EPIDEMIOLOGY: CORRELATIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ASD AND THE GUT MICROBIOME

Many ASD children have Gastrointestinal Dysfunction, which correlates with ASD severity. The microbiome of children with ASD is compositionally different compared to neurotypical controls. Several other ASD risk factors implicate microbiome involvement:

• Maternal infection during 2^nd Trimester

• C-section delivery

• Reduced breastfeeding

• Use of repeated antibiotics early in life

Formally, the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5^th edition) (DSM-V) describes two main criteria for ASD diagnosis:

• Social communication

• Restricted, repetitive behaviors or interests

DSM-V does not require the use of standard assessment tools; however, there are two standard tools that are broadly implemented and generally accepted:

• Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)

• Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R)