scholarly journals The Role of Microbiome, Dietary Supplements, and Probiotics in Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 2647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhagavathi Sundaram Sivamaruthi ◽  
Natarajan Suganthy ◽  
Periyanaina Kesika ◽  
Chaiyavat Chaiyasut
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Maternal Diet ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Microbial Composition

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by the impairment of the cognitive function of a child. Studies suggested that the intestinal microbiota has a critical role in the function and regulation of the central nervous system, neuroimmune system and neuroendocrine system. Any adverse changes in the gut–brain axis may cause serious disease. Food preferences and dietary patterns are considered as key in influencing the factors of ASD development. Several recent reviews narrated the importance of dietary composition on controlling or reducing the ASD symptoms. It has been known that the consumption of probiotics confers several health benefits by positive amendment of gut microbiota. The influence of probiotic intervention in children with ASD has also been reported and it has been considered as an alternative and complementary therapeutic supplement for ASD. The present manuscript discusses the role of microbiota and diet in the development of ASD. It also summarizes the recent updates on the influence of dietary supplements and the beneficial effect of probiotics on ASD symptoms. An in-depth literature survey suggested that the maternal diet and lifestyle are greatly associated with the development of ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Mounting evidences have confirmed the alteration in the gut microbial composition in children suffering from ASD. However, the unique profile of microbiome has not yet been fully characterized due to the heterogeneity of patients. The supplementation of probiotics amended the symptoms associated with ASD but the results are inconclusive. The current study recommends further detailed research considering the role of microbiome, diet and probiotics in the development and control of ASD.

scholarly journals Mealtime Behaviors and Food Preferences of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Hae Jin Park ◽  
Su Jin Choi ◽  
Yuri Kim ◽  
Mi Sook Cho ◽  
Yu-Ri Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Mealtime Behavior ◽  
High Level

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a lack of social communication and restrictive, repetitive behaviors or interests. This study aimed to examine the mealtime behaviors and food preferences of students with ASD. An online questionnaire on mealtime behavior and food preferences of ASD students was conducted by caregivers including parents, and the average age of ASD students was 14.1 ± 6.1. The analysis of mealtime behavior resulted in classification into three clusters: cluster 1, the “low-level problematic mealtime behavior group”; cluster 2, the “mid-level problematic mealtime behavior group”; and cluster 3, the “high-level problematic mealtime behavior group”. Cluster 1 included older students than other clusters and their own specific dietary rituals. Meanwhile, cluster 3 included younger students than other clusters, high-level problematic mealtime behavior, and a low preference for food. In particular, there were significant differences in age and food preference for each subdivided ASD group according to their eating behaviors. Therefore, the content and method of nutrition education for ASD students’ needs a detailed approach according to the characteristics of each group.

scholarly journals Role of Oligodendrocytes and Myelin in the Pathophysiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 951
Author(s):  
Alma Y. Galvez-Contreras ◽  
David Zarate-Lopez ◽  
Ana L. Torres-Chavez ◽  
Oscar Gonzalez-Perez
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Interpersonal Communication ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Abnormal Development ◽  
Matter Production

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an early neurodevelopmental disorder that involves deficits in interpersonal communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors. Although ASD pathophysiology is still uncertain, alterations in the abnormal development of the frontal lobe, limbic areas, and putamen generate an imbalance between inhibition and excitation of neuronal activity. Interestingly, recent findings suggest that a disruption in neuronal connectivity is associated with neural alterations in white matter production and myelination in diverse brain regions of patients with ASD. This review is aimed to summarize the most recent evidence that supports the notion that abnormalities in the oligodendrocyte generation and axonal myelination in specific brain regions are involved in the pathophysiology of ASD. Fundamental molecular mediators of these pathological processes are also examined. Determining the role of alterations in oligodendrogenesis and myelination is a fundamental step to understand the pathophysiology of ASD and identify possible therapeutic targets.

