Autism: caused by gut bacteria?

Some of the most common symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be linked to the biological makeup of the gut, according to a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Neuroscience.

🤔 More deets… To date, researchers have been unable to identify the primary cause(s) of ASD, a neurological and developmental condition that affects how humans communicate, learn new things, and behave, despite it being the fastest-growing developmental disability in the world.

• In this newly-published study, Italian scientists transplanted fecal matter gathered from autistic human donors into mice (btw: human fecal transplants? Totally a real thing… and exactly what it sounds like).
• The group of mice who received the transplants exhibited unusual behaviors similar to those observed in children and adults with ASD, while the control group didn’t.

✋ Yes, but: Further investigation is required in order to draw a conclusive link between gut bacteria and ASD, according to the researchers.

🦠 Gut check: The human gut contains trillions of bacteria that play a major role in keeping our bodies healthy. Most are symbiotic, meaning both the bacterium and the human body benefit from the actions it takes. Others are pathogenic, aka promoters of disease.

• In a healthy body, these bacteria coexist without problems. But if the balance is disturbed, it can lead to diseases like obesity, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, IBS, and depression.

+Dive deeper: Does Gut Microbiota Manipulate Our Minds? → (Science News)