Neuroscience. 2025 Aug 20:S0306-4522(25)00860-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2025.08.020. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and anorexia nervosa (AN) significantly impact affected individuals and their families. This study investigated differences in gut microbiota composition, neurotrophic factors, intestinal inflammation biomarkers, and food intake-regulating hormones between affected children and healthy controls. As these disorders are often accompanied by abnormal eating behaviours, we also explored the levels of food intake regulating hormones and their interrelations with other parameters. Our cohort comprised 117 children, including 65 patients (30 boys with ASD, 21 girls with AN, and 14 patients with ADHD) and 52 age- and sex-matched healthy children. We found several common patterns in dysbiosis of different disorders. Richness was lower in ASD and ADHD, and the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio was higher in all disorders. The Desulfovibriota abundance was increased in ADHD and AN, and Escherichia-Shigella was elevated in ASD and ADHD. Faecalibacterium abundance was decreased in ADHD and AN. A reduction of Bifidobacterium was also common. Children with ASD exhibited an elevated Bacteroidetes and a diminished Actinobacteriota, and Ruminococcus. Children with ADHD manifested reduced Firmicutes. Girls with AN displayed a decreased Firmicutes and increased Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Verrucomicrobiota. Calprotectin, zonulin and neurotrophic factors levels showed no significant differences. Lower PYY levels in ADHD and reduced PYY, leptin, and ghrelin levels in AN patients were found. Notably, certain resemblances was observed in the microbiotic taxa abundances across all patient cohorts, underscoring the conceivable influence of gut microbiota composition on the behavioral manifestations of mental disorders.
PMID:40846210 | DOI:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2025.08.020
Recent Comments