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Interconnection between Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis and Autism Spectrum Disorder Comparing Therapeutic Options: A
Angelo Michele Inchingolo1, Assunta Patano1, Fabio Piras1
1Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy.
Insights
This study suggests that gut microbiota interventions like probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation may help manage autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms. These therapies show potential for improving both gastrointestinal and central nervous system issues in ASD patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) involves social communication deficits and repetitive behaviors, often appearing by age one.
- ASD is frequently linked to co-occurring conditions including GI issues, seizures, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and immune dysfunction.
- Understanding the gut-brain axis is crucial for addressing the multifaceted nature of ASD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current literature on the efficacy of gut microbiota-targeted interventions for autism spectrum disorder.
- To evaluate the impact of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation on ASD-related symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from January 2013 to February 2023.
- Keywords used were "autism" AND "microbiota".
- A qualitative analysis was performed on 18 selected English-language articles after rigorous screening of over 2370 initial results.
Main Results:
- Interventions targeting the gut microbiota show promise in managing ASD.
- Probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and microbiota transfer therapy were identified as potential therapeutic avenues.
- These interventions may address both gastrointestinal and central nervous system symptoms associated with ASD.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota modulation represents a viable therapeutic strategy for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
- Further research is warranted to optimize these interventions and confirm their long-term benefits in ASD management.
- Targeting the gut microbiome could offer novel approaches to alleviate core symptoms and associated comorbidities in ASD.
Background:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental illnesses characterized by difficulty in social communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors. These clinical diagnostic criteria can be seen in children as early as one year old and are commonly associated with long-term difficulties. ASD is connected with a higher frequency of various medical diseases such as gastrointestinal complaints, seizures, anxiety, interrupted sleep, and immunological dysfunction, in addition to the range of developmental abnormalities listed.
Methods:
From 1 January 2013 to 28 February 2023, we searched PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for English-language papers that matched our topic. The following Boolean keywords were utilized in the search approach: "autism" AND "microbiota". After deleting duplicates, a total of 2370 publications were found from the databases, yielding 1222 articles. (1148). Nine hundred and eighty-eight items were excluded after their titles and abstracts were scrutinized. The method resulted in the removal of 174 items for being off-topic. The final 18 articles for qualitative analysis are included in the evaluation.
Conclusion:
The findings of this extensive study revealed that probiotics, prebiotics, their combination as synbiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and microbiota transfer therapy may benefit ASD patients suffering from both gastrointestinal and central nervous system symptoms.
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