Matching Items (112)
Description
Background: Currently, we do not know the direct cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A correlation between the gut microbiome and ASD may play a key role in normalizing ASD symptoms that plague many around the world. Furthermore, microbiota transfer therapy (MTT) may be the next step toward reducing GI symptoms in people impacted with ASD. The Medical Histories of ASD and NT (Neurotypical) adults may help find further information that could help find causes that contribute to the development of ASD.
Objective: To identify key questions in the Medical History Questionnaire and evaluate differences between the ASD and NT participants.
Results: There are 53 ASD participants and 43 NT participants with mean ages of 23.3 and 25.6 respectively. The mean birth weights of each group remain relatively similar (122.3 vs. 117). A greater number of NT participants were delivered vaginally than ASD participants (72.5% vs. 66%). More ASD participants were born before 40 weeks than NT participants (26.4% vs. 7.5%). NT participants, on average, were breastfed almost two times longer than ASD participants (11.2 months vs. 6.4). ASD participants required more time to be toilet trained for both urine and stool output (3.3 years vs. 2.4 years for urine and 4.3 years vs. 2.7 years for stool output). ASD participants have more food allergies with a higher severity and an equal likelihood of seasonal allergies but with a higher severity. ASD participants mainly reported a major regression at an average age of 19.6 months or an abnormal development from early infancy. Maternal and Paternal Histories are more severe in GI problems, ASD, Delayed Speech, Learning Disabilities, Asthma, Eczema, Seasonal and Food Allergies for ASD participants than NT participants. The most significant finding was the ASD participants’ average age of GI symptoms starting was 3.1 compared to 17.9 for NT participants.
Conclusions and Relevance: There are many factors that may contribute to the development of ASD in early childhood. Further research in a larger sample size may demonstrate more significant differences in ASD and NT populations.
ContributorsKazanchi, Alexander (Author) / Adams, James (Thesis director) / Kirby, Jasmine (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
The purpose of this research is to investigate a new drug that is currently facing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process to treat the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This new drug is Microbiota Transfer Therapy (MTT) that targets the gut microbiome, which is the ecosystem of bacteria inhabiting our bodies gastrointestinal system. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurological and developmental condition that’s prevalence is increasing in the modern-day population, however, no treatments outside of interventions and therapies exist to treat the symptoms of this disorder. Within the past decade, researchers have begun to examine the role that the gastrointestinal system plays in the presence of Autism, in which many studies have shown that the disbalance of gut microbiomes could be linked to some of the behavioral symptoms of ASD. There is an ongoing Adult MTT study that has shown that replacing the participants gut microbiota with healthy donor microbiota, not only do their gastrointestinal symptoms improve, but so do their ASD symptoms. Preliminary results of this study have shown that this treatment is safe, with virtually no serious, lasting adverse effects, while also being effective. This study is in Phase 2 of the FDA approval process and holds promising evidence of a new treatment that would improve the lives of many.
ContributorsLaBrosse, Alexandra (Author) / Adams, James (Thesis director) / Kirby, Jasmine (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution & Social Change (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05