Could poo transplants ‘cure’ autism? Experts believe the key to fighting the condition ‘lies in the gut’
Faecal microbiota transplants involve transplanting the gut bacteria of a healthy person into a recipient, to alter the balance of good versus bad bacteria
AUTISM could one day be treated using poo transplants, experts said today.
They believe the key to fighting the condition lies, not in the mind, but the gut.
A new study focuses on the role the bacteria in a person's gut has to play in autism.
Improving the balance of good versus bad bacteria, via a faecal transplant, could prove an effective way to treat the condition.
The procedure, which is used to treat recurring C-difficile infections, involves transplanting the faeces of a "healthy" person into those with the superbug.
But, scientists at Arizona State University now hope the same theory can be applied to treat autism.
Autism is an incurable, lifelong developmental condition that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others.
The new findings have been hailed "promising", but researchers say additional testing is needed before it could be recommended to the public.
Although we see promise in this treatment, it is important that parents and children consult their doctors. Improper techniques can result in severe gastrointestinal infection
Prof Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown
Professor James Adams, who led the study, said: "The results are very compelling.
"We completed a phase 1 trial demonstrating safety and efficacy, but recommending such treatment and bringing it to market requires phase 2 and phase 3 trials.
"We look forward to continuing research on this treatment method with a larger, placebo-controlled trial in the future."
WHAT IS A POO TRANSPLANT?
Faecal microbiota transplant, or FMT, is a recognised procedure, used by doctors in a small number of cases to treat recurrent superbug C.diff infections.
It is only used when other treatments, such as long-term antibiotics, have failed.
How is it performed?
The treatment should only ever be performed by a qualified doctor.
It involves collecting a stool sample from a donor, who is tested to ensure they carry no harmful bugs and have the correct bacteria in their digestive tracts to help combat the bug.
The sample is then mixed with saline, strained and placed into the patient via a colonoscopy, endoscopy or an enema.
How does it work?
FMT aims to replace good bacteria that has been killed or suppressed, often by the use of antibiotics.
This killing of good bacteria allows bad bacteria, specifically C.diff, to over-populate the colon.
The infection can then lead to a condition called C.diff colitis, which causes painful and sometimes fatal diarrhoea.
By restoring the balance of bacteria in the intestines, the idea is that the patient will be better able to fight infection.
Who can be a donor?
Donors can be family members, or others who are known to you.
But, they must:
- be tested for a wide array of bacterial and parasitic infections
- be free of health problems
- lead a healthy lifestyle
Donors are screened for a range of infectious diseases, including HIV, hepatitis A, B and C and syphilis.
Source: Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital
The researchers tested their theory in a study involving 18 people with autism spectrum disorders, who ranged in age from seven to 16 years old.
Those taking part were given antibiotics for 10 weeks, a bowel cleanse and daily faecal microbiota transplants over an eight-week period.
Past research by the team has found ties between the symptoms of autism and the composition and diversity of a person's gut microbes.
The treatment programme was found to show long-term benefits, including an average 80 per cent improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms linked to autism, and 20 to 25 per cent improvement in autism behaviours - including better social skills and sleeping habits.
Faecal mircobial transplants involve the transfer of live gut bacteria from a healthy donor to a recipient.
The donor materials contain around 1,000 different species of gut bacteria that act like a broad-spectrum probiotic treatment to restore normal gut bacteria to recipients.
"We saw a big increase in microbe diversity and a big increase in certain bacteria, especially Prevotella, which we previously found was low in children with autism spectrum disorders," said researcher Dae-Wook Kang.
The microbes added to recipients' guts during treatment remained there once the study had finished.
Professor Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, said: "That is compelling, because not only did we provide good microbes, but the microbes we provided changed the gut environment in a way that helped the hose recruit beneficial microbes and allowed them to stay around."
The researchers said their next step is to conduct a placebo-controlled trial to evaluate how effective the transplants are.
They said it is very important that families do not attempt to perform their own transplants.
"Although we see promise in this treatment, it is important that parents and children consult their doctors," Prof Krajmalnik-Brown said.
"Improper techniques can result in severe gastrointestinal infection."
There is currently no cure for autism.
Experts said more talking from mums and dads could help kids overcome autism.
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