Scientists May Have Actually Found One Of The Causes Of Autism

Sep 18, 2018

Over the past decade or so, a great deal of research has been published regarding a person's gut microbiome. This microbiome is particularly fundamental to an individual's overall health. Not only can it affect responses to negative stimuli and fear, but it can regulate mental health and weight. Additionally, it might influence your chances of developing autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes and lupus.

A new study has just been published in the Journal of Immunology. It finds a link between autism as a neurodevelopmental condition and a person's gut microbiome. The research was done through studies on animals. But the twist is that our personal microbiome isn't the factor that influences whether you develop autism. Instead, the biggest factor is your mother's microbiome.

Microbiomes have the capacity to shape developing brains in a number of different ways. It's important to your offspring's immune system calibration. The mother's microbiome influences how the offspring's system responds to stress, injury, and infection.

Autism might be linked to one molecule, referred to as interleukin-17a or IL-17a. This molecule is produced by a person's immune system. It already has links to conditions such as psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. It's also been shown to play important roles in preventing infections, particularly fungal infections. And for its final trick, it influences how a person's brain develops while they're in the womb.

The team hypothesized that autism might be triggered through the IL-17a molecule. To test the hypothesis, the research team blocked this molecule in their lab mice. Female mice were recruited from 2 different laboratories. From the first lab, the mice had microflora in their gut that caused them to be vulnerable to an inflammatory response induced by IL-17a. The second group, used as the control group, didn't.

When the team blocked the IL-17a molecule through artificial means, both sets of mice had pups with neurotypical behavior. But when the situation was allowed to progress without the additional intervention of humans, pups from mothers in the variable group developed a neurodevelopmental condition that closely resembled autism. This had an effect on repetitive and social behavior.

To confirm that this occurred because of the unique microflora in the group, the researchers did a fecal transplant. They used the feces of mice in the first group and moved it to the second group to change the second group's microflora. This causes it to resemble the first more closely. As was expected, pups in the second group developed a neurodevelopmental condition similar to autism after their microflora changed.

These preliminary studies don't necessarily translate to a human's pregnancy. That said, there is an interesting avenue to explore regarding autism research. This study provides a strong case arguing that the mother's gut health has some role in autism. From there, we can even extrapolate that other neurodevelopmental conditions are also related to the mother's gut.

Researchers say their next step is to see whether similar human correlations exist. They also need to examine what part of the mother's microbiome relates most closely to the development of autism. Multiple other molecules have yet to be examined. Researchers say that IL-17a might be one piece of a much bigger puzzle.

What do you think of this fascinating research? Do you think more information will come to light about the causes of autism? Let us know your thoughts!

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!