Two new studies from MIT and University of Massachusetts Medical School shed more light on the link between severe infection during pregnancy and autism and identify possible approaches to preventing it.
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Mothers who experience an infection severe enough to require hospitalisation during pregnancy are at higher risk of having a child with autism.
In research on mice, the researchers found that the composition of bacterial populations in the mother’s digestive tract can influence whether maternal infection leads to autistic-like behaviours in offspring. They also discovered the specific brain changes that produce these behaviours. If validated in human studies, the findings could offer a possible way to reduce the risk of autism, which would involve blocking the function of certain strains of bacteria found in the maternal gut, the researchers say.
They found that the patches were most common in a part of the brain known as S1DZ, and that the changes in the cortical patches were associated with overexcitement in S1DZ. When the researchers restored normal levels of brain activity in this area, they were able to reverse the behavioural abnormalities.
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Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
03 Jan 2018, 1:39 am
