A small clinical trial published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that older adults with moderate depression who took a daily probiotic alongside their antidepressant medication experienced greater improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms compared to those on placebo. The 12-week study of 58 adults aged 60 and older in India also examined BDNF levels and gut microbiome composition. While both groups improved, the probiotic group showed modestly better outcomes. Researchers believe the gut-brain connection — the biological dialogue between gut microbes and brain function — may partly explain the benefit. The findings are preliminary but suggest probiotics could be a safe, low-risk add-on to standard depression treatment in older adults.
