Scientists may have uncovered a surprising connection between gut bacteria and autism spectrum disorder. A new study published in The Journal of Immunology suggests that a mother’s microbiome could influence her child’s likelihood of developing autism-related behaviors.
Researchers from the University of Virginia focused on how gut bacteria affect brain development in unborn mice. They discovered that a specific immune molecule called IL-17a, already linked to conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, may play a key role. When this molecule was blocked in pregnant mice, their offspring showed typical behavior. But when left unchecked, the pups developed autism-like symptoms, including social difficulties and repetitive behaviors.
What makes this discovery particularly interesting is that the effect wasn’t tied to the pups’ own gut bacteria—it came from their mothers. By transferring gut bacteria from affected mice to healthy ones, researchers were able to recreate the autism-like behaviors in the next generation.
While these findings are preliminary and haven’t been confirmed in humans, they open exciting new possibilities for understanding autism. The next step? Identifying exactly which bacterial factors might be involved and whether similar patterns exist in people.
