Herbsprout.com

More gut health links to Autism

Mar

11

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A March 11 2020 report by The Conversation, a collaboration between three Australian universities, conducted two studies, one of mice and the other of human twins with autism, showing a gene mutation called neuroligin-3. It is known among professionals in the field that people with autism are more likely to experience gastrointestinal disorders than the general population. The twins were diagnosed with esophagitis and diarrhea, and the gene- mutated mice also showed gut microbiome deficiencies associated with diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. Other reports found that children with autism (ASD) were four times more likely to have gastrointestinal issues than children without autism ( see https://theconversation.com/amp/science-continues-to-suggest-a-link-between-autism-and-the-gut-heres-why-thats-important-118914 ). The three collaborating universities of The Conversation are RMIT, La Trobe, and Monash Universities.

Parents of children have long claimed that giving their autistic children a healthy probiotic diet has helped reduce their autistic behaviors. Studies show that children with ASD often have a mix of gut microbes that substantially differ from children without ASD. A January 22, 2020 article in Nature references a University of Arizona study on microbiota transfer therapy, which would be used to recolonize the guts with bacteria of children suffering from autism. The study found other research showing the following deficiencies of gut microbiomes in autistic people: Bifidobacterium, Blautia (needed to produce bile acids to produce serotonin), Veillonellaceae, Coprococcus and Prevotella. Conversely, researchers found an excess of the Clostridia bacterial pathogens (know to disrupt production of serotonin in the gut) (see https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00198-y ).

April is Autism Awareness month. Global Engage a world leading çonference organisers published a variation of this blog on their website at http://www.global-engage.com/life-science/gut-brain-axis-insights-why-the-microbiota-holds-therapeutic-potential-for-neuro-developmental-disorders/ .

"I am who I am" because of my gut bugs?

Feb

14

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A February 13, 2020 article published by Psychology Central claims that our personality is shaped by the bugs, or microbes, in our gut.

Microbial diversity seems to be the key indicator to a healthy personality. Strong microbial diversity supports good mental health while a low microbial diversity points toward mental health problems such as autism or neuroticism. "Personality is both inherited and influenced by one’s environment. And the environment inside humans may matter just as much as the external environment", says Katerina Johnson in the Inverse article, and a research associate at Oxford. It is believed based on ongoing research that a lack of the Akkermansia, Lactococcus, and Osciollospir bacteria in our gut shows a tendency to autism, says the report (source: https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/microbiome-mental-health-study-links-gut-bacteria-personality/amp ). Conversely, a study of primates shows that social interactions can promote gut microbiome diversity, adds Dr. Johnson (see https://psychcentral.com/news/2020/02/13/gut-bacteria-may-be-linked-to-personality-traits/154172.html ). So the research suggests it goes both ways, even though it is not explicitly stated in these articles. We are predisposed in part to being social or anti-social based on the pre-existing level of microbiome diversity in our gut, but we can promote healthy microbiome diversity in our gut by being more social.

BBC Science reported in December 2019 that probiotics and prebiotics by nurturing and nourishing our gut bugs can help ease stress and anxiety, even aid in reducing other mental health risks. (See article, https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/psychobiotics-your-microbiome-has-the-potential-to-improve-your-mental-health-not-just-your-gut-heath/amp/ ). So yes, be at ease; the bottom line is we do have self determination; we can steer and shape and mold our own personality. . . with a little help from our microbiome friends.

Microbial treatments for Parkinson's still premature

Nov

16

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While scientists found a direct connection between Parkinson's disease and our gut microbiome, a November 11, 2019 report by the Journal of Parkinson's Disease and Neuroscience News concluded "there is currently no consensus on PD-specific changes in microbiome composition and their pathophysiological implications due to inconsistent results, differences in methodologies and unaddressed confounders,” observed Dr. Scheperjans, MD, PhD, Department of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

While several findings were replicated in various studies, such as an increase of Verrucomicrobiaceae and Akkermansia and a decrease of Prevotellaceae, the investigators also found numerous differences.

There is no standard procedure established for clinical research on the subject, making the results difficult to collectively evaluate. "Procedures for collection, storage and shipment of the stool samples varied considerably; almost all studies used different DNA extraction kits; different DNA sequencing protocols were used; and different bioinformatics and statistical methods can further lead to different results." In addition, the study populations differed considerably between studies in terms of age, percentage of females and Parkinson’s disease characteristics, such as disease duration and the clinical subtype.

"It is important to emphasize that no microbiota-based treatment for PD exists to date," says Dr. Scherperjans. "We advise PD patients not to start self-treatment with probiotics or undergo fecal microbiota transplantation without consulting with their doctors in order to avoid potential harm.”

However, research has determined a connection between gut microbiome and PS progression, though further studies are needed to identify how they are connected. This blog is a continuation of the earlier herbsprout.com blog entry, "Parkinson's may originate in the gut": http://herbsprout.com/357162/parkinsons-may-originate-in-the-gut

https://neurosciencenews.com/parkinsons-microbiota-15191/amp/

Microbiome's connection to autism

Sep

26

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Research is being administered about the influence of gut microbiomes on everything from autism, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, Parkinson’s Disease and brain health to cancer, depression, obesity, diabetes and weight loss. It has become widespread as major research institutions and universities are conducting studies on the subject.

An article in The Guardian, “Gut bacteria regulate nerve fibre insulation” (Mo Costandi, April 05, 2016) claims that “alterations in our gut bacteria composition may be connected to a wide range of neurological and psychiatric conditions, including autism, chronic pain, depression, and Parkinson’s Disease.” Psychosomatic Medicine reported that “various factors play a role (in PTSD), including a lack of social support and low levels of the neurotransmitter neuropeptide Y (see British Psychological Society blog, November 22, 2017).

Research on mice in early 2019 done by MIT and the University of Massachusetts Medical School found similar impacts of identifiable microbial strains. Researchers found that the gut microbiome composition of the mother’s gut can influence whether maternal infection leads to autistic-like behaviors in offspring. They also discovered the specific brain changes that produce these behaviors. The same MIT report also referenced a 2010 study where all children born in Denmark between 1980 and 2005 found that severe viral infections during the first trimester of their mother’s pregnancy led to risk for autism by three times.

In a 2016 Science paper, Drs. Gloria Choi and her husband Jun Huh found that types of immune cells known as Th17 cells, and their effector molecule, called IL-17, are responsible for this effect in mice. IL-17 then interacts with receptors found on brain cells in the developing fetus, leading to irregularities that the researchers call “patches” in certain parts of the cortex known as the somatosensory cortex. When the researchers restored normal levels of brain activity in this area of the brain, they were able to reverse the behavioral abnormalities. They were also able to induce the behaviors in otherwise normal mice by over stimulating neurons in the somatosensory cortex.