Probiotic therapy alleviates autism-like behaviors in mice

(California Institute of Technology) Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed when individuals exhibit characteristic behaviors, decreased social interactions, and impaired communication. Curiously, many with ASD also suffer from gastrointestinal issues, like abdominal cramps and constipation. Guided by this co-occurrence of brain and gut problems, researchers at the California Institute Technology are investigating a bacterium that alleviates GI and behavioral symptoms in autistic-like mice, introducing a potentially transformative probiotic therapy for autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news