A bacteria antidepressant has now been linked to serotonin. Health experts discover that common soil bacteria activates cells in the brain to produce serotonin and can alter behavior similar to antidepressants. Dr. Chris Lowry, Bristol University, has published a mental health report about the study.

“These studies help us understand how the body communicates with the brain and why a healthy immune system is important for maintaining mental health. They also leave us wondering if we shouldn’t all be spending more time playing in the dirt,” Dr. Chris Lowry said in a statement. This research was published in the journal Neuroscience by collaborators at Bristol University and University College London.

Antidepressant researchers used lab mice treated with Mycobacterium vaccae. The study revealed that it activated a specific group of neurons in the brain that produce serotonin. Serotonin, a hormone, is an important neurotransmitter which plays a role regulating mood, metabolism, anger, aggression, sleep, and appetite, and is found in the brain, gut, and blood.

Ailments linked to low serotonin levels include anxiety and depression, bipolar disorders, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Serotonin acts as a chemical messenger that transmits nerve signals between nerve cells and that causes blood vessels to narrow. Many antidepressants work with serotonin pathways to affect moods and anxiety so finding a commonly available substance that activates serotonin production could lead to new treatments for those suffering from depression. Antidepressants are among the most prescribed drugs in the United States. In fact, the number of Americans taking antidepressants has doubled in only a decade.