Interesting new study linking the gut bacteria to risk of stroke:
"Further investigation is needed to understand exactly which bacterial components elicited their protective message. However, the researchers do know that the bacteria did not interact with the brain chemically, but rather influenced neural survival by modifying the behavior of immune cells. Immune cells from the gut made their way to the outer coverings of the brain, called the meninges, where they organized and directed a response to the stroke."

A new study reports some types of gut bacteria can leverage the immune system to decrease the severity of ischemic stroke.