A dysregulation of the intestinal microbiota would be associated with autism spectrum disorder in children.
- Autism spectrum disorder may be linked to the impact of an imbalance in the gut microbiota on the gut detoxification process.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is multifactorial in origin, but genetics plays an important role in the onset of symptoms. Several scientific studies indicate that the intestinal microbiota would also be linked to this pathology. Chinese researchers wanted to verify this hypothesis. Their results, published in the journal Science Advancesconfirm that children with ASD have dysbiosis, an imbalance of the intestinal microbiota.
A comparative study of the microbiota
79 children participated in the research, 39 of them had an ASD. The intestinal microbiota can vary greatly from person to person depending on certain factors. In this study, the researchers took care to select children whose microbiota should be similar, in particular because of their age or where they live. The stools of all the participants were analyzed by the research team in order to perform metagenomic sequencing, which makes it possible to study the microbiota. They mainly focused on 18 microbial species, which have been associated with ASD in previous studies.
A link between gut bacteria and brain cells
The scientists found significant differences between the two groups of children. According to them, autism spectrum disorder could be linked to the impact of an imbalance of the intestinal microbiota on the detoxification process of the intestine. This would allow toxins to pass into the bloodstream and then attack the mitochondria of brain cells. This process would be at the origin of the appearance of ASD. If other studies are necessary to better describe this phenomenon, the researchers hope to develop a therapy to compensate for the disturbances of the detoxification process or even to act directly on the factors which are at the origin of it.
Various symptoms
According to theInserm, 100,000 people under the age of twenty suffer from ASD. The first signs appear early, between 18 and 36 months after birth. The symptoms vary from one child to another: it can be hyperactivity, or on the contrary, behavior that is too calm, an absence of a smile, an absence of speech, indifference to what is happening around, disturbances in walking, etc. The earlier the child is taken care of, the more it is possible to act on the disorders. This is why it is recommended to consult at the slightest doubt about the development of the child.
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