High Levels of Certain Bacteria Linked to Social and Behavioral Deficits, Especially in Males
Researchers from the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine of Bar-Ilan University in Israel have uncovered a potential association between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and gut microbiome composition. Their study, recently published in npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, examined the gut microbiome of 96 individuals with ASD and 42 neurotypical individuals, revealing significant differences in alpha and beta diversity, as well as higher levels of Bacteroidetes and Bacteroides in ASD cases. High levels of Bacteroides may have a disadvantageous impact on health. To investigate the consequences of these microbiome changes and high levels of certain bacteria, the authors exposed newborn mice to Bacteroides fragilis. This exposure led to social and behavioral deficits in the mice, particularly in males, underscoring the microbiome’s role in neurodevelopment and potential sex-specific effects in ASD. Prof. Evan Elliott, the study’s lead researcher, emphasized the implications of this study’s findings for understanding the complex interplay between the microbiome and ASD, urging further investigation into sex-specific aspects and the potential of microbial interventions in early development to inform future treatments.
