Autism could be prevented with custom probiotics for pregnant women

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The risk of developing autism-spectrum disorders is determined by the bacteria inside the pregnant mother.

Preventing forms of autism could be as simple as an expectant mom modifying her diet or taking custom probiotics.

Autism and its causes are highly controversial.

This work is from the University of Virginia Medical school.

It was published in the Journal of Immunology. Cutting Edge: Critical Roles for Microbiota-Mediated Regulation of the Immune System in a Prenatal Immune Activation Model of Autism.

I understand there is a lot of controversy about autism.

More from the University of Virginia Medical School

Development of autism-like neurodevelopmental disorders was prevented in lab mice. They cab halt the development of such disorders by blocking a particular inflammatory molecule produced by the immune system. Targeting this molecule, interleukin-17a, offers another potential avenue for preventing autism in people, the researchers say. This approach would be much more complex because of the risk of side effects.

“We determined that the microbiome is a key contributor in determining susceptibility [to autism-like disorders], so it suggests that you could target either the maternal microbiome or this inflammatory molecule, IL-17a,” said lead researcher John Lukens of UVA’s Department of Neuroscience. “You could also use this [IL-17a] as a biomarker for early diagnosis.”

The good news: The microbiome can be modified easily, either through diet, probiotic supplements or fecal transplant. All of these approaches seek to restore a healthy equilibrium among the different microorganisms that live in the gut – although researchers cannot yet offer specific dietary recommendations.

21 thoughts on “Autism could be prevented with custom probiotics for pregnant women”

  3. There seems to be a genetic component to autism since it looks like it is more prevalent in certain families.

  4. There seems to be a genetic component to autism since it looks like it is more prevalent in certain families.

  5. Autism seems to be more prevalent if you have grandfathers that are engineers, so there is a definite genetic link to autism. Eating onions and peas, to feed beneficial gut bacteria, is something we all should be doing not just those who are pregnant.

  6. I have d-limonene in my my supplement warchest but am not diligent in taking it (when I take it is for heartburn). I do take deprenyl. I have been part of GrassrootsHealth’s worldwide trial since 2009. This trial has enabled them to be The Authority on the importance of vitamin D. Following GrassrootsHealth’s advice could save America’s healthcare cost by 15 to 20% in costs. Grassroots has already proved that adequate vit D level in women can result in 60% reduction in breast cancers and 60% reduction in pre-term delivery for African-Americans. 60ng/ml seems at present the optimum 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood test, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that level was raised to help lower the incidence of of other diseases.

  7. I do think mislabeling is a problem, and it complicates efforts to identify causes as well. We need to use a simple blood test. Those test results can then be used to find associations, even if routinely ignored by those invested in treatment. Search “New blood test predicts autism with 92 percent accuracy”. I think we need to use this thing…a lot. I trust the test more than the people who evaluated the sample. What I am saying is I bet it is actually better than 92% accurate. The test apparently tests for Dityrosine and Advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs are also implicated in Alzheimer’s and a number of other diseases. Dityrosine may indicate damage from oxygen deprivation. That makes me suspect brain damage during birth from low oxygen levels, or other early near suffocation events. That also may explain the preemie connection. Preemies often do not have fully functional lungs. They put something in them to accelerate their development so they are more likely to survive. Apparently it is a surfactant. Hmm. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the condition, and it is more common in males just like Autism. Maybe Autism develops from a version of this that happens in closer to full term babies? Maybe this surfactant should be given to all the babies, just in case. Or maybe oxygen levels need to be carefully monitored. And if there is reduction, given to them then. Though oxygen deprivation might happen any number of ways. Maybe they don’t breathe enough while nursing. Possibly women are not nursing right and blocking breathing. I don’t know. Seems a little far fetched. People know babies need to breathe…I would think. Still, there are idiots out there.

    Anyway, there are drugs that reduce brain damage due to hypoxia when taken ahead of time. I think that should probably be given to every mother in labor. Maybe deprenyl, D-limonene, Crocin or isoliquiritigenin or some combination? Search for “Protective effects of deprenyl in transient cerebral ischemia in rats.” That Crocin comes from saffron and other flowers. D-limonene is something in citrus oils.

    Obviously, research would have to be done to establish safety.

    Maybe a stroke recovery medicine given right after birth could reduce problems as well. The experimental medicine edonerpic maleate might help. If repair happens quick enough, maybe they will not have Autism or it will be a very subtle case.

  8. Being a risk factor for something is not the same as being causally related to something.
    Advanced age is a risk factor for many carcinomas. That doesn’t mean age is what is causing them.
    Furthermore, in the actual article:
    “In terms of translating our work to humans, I think the next big step would be to identify features of the microbiome in pregnant mothers that correlate with autism risk,” Lukens said. “I think the really important thing is to figure out what kind of things can be used to modulate the microbiome in the mother as effectively and safely as we can.”
    and
    “We determined that the microbiome is a key contributor in determining susceptibility [to autism-like disorders], so it suggests that you could target either the maternal microbiome or this inflammatory molecule, IL-17a,” said lead researcher John Lukens of UVA’s Department of Neuroscience. “You could also use this [IL-17a] as a biomarker for early diagnosis.”
    directly contradicts it and certainly doesn’t state that it is THE cause[like the only one] , like Goat Guy was specifically stating and is what I was not finding in the article, in the least.

