The gut microbiota is believed to play an important role in the development of certain disorders, including autism. We know that many children with autism have digestive problems and microbial imbalances in their guts.
The exact connection between autism and the gut microbiome, however, is not yet clear.To study this emerging issue, our team at the Simons Foundation analyzed 25 datasets collected across 18 studies that involved 600 children with autism.
We created and ran an algorithm to identify differences between kids with autism and their neurotypical counterparts. We then correlated the microbiome against so-called cytokines, which are immune markers, to see how the gut microbiome is linked to individuals’ immunity and inflammation.
1This is important because many chronic disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes, demonstrate components of immune dysfunction.