CONTRIBUTORS

BANNER FOR CONTRIBUTORS

THE MICROBIOME-GUT-BRAIN-AXIS IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Dr. Stewart Campbell, CEO Axial Therapeutics

UNDERSTANDING AUTISM

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 2nd Trimester

  • C-section delivery

  • Reduced breastfeeding

  • Use of repeated antibiotics early in life

Formally, the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th 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)