Autism may be associated with altered gut microbiome in children – study

Experts say that although the findings are novel, they are very exciting because a new way of diagnosing the condition could help address the “massive backlog” in people waiting to be seen

Autism may be associated with an altered gut microbiome in children, a study suggests. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA

Altered gut bacteria in children may contribute to autism, research suggests.

The findings suggest that specific components of the gut microbiome  – microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, that live in the digestive tracts of animals – could be used to diagnose autism in the future.