According to a new study, autism spectrum disorder is related to changes in the gut microbiome. (1)
What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability. It can cause varying levels of social, communication, and behavioral differences, which can cause severe challenges. However, many people with ASD are also considered “gifted.” Several conditions fall under ASD, including: (2)
- Autistic disorder
- Pervasive developmental disorder
- Asperger syndrome
Although each condition is individually diagnosed, they have all considered autism spectrum disorders. (2)
What Is Gut Microbiome?
The gut microbiome lives in our gastrointestinal tract. It is made up of a mix of microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi and assists with many of our body’s processes, including:
- Nutrient and mineral absorption
- Synthesis of enzymes, vitamins, and amino acids
- Production of short-chain fatty acids
- Protection against pathogens
Some studies have found that our gut microbiota can affect our overall health and make us more likely to get specific health problems. (3)
Microbiome And Autism Study
They looked at the gut microbiome of people with autism spectrum disorder and people who were not autistic in Arizona and Colorado. They found the gut microbiome composition was different between the groups. Their gastrointestinal symptoms were also higher in those with autism than in those without. However, interestingly, this was only true in those in Arizona. (1)
“Longitudinally, we were able to see that within an individual, changes in the microbiome were associated with changes in behavior,” says principal study investigator Catherine Lozupone, Ph.D., a microbiologist in the Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado. “If we are going to understand the link between the gut microbiome and autism, we need more collaborative efforts across different regions and centers to get thorough generalizable information about this relationship.” (1)
Microbiome And Autism Relationship
Over time, the study also looked at the gut microbiome’s relationship to autism behavior severity, diet, and gastrointestinal symptoms in Colorado. “We reached out to study participants every three months and had them fill out several checklists, one being the aberrant behavior checklist which looks at behaviors associated with inappropriate speech and repetitive motions,” says Dr. Lozupone. “A food frequency questionnaire asked participants what they were eating in the past week. We also asked what types of GI symptoms participants were experiencing. We obtained fecal samples to look at the microbiome. We collected all this data to see how it related to each other.” (1)
Microbiome And Autism Study
Researchers found that decreased gut microbiome diversity was tied to different levels of lethargy/social withdrawal related to the degree of change in gut microbiome composition and the worsening of inappropriate speech between time points. (1)
“We need more research, but our work shows that the gut microbiome plays a role in provoking symptoms in kids with autism spectrum disorder,” says Dr. Lozupone. “This further supports the fact that the gut microbiome could be a valuable therapeutic target for children with autism spectrum disorders. Some labs have been exploring fecal microbiome transplants in these children and have some promising results.” (1)
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