scholarly journals Pathogenetical and Neurophysiological Features of Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Phenomena and Diagnoses

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1588
Author(s):  
Yunho Jin ◽  
Jeonghyun Choi ◽  
Seunghoon Lee ◽  
Jong Won Kim ◽  
Yonggeun Hong
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Neural Development ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Deficits ◽  
Restricted Interests ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Comorbidities ◽  
The Brain

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is accompanied by social deficits, repetitive and restricted interests, and altered brain development. The majority of ASD patients suffer not only from ASD itself but also from its neuropsychiatric comorbidities. Alterations in brain structure, synaptic development, and misregulation of neuroinflammation are considered risk factors for ASD and neuropsychiatric comorbidities. Electroencephalography has been developed to quantitatively explore effects of these neuronal changes of the brain in ASD. The pineal neurohormone melatonin is able to contribute to neural development. Also, this hormone has an inflammation-regulatory role and acts as a circadian key regulator to normalize sleep. These functions of melatonin may play crucial roles in the alleviation of ASD and its neuropsychiatric comorbidities. In this context, this article focuses on the presumable role of melatonin and suggests that this hormone could be a therapeutic agent for ASD and its related neuropsychiatric disorders.

scholarly journals The effect of being imitated on empathy for pain in adults with high-functioning autism: Disturbed self–other distinction leads to altered empathic responding

Autism ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 712-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lize De Coster ◽  
Jan R Wiersema ◽  
Eliane Deschrijver ◽  
Marcel Brass
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
High Functioning Autism ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
High Functioning ◽  
Empathy For Pain ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Motor Representations

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is associated with problems in empathy. Recent research suggests that impaired control over self–other overlap based on motor representations in individuals with autism spectrum disorder might underlie these difficulties. In order to investigate the relationship of self–other distinction and empathy for pain in high-functioning autism and matched controls, we manipulated self–other distinction by using a paradigm in which participants are either imitated or not by a hand on a computer screen. A strong pain stimulus is then inflicted on the observed hand. Behavioral and physiological results in this study showed that overall affective responses while watching pain movies were the same in adults with high-functioning autism as in controls. Furthermore, controls showed higher affective responding after being imitated during the whole experiment, replicating previous studies. Adults with high-functioning autism, however, showed increased empathic responses over time after being imitated. Further exploratory analyses suggested that while affective responding was initially lower after being imitated compared to not being imitated, affective responding in the latter part of the experiment was higher after being imitated. These results shed new light on empathic abilities in high-functioning autism and on the role of control over self–other representational sharing.

Antineuroinflammatory therapy: potential treatment for autism spectrum disorder by inhibiting glial activation and restoring synaptic function

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 493-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Jiang Li ◽  
Xiaojie Zhang ◽  
Ya-Min Li
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Glial Cells ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Synaptic Dysfunction ◽  
Inflammatory Conditions ◽  
Synaptic Functions

AbstractAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by deficits in social interactions and perseverative and stereotypical behavior. Growing evidence points toward a critical role for synaptic dysfunction in the onset of ASD, and synaptic function is influenced by glial cells. Considering the evidence that neuroinflammation in ASD is mediated by glial cells, one hypothesis is that reactive glial cells, under inflammatory conditions, contribute to the loss of synaptic functions and trigger ASD. Ongoing pharmacological treatments for ASD, including oxytocin, vitamin D, sulforaphane, and resveratrol, are promising and are shown to lead to improvements in behavioral performance in ASD. More importantly, their pharmacological mechanisms are closely related to anti-inflammation and synaptic protection. We focus this review on the hypothesis that synaptic dysfunction caused by reactive glial cells would lead to ASD, and discuss the potentials of antineuroinflammatory therapy for ASD.

scholarly journals Altered Gut Microbiome in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Potential Mechanism and Implications for Clinical Intervention

2019 ◽  
pp. 45-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuokuo Li ◽  
Zhengmao Hu ◽  
Jianjun Ou ◽  
Kun Xia
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Clinical Intervention ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Biological Interactions ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Model Studies ◽  
Microbial Dysbiosis

