Autism spectrum disorder ‘common’ in preterm infants born before 29 weeks gestation
Infants born preterm, classified as being born at less than 29 weeks gestation, are at significant risk of being eventually diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to new research out of McGill University in Canada. Almost 1 in 10 preterm infants were diagnosed with ASD and a further 7% were in receipt of a provisional ASD diagnosis among some 300 infants included for study. Study authors discussed the need for preferential screening for ASD among such preterm infants.
One more time: various neurological and psychiatric diagnoses over-represented in autism
Drawing on a healthcare data resource including records for over 3 million people, researchers in Wales concluded that a range of psychiatric and behavioral diagnoses are over-represented in people diagnosed with ASD. Rates of depression, anxiety, psychosis and epilepsy were particularly notable in the cohort of around 8000 autistic people compared to some 25,000 control participants; of which nearly half of people with ASD had at least one other psychiatric diagnosis listed in their healthcare records.
Separately, independent data recently published in the US surveying nearly 10,000 children with ASD reported that the presence of intellectual (learning) disability seems to influence the type and pattern of comorbid diagnoses. Of particular relevance was the finding that children with autism plus intellectual disability (ID) were less likely to have accompanying behavioral and psychiatric conditions than those without ID.
Full-text: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/ neurological-and-psychiatric-disorders-among-autistic-adults-a-population- healthcare-record-study/E9DD7A4C8563541C5A2C954DE96480D5
Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) for C. difficile infection alleviated ADHD symptoms: a case report
A 22-year old woman treated for recurrent Clostridioides difficile (previously known as Clostridium difficile) infection with fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) showed both resolution of her C. difficile infection and alleviation of ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) symptoms according to a new collaborative report from Singapore. Changes to the presentation of ADHD correlated with changes to her gut microbiota profile, which was sequenced before and after receipt of FMT. Researchers highlighted particularly notable pathways thought to underlie the improvement in ADHD symptoms in relation to the metabolism of the aromatic amino acid tryptophan and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Such findings complement other similar work looking at FMT use in other developmental diagnoses including ASD.
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