Gut Microbiota and Autism: Difference between revisions

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<br><b>3000 words</b><br>
<br><b>3000 words</b><br>


The human gut microbiome plays a larger role in human health than simply digestion. Gut microbes have the ability to bidirectionally communicate with the central nervous system and influence both emotional and cognitive centers of the brain.<ref name=Carabotti>Carabotti M, Scirocco A, Maselli MA, Severi C. The gut-brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems. Ann Gastroenterol. 2015;28(2):203–9.</ref> This makes maintenance of the gut microbiome especially important in people with a variety of neurological conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and social interaction, repetitive patterns of behavior or activities, and restricted interests.<ref name=DSM>American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. 5th ed. Washington, D.C: American Psychiatric Association; 2013.</ref> ASD can range in severity from very high-functioning (formerly known as Asperger’s syndrome) in which the individual is able to go about daily life with little to no assistance to low-functioning individuals that need assistance with basic care and needs or anywhere in between. It is also common to have other diseases and conditions along with autism spectrum disorder. Gastrointestinal (GI) issues are one of these common comorbidities in ASD patients.<ref name=Li>Li Q, Han Y, Dy ABC, Hagerman RJ. The Gut Microbiota and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Cell Neurosci [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2021 Mar 17];11. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2017.00120/full?fbclid=IwAR04gQH8jD4LVLXEJnl7MfXsCyDR7USEauiGGIc1BXJY48GTn2L5GQg-Hk0</ref> Studies have found that 23 to 70% of people with ASD suffer from gastrointestinal dysfunction, with the wide range attributed to variances in survey methods.<ref name=Chaidez>Chaidez V, Hansen RL, Hertz-Picciotto I. Gastrointestinal Problems in Children with Autism, Developmental Delays or Typical Development. J Autism Dev Disord. 2014 May 1;44(5):1117–27.</ref> Although the cause of the abnormal gut microbiome is not certain, researchers hypothesize that it could be due to atypical eating habits.<ref name=Mulle>Mulle JG, Sharp WG, Cubells JF. The Gut Microbiome: A New Frontier in Autism Research. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2013 Feb 1;15(2):1–9.</ref> Thus, therapies targeting the gut microbiome could have potential in treating and managing autism spectrum disorders. Because the exact causes of ASD and the mechanisms behind the disorder are difficult to identify, there are very few effective therapies available<ref name=Rossignol>Rossignol DA, Frye RE. A review of research trends in physiological abnormalities in autism spectrum disorders: immune dysregulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and environmental toxicant exposures. Molecular Psychiatry. 2012 Apr;17(4):389–401.</ref>, making the potential of microbiome treatments ever more promising.
The human gut microbiome plays a larger role in human health than simply digestion. Gut microbes have the ability to bidirectionally communicate with the central nervous system and influence both emotional and cognitive centers of the brain.<ref name=Carabotti>Carabotti M, Scirocco A, Maselli MA, Severi C. The gut-brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems. Ann Gastroenterol. 2015;28(2):203–9.</ref> This makes maintenance of the gut microbiome especially important in people with a variety of neurological conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  
<br>
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and social interaction, repetitive patterns of behavior or activities, and restricted interests.<ref name=DSM>American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. 5th ed. Washington, D.C: American Psychiatric Association; 2013.</ref> ASD can range in severity from very high-functioning (formerly known as Asperger’s syndrome) in which the individual is able to go about daily life with little to no assistance to low-functioning individuals that need assistance with basic care and needs or anywhere in between. It is also common to have other diseases and conditions along with autism spectrum disorder.  
<br>
Gastrointestinal (GI) issues are one of these common comorbidities in ASD patients.<ref name=Li>Li Q, Han Y, Dy ABC, Hagerman RJ. The Gut Microbiota and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Cell Neurosci [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2021 Mar 17];11. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2017.00120/full?fbclid=IwAR04gQH8jD4LVLXEJnl7MfXsCyDR7USEauiGGIc1BXJY48GTn2L5GQg-Hk0</ref> Studies have found that 23 to 70% of people with ASD suffer from gastrointestinal dysfunction, with the wide range attributed to variances in survey methods.<ref name=Chaidez>Chaidez V, Hansen RL, Hertz-Picciotto I. Gastrointestinal Problems in Children with Autism, Developmental Delays or Typical Development. J Autism Dev Disord. 2014 May 1;44(5):1117–27.</ref>  
<br>
Although the cause of the abnormal gut microbiome is not certain, researchers hypothesize that it could be due to atypical eating habits.<ref name=Mulle>Mulle JG, Sharp WG, Cubells JF. The Gut Microbiome: A New Frontier in Autism Research. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2013 Feb 1;15(2):1–9.</ref> Thus, therapies targeting the gut microbiome could have potential in treating and managing autism spectrum disorders. Because the exact causes of ASD and the mechanisms behind the disorder are difficult to identify, there are very few effective therapies available<ref name=Rossignol>Rossignol DA, Frye RE. A review of research trends in physiological abnormalities in autism spectrum disorders: immune dysregulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and environmental toxicant exposures. Molecular Psychiatry. 2012 Apr;17(4):389–401.</ref>, making the potential of microbiome treatments ever more promising.


