Researchers found differences in gut bacteria between children with autism and typically developing children but caution that more research is needed to clarify these associations and their therapeutic potential.
By Priyanjana Pramanik, MSc.Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.Oct 20 2024 Scientists have discovered distinct gut bacteria in children with autism, offering clues to potential treatments. However, they emphasize the need for more personalized and cautious probiotic approaches.
Background Researchers estimate that in Egypt, 5.4 children in 1,000 have ASD. ASD, which can begin in early childhood and is a lifelong condition, involves repetitive behaviors and challenges in social communication. Psychobiotics such as Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Bifidobacterium longum have shown promise for improving mood and social behavior, reducing disruptive behaviors, hyperactivity, anxiety, and inflammation while regulating key brain pathways related to ASD.
About the study Heatmap of the correlation between ATEC subscales and psychobiotic bacteria in children with ASD. The heatmap was generated using the Python programming language with the Seaborn and Matplotlib libraries. The color coding scale ranges from blue to red, indicating the strength and direction of each correlation, where blue indicates negative correlations and red indicates positive correlations.
To analyze the data, the researchers compared psychobiotic bacteria between ASD and TD children and examined relationships between ASD symptoms and bacteria levels. It is critical to note that while these correlations were observed, the study found no conclusive evidence that these bacterial levels directly influence the severity of ASD symptoms. Therefore, the therapeutic potential of psychobiotic treatments remains speculative.
Children Microbiome Anxiety Bacteria Brain Dysbiosis Genetic Lactobacillus Probiotic Probiotics Psychobiotics Research
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