Autism research has taken an intriguing turn with a new study suggesting that a mother’s gut bacteria could influence her child’s neurodevelopment. Published in The Journal of Immunology, the study found that certain microbes trigger an immune response involving IL-17a, a molecule that may impact brain development in the womb.
Researchers tested this by studying two groups of mice—one with gut bacteria that produced IL-17a and another without. When IL-17a was suppressed, the offspring behaved normally. But when left active, the pups developed autism-like behaviors. Even more compelling, when gut bacteria from the first group were transferred to the second, their offspring also showed signs of the disorder.
While the findings are still in early stages, they offer a promising direction for future research. Scientists now aim to identify the specific bacteria involved and determine if the same link exists in humans.
