A large longitudinal study indicates that the maturation of an infant's microbiome shortly after birth may modify the risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD.
Researchers analyzed 571 cord blood samples and over 5,300 gut microbiome samples from nearly 1,000 families. They found that cesarean section delivery was linked to changes in gene methylation in the infant and a reduction in maternal microbiome transmission.
Crucially, the study identified specific bacteria that appear to play a protective role. The presence of Lachnospira pectinoschiza at 12 months was linked to a reduced risk of autism associated with a specific hypermethylated gene. Similarly, early colonization by Parabacteroides distasonis appeared to mitigate the risk of ADHD linked to several neural genes.
The findings suggest that early-life microbial colonization might influence the relationship between a child's epigenetics and their neurodevelopmental trajectory, pointing toward potential new avenues for early intervention.