Autism and Gut Health

In the news this week: a new mouse study supports the long-suspected link between autism and gut health. To quote Science Blog, “Now, using mouse models, Caltech researchers have discovered that gut bacteria directly contribute to autism-like behaviors in mice.” People with ASD have different gut bacteria than those without. Some scientists suggested that the bacteria may be passed down from the mother.

Also from the study: “Our study shows that the gut microbiota is sufficient to promote autism-like behaviors in mice. However, these findings do not indicate that the gut microbes cause autism,” emphasizes Gil Sharon, senior postdoctoral scholar at the lab and the study’s first author.

But for those of us who have long been in the trenches of dealing with gut issues in our children who have severe autism, we are in no way surprised, including those of us dealing with constipation and autism, using the autism diet, or are concerned about Miralax. In fact, his is not the only recent study linking gut bacteria to autism.

Scientists over at Arizona State University have reported that autism symptoms reduced by nearly 50% after fecal transplant and “at two years post-treatment, most of the initial improvements in gut symptoms remained.”

Read more about the 2 studies at Health Nut News and watch a very brief video about the first study here:

Want to learn more about autism and gut health? Check out these articles:

• The Economist, May 2019: More evidence that autism is linked to gut bacteria
• The Economist, December 2018: Gut bacteria may offer a treatment for autism
• The Guardian, May 2019: Autism symptoms replicated in mice after faecal transplants
• See what The Autism Research Institute says about GI issues and autism
• Here is a study that links candida and autism, something we are struggling with!

Learn more about fecal transplants here:

• A fecal transplant case study
• Fecal Transplant Autism Treatment: What You Need to Know
• Where to get one

Please note that your child may need to be diagnosed with the bacterial infection Clostridium Difficile (C. Diff) before being authorized. You may also want to treat the bacterial overgrowth and biofilm first, which can improve your results.

This research happens not a moment too soon as a recent survey just declared that autism prevalence rates are now 1 in 40 in the U.S., although a case can be made that it’s already been at 1 in 36.

Check out these amazing resources about diet and autism from TACANOW to help aid autism and gut health.

Learn more about how bacteria works in the gut in “Bugs, Bowels, and Behavior: The Groundbreaking Story of the Gut-Brain Connection” (this is my affiliate link):