People diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a distinct microbial footprint. Does this mean that alterations in the gut microbiome cause autism? It’s probably not that simple, but the gut microbiome may play an important role in ASD diagnosis and treatment.
A recent study published in Nature Microbiology found that children with ASD have different microbial characteristics from their non-ASD counterparts. Researchers studied the gut microbiome of 1,627 ASD male and female children aged 1 to 13 and found altered metabolic pathways and genes in their microbiome.
What does this actually mean? While this study and several others demonstrates an association between ASD and the gut microbiome, it does not show a causal link. The causes of autism are most likely multifactorial, with the gut microbiome being just one contributing factor. While we’re often looking for that one smoking gun explanation, it’s important to realize that most diseases have many different causes. They are, more often than not, a complex mix of genetics plus environmental exposures.
While this study doesn’t necessarily reveal the cause of autism, it’s still important for diagnostic purposes. Using microbial analysis and a machine learning model incorporating 31 multi-kingdoms (combinations of bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses) and functional gut markers (genes, proteins, and metabolic pathways), the study found that ASD could be diagnosed through a stool sample with 91% accuracy. Scientists optimistically hypothesize that in the future, as these models improve, microbial analysis could accurately diagnose ASD as early as six months of age.
Knowing that it currently takes up to 3 to 4 years (and sometimes longer!) to diagnose autism, this could be a game-changer for ASD children, since early intervention is critical for therapeutic results, yet most families are missing out on years of meaningful therapy. Scientists believe that earlier detection could significantly impact autism behavior trajectory by intervening at critical developmental phases.
