Summary: A recent study has found a clear link between the oral microbiota and autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ), revealing 11 bacterial species with potential as biomarkers. Experts developed a forecast model that accurately quantifies autism by analyzing dental samples from children 3 to 6 years old.
Through regular dental visits, this straightforward, non-invasive technique might help to earlier detect ASD. The findings provide a natural supplement to conventional observational methods, potentially revolutionizing autism screening.
Important Information
- High precision: Based on oral microbiotes, the design accurately predicts Ad with 81 % accuracy.
- 11 microbiological species have a strong ability as ASD measures, according to diagnostic identification.
- Oral samples may be used to detect autism first in medical checkups as part of a non-invasive testing.
University of Hong Kong cause
A cross-disciplinary research team from the University of Hong Kong ( HKU) found a promising link between autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) and oral microbiota.
Their study, which was published in the , Journal of Dentistry, introduces a projection unit with an 81 % accuracy level for identifying children with autism using simple dental sampling.
ASD is a longstanding developmental disorder with constrained and repetitive behaviors and interests as well as social communication challenges. ASD has emerged as a pressing global public health issue, with prevalence rates consistently rising, affecting 1 in 36 babies in the United States and about 1 in 49 children in Hong Kong’s education program.
Early detection and treatment for ASD is essential, but diagnosis normally occurs around age 5, with lighter cases frequently found when societal demands exceed abilities.
Recent screening techniques greatly rely on teacher and caregiver’s personal observations, with accuracy varying depending on the writer’s understanding of ASD.
Emerging research highlights the potential of microbiome biomarkers as encouraging, goal screening tools that may complement existing methods, enabling early detection and facilitating proper intervention during important developmental stages.
Before research suggests that the colon and oral bacteria are crucial components of inflammation, immune dysfunction, and gut-brain axis disruption, all of which are related to ASD. Analyzing oral bacteria may help first dementia detection because digestion begins in the mouth.
While the relationship between gut microbiome and autism has been explored, there is still not enough research on dental bacteria.
In order to investigate the differences between the oral bacteria of children with autism and dyslexic children, a cross-disciplinary research team was created that incorporated the expertise of  , Professor Cynthia Kar Yung Yiu, Associate Professor Rory Munro Watt from the HKU Faculty of Dentistry, Dr. Charles Cheuk-fung Hau, Senior Technical Officer Mr. Raymond Wai-man Tong, Senior Lecturer and PhD member Jacqueline Wai-yan Tang, and Associate Professor Kathy
The research team examined dental bacterial specimens from 25 autistic and 30 dyslexic young kids aged 3 to 5. Their research revealed significant differences in fungal communities, with 11 distinct bacterial species having a particularly powerful ability as markers for ASD.
The group created a projection unit with an 81 % accuracy level to help identify children with autism based on the findings. This development allows for a straightforward, non-invasive screening tool to be included in regular dental exams for children, facilitating first recommendation for a qualified evaluation.
This ground-breaking collaboration provides a convincing starting point for developing non-invasive, practical screening tools to replace outdated methods.
A quick dental swab during normal dental visits, when therapy is most effective, could be used to identify children who might benefit from early treatment, according to the team’s plans for the future.
The study’s subsequent step will increase the sample size in order to further test and develop this novel technology, with the aim of making it widely available.
About this information about ASD and microbiome study
Author: Kathy Shum
Source: University of Hong Kong
Contact: Kathy Shum – University of Hong Kong
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Classic research: Free of charge.
By Cynthia Kar Yung Yiu and colleagues,” Alternations of oral bacteria in younger children with autism: Unraveling potential markers for early diagnosis.” Dentistry Journal
Abstract
Identifying dental microbiota changes in fresh autistic children: Exploring possible biomarkers for early detection
This study looked at the oral microbiota of young children with autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) to look for potential alterations in microbial composition and identify potential biomarkers for early detection.
Methods: 16S rRNA sequencing was used to analyze dental plaque samples from 25 children with ASD ( aged 3 to 6 years old ), and 30 age- and sex-matched typically developing ( TD ) children.
Benefits: Children with ASD and TD groups had different bacteria compositions, and the results revealed lower bacterial diversity than controls. Six differentiating strains ( Microbacterium flavescens, Leptotrichia , sp. HMT-212, Prevotella jejuni, Leptotrichia , sp, Capnocytophaga leadbetteri, HMT-392,  , and , Porphyromonas , sp. In addition to the five discriminatory species ( Fusobacterium nucleatum , subsp. ), five other species ( HMT-278 ) were found in the oral microbiota of ASD children. polymorphum, Schaalia, and sp.
HMT-180,  , Leptotrichia , sp. In TD handles, HMT-498, Actinomyces gerencseriae, and Campylobacter concisus were identified. An exactness of 0.813 was achieved with a model created by strange woodland and leave-one-out cross-validation. For differentiating children with and without ASD, the receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed a sensitivity of 0. 778, a specificity of 0. 0.857, and an AUC (area under curve ) of 0. 937 (95 % CI: 0. 82 % – 1. 00 ).
Conclusion: The present study has revealed significant differences between the oral bacterial texture of TD and ASD children.
Value: These findings provide insight into the brain-microbiome network in ASD and its repercussions for early monitoring and supervision. These dental bacterial biomarkers need to be validated more, as well as their molecular association with ASD pathophysiology.
