A Systematic Review of the Microbiome in Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Microbiology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• The gut microbiome's influence on the central nervous system (CNS) is increasingly recognized.
• Microbial dysbiosis may play a role in the development and progression of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.
• Understanding the microbiome's distinct characteristics in children with neurodevelopmental disorders is crucial.

Approach:

• A systematic review following Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines was conducted.
• Searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for observational studies up to April 2019.
• Included studies focused on children (0-18 years) with neurodevelopmental disorders (DSM-5 criteria) and their microbiome data.

Key Points:

• Ten case-control studies were included, analyzing gut and oral microbiomes in children with ADHD and ASD.
• Studies exhibited significant heterogeneity in sample size, demographics, clinical features, and control groups.
• Methodological quality, assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), was generally low to moderate.

Conclusions:

• High heterogeneity and small sample sizes limit the generalizability of current findings.
• The precise role of the microbiome in neurodevelopmental disorders remains unclear.
• High-quality observational studies, particularly cohort studies, are necessary to advance this research area.