Scientists May Have Found a Potential Link Between Autism and the Mother’s Gut Microbiome

A new study published in The Journal of Immunology suggests that a mother’s gut bacteria during pregnancy may influence her child’s brain development, potentially contributing to autism. Researchers from the University of Virginia studied mice and found that a molecule called interleukin-17a (IL-17a)—produced by the immune system—may be a key factor. IL-17a is known to help fight infections but can also cause inflammation. When pregnant mice prone to IL-17a-related inflammation gave birth, their pups developed autism-like behaviors. However, when IL-17a was blocked, the pups were born with typical behaviors.

To confirm the role of gut bacteria, scientists transferred microbiota from the “at-risk” mice into healthy ones. The result? Their offspring developed similar autism-like traits, highlighting the influence of the mother’s gut microbiome.

While these findings are based on animal models and can’t be directly applied to humans yet, they offer a promising direction for autism research. Lead researcher John Lukens emphasized that this may be just one piece of a complex puzzle.

The next step is to study human pregnancies to see if similar patterns emerge. Ultimately, this research underscores how vital maternal health—especially gut health—can be during early brain development.