A pioneering study by Chinese scientists on autism spectrum disorders has found that probiotics found in cheese can help alleviate these symptoms.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurological condition that affects social interaction, communication and behavior, affecting more than 60 million people globally with the number of diagnoses increasing every year.
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| Probiotics found in cheese may help alleviate autism symptoms. (Source: SCMP) |
Researchers from the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have explored the link between gut health and autism, building on growing evidence that the gut microbiome can influence brain function, mood, and cognition.
Their preliminary results, published in the journal Cell Genomics on February 12, showed significant improvements in social behavior in mice after being treated with the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus — a bacteria commonly used in the fermentation of milk.
ASD has long been thought to involve genetic and environmental factors, but recent research has focused on the gut-brain axis—a two-way communication system between the digestive tract and the central nervous system. Disturbances in gut bacteria have been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, including anxiety and depression.
The research team, led by geneticist Zhao Fangqing from the Institute of Zoology, focused on the CHD8 gene - a gene important for brain and gut development.
Mutations in CHD8 are one of the most common genetic markers of autism. Using advanced single-cell RNA sequencing technology, researchers created a mouse model with a specific CHD8 deficiency in intestinal cells.
Remarkably, after one month of daily Lactobacillus rhamnosus supplementation, the mice showed restoration of synaptic plasticity—a key mechanism for learning and memory—and an increase in Drd2-positive neurons, which regulate social motivation. In particular, the mice's decreased curiosity toward novel social environments was reversed.
“These findings deepen our understanding of the molecular origins of ASD and open the door to innovative therapies,” said a press release from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Although the study's probiotic intervention targeted intestinal cells, its effects also spread to the brain, suggesting the gut's role as a "second brain," the release added.
Scientists will need to conduct human trials to confirm the safety and effectiveness of the approach, but the research offers hope to families facing the challenges of raising children with autism.
With 1 in 36 American children expected to be diagnosed with autism by 2023, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the need for non-invasive treatments is urgent.
Probiotic therapy, if proven effective, would become a new behavioral intervention for children with autism, with minimal side effects, the researchers said.
In the coming stages, Trieu Phuong Khanh's team plans to study how signals originating from the gut precisely affect brain circuits.
There is currently a surge of global interest in microbiome-based treatments, with clinical trials exploring the effects of probiotics in helping with a variety of conditions, from depression to Parkinson's disease.
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