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder with an increased prevalence around the world over the past two decades. Remarkably, a large number of individuals with ASD have gastrointestinal disorders. Recent studies demonstrate that the endogenous gut microbiota has a close relationship with ASD according to the analyses of human host intestinal microbial composition and animal model studies. Here, we review the reports of microbial dysbiosis in ASD and then discuss the recent evidence of biological interactions among microbiota, metabolism, immunity, neurodevelopment, and behaviors. We also describe the role of the gut microbiome in the link between ASD and environmental risk factors. Finally, we suggest adjuvant treatments to consider in attempts to correct autistic behaviors.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of Brainstem Contributions to Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ala Seif ◽  
Carly Shea ◽  
Susanne Schmid ◽  
Ryan A. Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sensory Processing ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Sensorimotor Gating ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Functional Implications

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects one in 66 children in Canada. The contributions of changes in the cortex and cerebellum to autism have been studied for decades. However, our understanding of brainstem contributions has only started to emerge more recently. Disruptions of sensory processing, startle response, sensory filtering, sensorimotor gating, multisensory integration and sleep are all features of ASD and are processes in which the brainstem is involved. In addition, preliminary research into brainstem contribution emphasizes the importance of the developmental timeline rather than just the mature brainstem. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review is to compile histological, behavioral, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological evidence from human and animal studies about brainstem contributions and their functional implications in autism. Moreover, due to the developmental nature of autism, the review pays attention to the atypical brainstem development and compares findings based on age. Overall, there is evidence of an important role of brainstem disruptions in ASD, but there is still the need to examine the brainstem across the life span, from infancy to adulthood which could lead the way for early diagnosis and possibly treatment of ASD.

scholarly journals Genetic and Epigenetic Etiology Underlying Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang Hoon Yoon ◽  
Joonhyuk Choi ◽  
Won Ji Lee ◽  
Jeong Tae Do
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Noncoding Rna ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Epigenetic Factors ◽  
Neural Communication

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social interaction, language development delays, repeated body movements, and markedly deteriorated activities and interests. Environmental factors, such as viral infection, parental age, and zinc deficiency, can be plausible contributors to ASD susceptibility. As ASD is highly heritable, genetic risk factors involved in neurodevelopment, neural communication, and social interaction provide important clues in explaining the etiology of ASD. Accumulated evidence also shows an important role of epigenetic factors, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNA, in ASD etiology. In this review, we compiled the research published to date and described the genetic and epigenetic epidemiology together with environmental risk factors underlying the etiology of the different phenotypes of ASD.

scholarly journals Role of the Gut Microbiota in the Pathophysiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Clinical and Preclinical Evidence

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Léa Roussin ◽  
Naika Prince ◽  
Paula Perez-Pardo ◽  
Aletta D. Kraneveld ◽  
Sylvie Rabot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Preclinical Studies ◽  
Potential Implication ◽  
Gi Symptoms

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting 1 in 160 people in the world. Although there is a strong genetic heritability to ASD, it is now accepted that environmental factors can play a role in its onset. As the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms is four-times higher in ASD patients, the potential implication of the gut microbiota in this disorder is being increasingly studied. A disturbed microbiota composition has been demonstrated in ASD patients, accompanied by altered production of bacterial metabolites. Clinical studies as well as preclinical studies conducted in rodents have started to investigate the physiological functions that gut microbiota might disturb and thus underlie the pathophysiology of ASD. The first data support an involvement of the immune system and tryptophan metabolism, both in the gut and central nervous system. In addition, a few clinical studies and a larger number of preclinical studies found that modulation of the microbiota through antibiotic and probiotic treatments, or fecal microbiota transplantation, could improve behavior. Although the understanding of the role of the gut microbiota in the physiopathology of ASD is only in its early stages, the data gathered in this review highlight that this role should be taken in consideration.

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