Gut bacteria linked to autism
The diversity of beneficial bacteria in our guts may be associated with the development of autism, according this research.
The study was the first to perform a comprehensive bacterial analysis focusing on commensal – or beneficial – bacteria in children with ASD, finding that children with autism had significantly fewer types of gut bacteria and had significantly lower amounts of three critical bacteria, Prevotella, Coprococcus, and Veillonellaceae.
"One of the reasons we started addressing this topic is the fact that autistic children have a lot of GI problems that can last into adulthood," said Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown of Arizona State University - who led the research. "Studies have shown that when we manage these problems, their behaviour improves dramatically."
"We think of Prevotella as a healthy, good thing to have," she added. "We believe that a diverse gut is a healthy gut."