Autism linked to gut bugs

Personalised care is a real possibility.

Researchers at the University of Auckland hope to genetically examine faecal samples from as many as 1000 children on the autism spectrum in the next six years, after research findings that suggest disruption of the gut microbiome is linked with the disorder.

In animal studies, mice bred to have autism-like traits – reduced social and communication skills and more anxiety – have had their symptoms completely reversed with the addition of a probiotic bacterium to their diet.

Internationally, microbiome studies of people with autism have failed to show any distinct bacterial patterns.

“One study finds bacteria X depleted; another study in another country sometimes finds that same bug in increased abundance,” says microbial ecologist Associate Professor Mike Taylor, the lead researcher.

He says progress of the research has been hampered by lack of funding, but he’s also liaising with the Centre for

Brain Research in a related study investigating whether the addition of dietary zinc can improve symptoms in mice with autism.

Taylor says he wouldn’t be investigating links between autism and the microbiome if he didn’t think it was potentially important.

“Undoubtedly genetics plays a massive role, and there is probably no evidence at the moment that something in the microbiome causes autism. But if you have that genetic predisposition, something in the gut might trigger it, perhaps.

“Everyone on the spectrum may be a bit different, making it very complicated to try to find patterns, but also quite exciting if you think about personalised therapy. If everyone’s microbiome is different but potentially manipulable, we might be able to change them on an individual basis.”