Microbiome signatures correlate with diet-mediated ADHD symptom reduction

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Microbiology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood neuropsychiatric condition with complex genetic and environmental origins.
• Nutrition, specifically the few-foods diet (FFD), has emerged as a potential environmental factor influencing ADHD behaviors, though molecular mechanisms remain under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying behavioral improvements in children with ADHD following an FFD intervention.
• To explore the relationship between gut microbiome composition, multi-omics data, and ADHD symptom changes.

Main Methods:

• A 5-week progressive FFD intervention was implemented in 79 boys (aged 8-10) diagnosed with ADHD.
• Minimally invasive samples (feces, urine, blood, buccal swabs) were collected pre- and post-intervention for multi-omics analysis.
• Gut microbiome composition was analyzed using fecal metagenomic data, focusing on gut-brain modules.

Main Results:

• Significant behavioral improvements were observed in 63% of participants, with an average ADHD symptom score reduction of 73%.
• The degree of symptom improvement correlated significantly with gut microbiome composition, particularly species-stratified abundance profiles.
• Multi-omics analysis confirmed adherence to the dietary intervention, highlighting its impact.

Conclusions:

• The gut microbiome and its metabolic functions are implicated in the communication pathways between the gut and the brain in children with food-associated ADHD.
• Dietary interventions like FFD can induce significant changes in the gut microbiome, correlating with clinical improvements in ADHD symptoms.