  9. Being a risk factor for something is not the same as being causally related to something.
    Advanced age is a risk factor for many carcinomas. That doesn’t mean age is what is causing them.
    Furthermore, in the actual article:
    “In terms of translating our work to humans, I think the next big step would be to identify features of the microbiome in pregnant mothers that correlate with autism risk,” Lukens said. “I think the really important thing is to figure out what kind of things can be used to modulate the microbiome in the mother as effectively and safely as we can.”
    it directly contradicts it and certainly doesn’t state that it is THE cause[like the only one] , like Goat Guy was specifically stating and is what I was not finding in the article, in the least.

  10. I’ve read that professionals who postponed their childbearing until after grad school and after getting established in their careers are more prone to having autistic children. This might be genetic or it might be due to most professionals spending more time inside with less exposure to sunshine.

    A few decades back, autism was more prevalent in the northern latitudes. It’s become more common in the south now with video and computer games and air conditioning.

    One researcher claimed to have plotted almost identical charts between the popularity in kiddy TV and the incidence of autism.

    Some people have a knack for extreme focus and can zone themselves out of social interaction. I believe that this capability is a gift and that some of these types are mislabeled as autistic.

  13. The first sentence of the article.
    “The risk of developing autism-spectrum disorders is determined by the bacteria inside the pregnant mother.”

    That is a clear statement that cause of X is Y.

    Brian then follows up with a few other lines later in the article that point out how controversial the statement is.

  14. Besides having the same parents, these siblings have a lot of stuff in common because they live in the same house, travel in the same vehicles, eat the same foods, are exposed to the same cleaners. It is likely they got their bacteria in their guts from each other. The siblings had parents who took the same drugs, breathed the same air…because they are the same parents.

    There is a huge amount to rule out.

    And a small subset may indeed have it for genetic reasons. Though even then it could be just a vulnerability that takes exposure to some common pathogen or chemical.

    And there is a chance some of these are just kids living up to expectations, who never would have had it, had the parents not been looking for it. Never underestimate a child’s ability to live up or down to expectations. Or one child has it and gets more attention and gets away with more crap…so one or more siblings begins to behave the same way.

  15. My money is on vitamin D deficiency as the lead cause. Women not getting enough sunlight because they are wearing sunscreens or staying out of the sun. Though, I suspect there is at least one other major factor. Could be anything…including this microbiome stuff. Though this sounds more symptom than cause, to me.

    “Hundreds of genes with vitamin D receptor response elements directly or indirectly influence cell cycling and proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis.” Cell differentiation is possibly the relevant aspect. In Autism neurons fail to differentiate properly. Brain growth is improperly regulated. Cortical surface grows too quickly early with minimal thickness, later brain development is slowed dramatically. Additionally, the folding can be all out of wack.

    Lots of good theories turn to rubble.

    Beyond vitamin D, my chief suspect is viruses. We already know at least one can cause Autism (rubella), no reason others couldn’t. It could be any virus.

    Pesticides are also suspected as they can disrupt development as well.

    Inherited genetics? explanation, I suspect a subset: 1/10 or 1/100.

    There are just so many candidates, just about anything that has proliferated in the last 20 or 30 years: dry erase markers, Freon replacements, mineral water, plastic plumbing supply line, plastic grocery bags, antibacterial soap pumps, radioactive smoke detectors, sunblock, hair dye (in the past it was mostly women that were greying that used these, now everyone), anti depressant, prescribed drugs (valproic acid during pregnancy has been linked to Autism and lots of other mental and health problems), pot, other illicit drugs (cocaine has been linked), artificial vitamin E, antihistamines, pain relievers, headache drugs, deodorants/anti antiperspirants, fire retardants, misquito repents, cat/dog flea killers, alcohol (possibly making genetic changes unrelated to drinking while pregnant), foams or vinyls in popular cars, contact lenses (or their chemicals), grilling everything, stir frying, tight jeans (or their dyes), spray tanning … The list could go on and on. I think we may have to go with a deductive process and try to eliminate as many as possible. Take surveys of the use of hundreds of chemicals, what cars they have owned, what carpets, all sorts of stuff.

    Mercury, lithium, manganese, cadmium and lead have been ruled out to varying degrees. Mercury is definitely out, despite continued fervent almost religious faith in the theory.

    Some aspect of air pollution is probably a factor, what, is anyone’s guess. The closer you live to the freeway the higher the chances. Of course, more people live there generally, than out in the boonies, so that opens things much more widely. Higher age of either or both parents is a factor (one of the reasons I like hair dye as a possibility). Mother’s immune response to illness during pregnancy is suspected. Very low birth weight is associated (though I suspect those kids are tested more),

  17. You hit the nail on the head!

    Of course a lot of the “news” here has similarities in that people promise all kinds of things that are dubious at best. I guess that is OK if are all skeptical about everything said here. I know I am but it earns me plenty of scorn, especially with some of Brian’s more political postings.

  19. I’m sorry… but WHEN was it announced with such apparent CERTAINTY that the meso-symbiotic community of gut and enteric bacteria was THE cause of autism?

    I must have missed the weeks-long front-page news. After all … by my obviously prehistoric memory, the rise of autism-continuüm spectrum disorder(s) formerly remained a dark, complex mystery. Especially the RISE of occurrence as the 20th century oozed to a close, and the 3rd millennium kicked in.

    Please Mr. Brian… enlighten us with a few articles recalling this body of remarkably conclusive studies that I clearly must have missed! I’m “all ears”.

    [b]Goat[/b]Guy

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