How to ease ASD symptoms

In the 1984 film “Ghostbusters,” Harold Ramis, Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd were perfectly cast as the A-team of nerdy paranormal investigators. But Aykroyd, one of the authors of the screenplay, was especially suited to the project. He has Asperger’s (a condition that’s an autism spectrum disorder). That, he says, triggered his obsession with ghosts and law enforcement — he often carries a police badge and was fixated on Hans Holzer, a renowned ghost hunter — and sparked the idea for the film.

Autism spectrum disorder is becoming more prevalent, and may be triggered by a combination of environmental damage and genetic (inherited or epigenetic) predisposition. Treatments have been elusive, but a study in JAMA Pediatrics found that diagnosing children as early as 14 months is accurate and allows for earlier intensive behavioral interventions, often having far-reaching benefits for the rest of a child’s life.

A new study published in Scientific Reports offers yet another way to manage ASD symptoms in children: microbiota transfer, a special form of fecal transplant.

Researchers found that two years after the transfer, the 18 ASD-diagnosed study participants showed a 45% decrease in symptoms, including gastrointestinal problems. While 83% were rated as having “severe” autism when the study began, two years after treatment, 17% were “severe,” 39% were “mild/moderate,” and 44% were below the cutoff for mild ASD.

If your child has or may have ASD, talk to your doc about behavioral therapies and discuss the benefits of the microbiota transfer.

Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. To live your healthiest, tune into “The Dr. Oz Show” or visit www.sharecare. com.