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The gut microbiota, neurodevelopment and autism spectrum disorder: A close connection

Yuchao Guo1, Aikun Liu2, Xia Hao3

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.

Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
|June 26, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Maternal and infant gut dysbiosis impacts neurodevelopment and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk. This review explores microbiota

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Microbiology
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • The gut microbiota is critical for early neurodevelopment, especially during prenatal and postnatal stages.
  • Gut microbiota dysbiosis can disrupt the microbiota-gut-brain axis, impairing neural development and increasing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the impact of maternal and infant gut dysbiosis on neurodevelopment.
  • To explore microbial differences in children with ASD and their neurotypical siblings.
  • To analyze the relationship between microbial patterns and ASD severity.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on gut microbiota, neurodevelopment, and ASD.
  • Analysis of microbial differences between ASD and neurotypical individuals.
  • Examination of microbiota-targeted therapies for ASD.

Main Results:

  • Dysbiosis during critical developmental windows affects neurodevelopment and ASD risk.
  • Distinct microbial profiles are observed in children with ASD compared to siblings.
  • Microbial patterns correlate with ASD severity.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal-infant gut microbiota significantly influences neurodevelopment and ASD.
  • Microbiota-based interventions show promise for ASD prevention and treatment.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate causal mechanisms and optimize therapeutic strategies.

Keywords:
Autism spectrum disorderFecal microbiota transplantationGut microbiotaNeurodevelopmentProbioticsSeveritySiblings

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