Frontiers in Psychiatry (Oct 2023)

Positive effects of physical activity in autism spectrum disorder: how influences behavior, metabolic disorder and gut microbiota

  • Annaluisa Ranieri,
  • Cristina Mennitti,
  • Noemi Falcone,
  • Noemi Falcone,
  • Ilaria La Monica,
  • Ilaria La Monica,
  • Maria Rosaria Di Iorio,
  • Maria Rosaria Di Iorio,
  • Lorella Tripodi,
  • Lorella Tripodi,
  • Alessandro Gentile,
  • Maria Vitale,
  • Raffaella Pero,
  • Raffaella Pero,
  • Lucio Pastore,
  • Lucio Pastore,
  • Valeria D’Argenio,
  • Valeria D’Argenio,
  • Olga Scudiero,
  • Olga Scudiero,
  • Olga Scudiero,
  • Barbara Lombardo,
  • Barbara Lombardo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1238797
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

Read online

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social interactions and communication skills impairments that include intellectual disabilities, communication delays and self-injurious behaviors; often are present systemic comorbidities such as gastrointestinal disorders, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Moreover, in recent years has emerged a link between alterations in the intestinal microbiota and neurobehavioral symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder. Recently, physical activity and exercise interventions are known to be beneficial for improving communication and social interaction and the composition of microbiota. In our review we intend to highlight how different types of sports can help to improve communication and social behaviors in children with autism and also show positive effects on gut microbiota composition.

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