Groundbreaking new research opens doors for autism therapy

A collaborative study involving experts from across the globe has provided compelling evidence linking the gut microbiome to autism spectrum disorder.

The findings, which were published in the online journal Nature Neuroscience, discovered consistent differences in the gut microbiome – ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria residing in our digestive tract – of people with autism across various cohorts worldwide, suggesting that microbiome changes are a common characteristic associated with the disorder.

The healthy balance of gut microbiome plays a vital role in digestion, metabolism, immune function and overall health.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by a wide range of cognitive, behavioural, and communication impairments. It is a spectrum disorder, meaning the symptoms and the severity vary widely among individuals.

Within the study, 43 researchers, who came from Switzerland, the US, Ecuador, Russia, Italy, Safed and China, who re-analysed 25 previously published datasets containing microbiome and other ‘omics’ information – such as diet, immune system response, markers of inflammation, and gene expression profiles in the human brain – also noticed correlations between microbiome changes and immune factors, including the inflammatory marker IL-6, in people with autism.

‘Our collaborative study presents a significant breakthrough, revealing the profound influence of the gut-brain axis on the biology of autism,’ said Professor Evan Elliott, a key researcher involved in the study.

Professor Elliot added that the correlation between microbiome alterations and immune system markers provides insight into how the gut microbiome may influence the health of individuals diagnosed with the disorder.

The study highlighted: ‘By identifying specific markers of gut-brain dysregulation, clinicians may be better equipped to determine which individuals are most likely to benefit from microbiome-related treatments. This personalised approach holds the potential to significantly improve outcomes and quality of life for those on the autism spectrum.’

The Israeli-focused study, deepens the understanding of the intricate connection between the gut microbiome and its effects on host biology in autism and researchers have claimed that to further develop their findings, they will work closely with affected families to gather additional information crucial for informing future therapies.

Image: Yeyo Salas