And Cognitive Decline (www.sciencealert.com)

submitted 2 years ago by shreddy_scientist@lemmy.ml to c/science@lemmy.ml

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The study assessed 14,542 women and ~7 years later found a significant association with decreased cognitive test scores. Add this to the growing list of reasons antibiotics should only be implemented as a last resort. More research is required to determine the direct causation but its believed the known connection between the brain and gut microbiota is related to these findings.

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[–] ezmack@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

After seeing all the goofy shit covid can do this is the big if to me

As usual with studies such as this, the link isn't enough to prove causation – that is, the data don't show it's definitely antibiotic use that's leading to a drop in cognition. It's possible that the conditions the antibiotics were intended to treat, rather than the antibiotics themselves, caused this small drop in cognition, for example

[–] shreddy_scientist@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Absolutes in science are rare, even more so when complexity is added. But producing significant results aligning with related studies makes it appear quite interesting. A large sample size over a long time, diffcult to replicate and harder to disprove. Will be interesting how it all plays out if they are able to isolte antibiotics as the only variable.