The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is still on the rise worldwide, with limited effective treatments for core symptoms available. Those with ASD often have social deficits and are 3.5 times more likely to suffer from gut disorders than neurotypical individuals.

The combination of these two issues seen in ASD led researchers recently to look at the effects of the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri on the effects of social dysfunction in experimental studies.

They found that treatment with L. reuteri selectively rescued social deficits, but not through the expected route of modulating the gut bacteria (microbiota). L. reuteri worked through a central gut-brain communication pathway (gut-brain axis).

To read more about this exciting and emerging research visit: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-12-microbial-based-treatment-reverses-autism-spectrum.html