==Section 1==
==Section 1==

Revision as of 05:16, 6 April 2021

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Introduction


By Bailey Fitzgerald

3000 words

The human gut microbiome plays a larger role in human health than simply digestion. Gut microbes have the ability to bidirectionally communicate with the central nervous system and influence both emotional and cognitive centers of the brain.[1] This makes maintenance of the gut microbiome especially important in people with a variety of neurological conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and social interaction, repetitive patterns of behavior or activities, and restricted interests.[2] ASD can range in severity from very high-functioning (formerly known as Asperger’s syndrome) in which the individual is able to go about daily life with little to no assistance to low-functioning individuals that need assistance with basic care and needs or anywhere in between. It is also common to have other diseases and conditions along with autism spectrum disorder.
Gastrointestinal (GI) issues are one of these common comorbidities in ASD patients.[3] Studies have found that 23 to 70% of people with ASD suffer from gastrointestinal dysfunction, with the wide range attributed to variances in survey methods.[4]
Although the cause of the abnormal gut microbiome is not certain, researchers hypothesize that it could be due to atypical eating habits.[5] Thus, therapies targeting the gut microbiome could have potential in treating and managing autism spectrum disorders. Because the exact causes of ASD and the mechanisms behind the disorder are difficult to identify, there are very few effective therapies available[6], making the potential of microbiome treatments ever more promising.

Section 1

This illustration depicts a three-dimensional (3D), computer-generated image, of a group of Gram-positive, Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus) bacteria. The photo credit for this image belongs to Alissa Eckert, who is a medical illustrator at the CDC.

Include some current research, with at least one figure showing data.

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Section 2

Include some current research, with at least one figure showing data.

Section 3

Include some current research, with at least one figure showing data.

Section 4

Conclusion

References

  1. Carabotti M, Scirocco A, Maselli MA, Severi C. The gut-brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems. Ann Gastroenterol. 2015;28(2):203–9.
  2. American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. 5th ed. Washington, D.C: American Psychiatric Association; 2013.
  3. Li Q, Han Y, Dy ABC, Hagerman RJ. The Gut Microbiota and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Cell Neurosci [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2021 Mar 17];11. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2017.00120/full?fbclid=IwAR04gQH8jD4LVLXEJnl7MfXsCyDR7USEauiGGIc1BXJY48GTn2L5GQg-Hk0
  4. Chaidez V, Hansen RL, Hertz-Picciotto I. Gastrointestinal Problems in Children with Autism, Developmental Delays or Typical Development. J Autism Dev Disord. 2014 May 1;44(5):1117–27.
  5. Mulle JG, Sharp WG, Cubells JF. The Gut Microbiome: A New Frontier in Autism Research. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2013 Feb 1;15(2):1–9.
  6. Rossignol DA, Frye RE. A review of research trends in physiological abnormalities in autism spectrum disorders: immune dysregulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and environmental toxicant exposures. Molecular Psychiatry. 2012 Apr;17(4):389–401.



Authored for BIOL 238 Microbiology, taught by Joan Slonczewski, 2021, Kenyon College.