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Gut Microbes Linked to Autism-Like Symptoms in Mice

sciencehabit writes "Many physicians and parents report that their autistic children have unusually severe gastrointestinal problems, such as chronic constipation or diarrhea. These observations have led some researchers to speculate that an ailing gut contributes to the disorder in some cases, but scientific data has been lacking. Now, a provocative study claims that a probiotic treatment for gastrointestinal issues can reduce autismlike symptoms in mice and suggests that this treatment could work for humans, too."

2 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Nonsense! by glavenoid · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Imagine the implications of an autism vaccine.

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    I, for one, am looking forward to the inevitable /. beta rollout fallout.
  2. Re:Nonsense! by Jason+Levine · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Didn't you hear? She cured her son's autism using a gluten-free diet and some other nonsense that you can probably read about in her book. Yes, Playboy Model cures a developmental disorder that scientists don't even have a complete understanding for yet. She must be a genius!

    [end sarcasm]

    (Disclaimer: Both my son and I have Asperger's Syndrome/High Functioning Autism and claims that someone is going to "cure" me or my son are just insulting. A treatment to alleviate symptoms for the folks on the "low functioning" end of the spectrum maybe, but curing someone implies that there's something wrong with that person and I don't see Autism as "wrong", just as a different way of thinking - one that happens to come in very handy at times.)

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    My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.