and influenced by life changes and events . It is also influenced by factors like genetics , environment , lifestyle , infection and medications .
The sooner a child ’ s needs are identified , the sooner they can be met .
Microbes as biomarkers
Biomarkers are biological indicators – such as genes , proteins or metabolites in blood , stool or other types of samples – that signal the presence of a condition at a certain point in time . There are no known biomarkers for autism . Efforts to find biomarkers have been largely hindered by the fact that autism has many potential pathways that lead to it , and researchers tend to ignore how these causes may work together as a whole .
Researchers have shown that the microbiome is personalized enough that it can distinguish two people or two households even better than genetics , with differences in colonization starting very early in life .
The microbiome undergoes immense changes during childhood . It shapes and is shaped by the immune system
Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea , pain and constipation are common in children with autism and ADHD , with as many as 30 % to 70 % of autism patients also diagnosed with functional gastrointestinal disorders . Untreated GI issues can also lead to additional sleep and behavioral disorders among these children . A small pilot study found that children with autism showed improvements in gastrointestinal and autism-related symptoms after having healthy microbes transferred into their guts , with some benefits lasting up to two years .
Most studies on the microbiome and neurodevelopmental conditions , however , are restricted to people who are already diagnosed with ADHD , autism or other conditions , and these studies often show mixed
One potential biomarker for neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism are gut microbes . The connection between the gut and brain , or the gut-brain axis , is an area of considerable interest among scientists . Gut microbes play significant roles in health , including in immunity , neurotransmitter balance , digestive health and much more .
A lot of work has been done around mapping what a “ typical ” microbiome looks like based on age and organ system . https :// youtu . be / oym87kVhqm4
Your gut and your brain are intricately connected .
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