Recent research shows the mother’s gut microbiome may influence a child’s risk of developing autism.
A study in The Journal of Immunology found that certain gut bacteria in pregnant mice triggered an immune molecule called IL-17a, which affected brain development in offspring, leading to autism-like behaviors.
When IL-17a was blocked, pups developed normally. Even transferring gut bacteria from affected to unaffected mice led to similar autism-like outcomes in their offspring. While these are early animal studies and don’t yet apply directly to humans, they highlight a possible link between maternal gut health and neurodevelopment, opening new paths for autism research.
