Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (Jul 2023)

Psychobiotics and fecal microbial transplantation for autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: microbiome modulation and therapeutic mechanisms

  • Min-jin Kwak,
  • Seung Hyun Kim,
  • Hoo Hugo Kim,
  • Rahul Tanpure,
  • Johanna Inhyang Kim,
  • Johanna Inhyang Kim,
  • Byong-Hun Jeon,
  • Hyun-Kyung Park,
  • Hyun-Kyung Park

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1238005
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is thought to be the developmental origins of the host’s health and disease through the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis: such as immune-mediated, metabolic, neurodegenerative, and neurodevelopmental diseases. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are common neurodevelopmental disorders, and growing evidence indicates the contribution of the gut microbiome changes and imbalances to these conditions, pointing to the importance of considering the MGB axis in their treatment. This review summarizes the general knowledge of gut microbial colonization and development in early life and its role in the pathogenesis of ASD/ADHD, highlighting a promising therapeutic approach for ASD/ADHD through modulation of the gut microbiome using psychobiotics (probiotics that positively affect neurological function and can be applied for the treatment of psychiatric diseases) and fecal microbial transplantation (FMT).

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