Are you what you eat?
A new study indicates that disturbances in gut flora during a person’s early years could be connected with the development of certain neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 6 million U.S. children have been diagnosed with ADHD. Signs include a persistent pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity that interferes with a child’s functioning. For example, a child might struggle with organizing tasks or activities, get easily distracted, have trouble waiting their turn, or be unable to play or participate in leisure activities quietly. Such signs must be present for more than six months to warrant an ADHD diagnosis, according to the CDC.Deficits in Specific Gut Bacteria May Signal Disorders
Part of the difficulty in identifying ADHD or autism lies in a lack of biomarkers. However, the new study offers insight into a new potential biomarker in the gut flora.Researchers from the University of Florida and Linkoping University in Sweden followed more than 16,000 babies born in southeast Sweden between October 1997 and October 1999 from birth to their 20s. The research team collected comprehensive data, including biological samples, cord serum, and stool samples. Participants also completed questionnaires detailing family medical history, diet, lifestyle factors, and environmental exposures.
The research team found distinct differences in the gut microbiota of infants who later developed neurodevelopmental disorders compared with infants who did not. Specifically, certain bacteria such as Citrobacter were more prevalent in children later diagnosed, while Coprococcus was more prevalent in children not diagnosed. Children likely to develop autism or ADHD lacked abundant Akkermansia muciniphila and Bifidobacterium breve, which are known for maintaining gut health, the researchers noted. The correlation with future diagnosis was strong, even after the researchers accounted for confounding factors established in the questionnaires, such as diet, environment, and toxic exposures.
“Coprococcus and Akkermansia muciniphila have potential protective effects. These bacteria were correlated with important substances in the stool, such as vitamin B and precursors to neurotransmitters which play vital roles orchestrating signalling in the brain. Overall, we saw deficits in these bacteria in children who later received a developmental neurological diagnosis,” first author Angelica Ahrens, assistant scientist in Eric Triplett’s research group at the University of Florida, said in a statement.
“We can see in the study that there are clear differences in the intestinal flora already during the first year of life between those who develop autism or ADHD and those who don’t,” Johnny Ludvigsson, senior professor at the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences at Linkoping University and co-leader of the study, said in the statement. “We’ve found associations with some factors that affect gut bacteria, such as antibiotic treatment during the child’s first year, which is linked to an increased risk of these diseases.”
Armed with this information, researchers and health care professionals working with young children with neurodevelopmental disorders could have a better chance of making diagnoses earlier. The researchers hope that the study’s findings may also expand screening protocols and preventive measures, but they noted that more research is required, such as whether the same results could be generalized to other populations.
