
via University of Virginia Health System
The microbiome is the collection of microorganisms, such as bacteria, that naturally live inside us. New research suggests the microbiome determines autism risk.
• The mother’s microbiome, the collection of microscopic organisms that live inside us, determines the risk of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in her offspring, new research from the UVA School of Medicine shows.
• The microbiome can be manipulated by changing what we eat, by consuming beneficial bacteria known as probiotics or even by transplanting fecal material from one person to another. This suggests simple ways we might prevent the development of autism.
• The UVA researchers prevented the development of autism-like disorders in mice by blocking an inflammatory molecule produced by the immune system – a molecule already implicated in multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• The discovery could also offer a way to detect autism early in pregnancy.
The risk of developing autism-spectrum disorders is determined by the mother’s microbiome – the collection of microorganisms that naturally live inside us – during pregnancy, new research from the School of Medicine suggests. The work raises the possibility that preventing forms of autism could be as simple as an expectant mom modifying her diet or taking custom probiotics.
Further, the UVA scientists were able to use their discovery to prevent the development of autism-like neurodevelopmental disorders in lab mice. They found they could halt the development of such disorders by blocking a particular inflammatory molecule produced by the immune system. Targeting this molecule, interleukin-17a, offers another potential avenue for preventing autism in people, the researchers say. They caution, however, that this approach would be much more complex because of the risk of side effects.
“We determined that the microbiome is a key contributor in determining susceptibility [to autism-like disorders], so it suggests that you could target either the maternal microbiome or this inflammatory molecule, IL-17a,” said lead researcher John Lukens, PhD, of UVA’s Department of Neuroscience. “You could also use this [IL-17a] as a biomarker for early diagnosis.”
Microbiome and Autism Risk
The groundbreaking work from Lukens and his colleagues sheds light on the complex relationship between the health of the mother’s microbiome and the healthy development of her children. “The microbiome can shape the developing brain in multiple ways,” explained Lukens, of UVA’s Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG) and UVA’s Carter Immunology Center. “The microbiome is really important to the calibration of how the offspring’s immune system is going to respond to an infection or injury or stress.”
But an unhealthy microbiome in the mom can create problems: Lukens’ work shows that it can make her unborn offspring susceptible to neurodevelopmental disorders. The researchers found that the IL-17a molecule was a key contributor to the development of autism-like symptoms in lab mice.
The good news: The microbiome can be modified easily, either through diet, probiotic supplements or fecal transplant. All of these approaches seek to restore a healthy equilibrium among the different microorganisms that live in the gut.
“In terms of translating our work to humans, I think the next big step would be to identify features of the microbiome in pregnant mothers that correlate with autism risk,” Lukens said. “I think the really important thing is to figure out what kind of things can be used to modulate the microbiome in the mother as effectively and safely as we can.”
Another Option for Preventing Autism
Blocking IL-17a also might offer a way to prevent autism, but Lukens said that path carries much more risk. “If you think about pregnancy, the body is basically accepting foreign tissue, which is a baby,” he said. “As a result, maintenance of embryonic health demands a complex balance of immune regulation, so people tend to shy away from manipulating the immune system during pregnancy.”
IL-17a previously has been implicated in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis, and there are already drugs available that target it. But Lukens noted that the molecule has an important purpose in stopping infections, especially fungal infections. Blocking it, he said, “could make you susceptible to all kinds of infections.” And doing so during pregnancy could have complex ripple effects on a child’s development that scientists would need to sort out.
For their next steps, Lukens and his team plan to explore the potential role of other immune molecules in the development of autism and other such conditions. IL-17a may be just one piece in a much larger puzzle, he said.
While Lukens’ work links the immune system with neurodevelopmental disorders, he emphasized that this in no way suggests that vaccines are contributing to the development of autism. “There’s a definite link between the immune response and the developing brain,” he said. “It just doesn’t have anything to do with vaccines. It’s much, much earlier.”
Lukens’ work is but the latest research from UVA to speak to the importance of the microbiome in maintaining good health. For example, one of Lukens’ colleagues in the Department of Neuroscience, Alban Gaultier, PhD, found that probiotics in yogurt can reverse depression symptoms.
Learn more: Autism Risk Determined By Health of Mom’s Microbiome, UVA Finds
The Latest on: Autism risk
[google_news title=”” keyword=”autism risk” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Autism risk
- Figures find thousands of children with autism or ADHD in Hampshireon November 18, 2023 at 6:59 am
New figures show there are around 18,000 cases of children with autism and ADHD across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
- A rift over ‘profound autism’ reveals a community’s deeper divideon November 18, 2023 at 4:00 am
Amid a burgeoning neurodiversity movement, some say autistic children who are nonverbal and intellectually disabled are being left behind.
- Ex-Westport school staffer found asleep, locked in room with student with autism granted rehabilitationon November 17, 2023 at 9:17 pm
Ex-Westport school speech pathologist Michelle Babin was found asleep, locked in room with student with autism. She was granted accelerated rehabilitation.
- National Epilepsy Day 2023: What Is The Relation Between Autism And Epilepsy? Experts Explainon November 17, 2023 at 3:33 am
Autism spectrum disorders and epilepsy are common neurological diseases in childhood, the incidence being 0.5-1 % of the worldwide population. ASD and epilepsy are due to problems in neurodevelopment ...
- Neighborhood disadvantage tied to higher risk for autism diagnosison November 16, 2023 at 6:31 am
Children residing in more disadvantaged neighborhoods at birth have a higher likelihood of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, according to a brief report published online Nov. 15 in JAMA ...
- Unveiling the Pros and Cons of Autism Diagnosis: What You Need to Knowon November 16, 2023 at 12:00 am
The word “autism” comes from the Greek word “autos,” meaning self, and “ismos,” meaning state of being. So, when you put the two words together, you end up with autism, meaning an “abnormal state of ...
- 15 Developed Countries with Lowest Autism Rateson November 15, 2023 at 1:31 pm
In this article, we will discuss 15 developed countries with lowest autism rates. If you want to skip our discussion on the autism industry, you can go directly to the 5 Developed Countries with ...
- Fake News Alert: Can MMR Vaccination Lead to Autism?on November 10, 2023 at 12:46 am
The controversy surrounding the alleged link between the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism has persisted for years ( 1 ✔ ✔ Trusted Source Vaccines and Autism Go to source ). Myth: ...
- The autism-linked gene SYNGAP1 could impact early stages of human brain development, study revealson November 9, 2023 at 8:00 am
The gene SYNGAP1, the variants of which are top risk factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), has previously unappreciated effects on the developing brain, according to a new study published in ...
via Bing News