This can change everything 👇👀

Recent studies show our gut microbiota plays a vital role in health, affecting everything from mood and weight to autoimmune conditions. A new study in *The Journal of Immunology* links gut bacteria to autism, emphasizing that a mother’s microbiome may have a greater impact than the child’s own.

“The microbiome helps shape how the brain and immune system develop,” said John Lukens, lead researcher at the University of Virginia.

Researchers focused on the molecule IL-17a, which is involved in inflammation and has been linked to diseases like psoriasis and MS. In mice, suppressing IL-17a during pregnancy prevented autism-like behavior in offspring. However, pups born to mothers with pro-inflammatory gut bacteria developed autism-like traits if IL-17a was not blocked.

To confirm this, scientists transferred gut bacteria from affected mice to healthy ones. The recipient group’s offspring also developed neurological issues, suggesting a clear role of maternal gut health.

Though it’s early research, it opens promising avenues for understanding autism. Lukens aims to explore which components of the maternal microbiome are involved and whether similar links exist in humans.