Gastrointestinal problems in children with autism linked to anxiety, social withdrawal

A new University of Missouri study has found a "two-way" relationship between gastrointestinal problems and intrinsic symptoms in children and teens with autism -- meaning the symptoms appear to affect each other at the same time

"Studies show that gastrointestinal problems in some children with autism are associated with increased stress response as well as aggression and irritability

For the study, Ferguson and his team analyzed health data from more than 620 autistic patients with gastrointestinal problems at the University of Missouri Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

"Stress signals from the brain can alter the release of neurotransmitters in the gut, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, which control gastrointestinal motility, or the movement of stool through the gut

Ferguson said an interdisciplinary team of experts is needed to help address this complex problem and further develop treatments

Ferguson worked with David Beversdorf, a neurologist at the University of Michigan's Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, who also studies gastrointestinal problems in people with autism

"Interestingly, the study by Beversdorf and colleagues found that microRNAs are associated with anxious behavior, depression, and gastrointestinal disturbances after prolonged stress, providing some aggregated evidence for our behavioral findings," Ferguson said

Now, Ferguson and Beversdorf are conducting clinical trials together to determine the effect of a stress-reducing drug on gastrointestinal problems

"I have a great relationship with Beversdorf University and the Thompson Center for Autism Research (ARC) at the University of Missouri, which has allowed our team to go quickly from discovery in the lab to clinical trials,

Ferguson explained that some treatments may work for some people with autism, but not necessarily for others

"Our team used a biomarker-based approach to discover markers that are commonly found in people who respond well to certain treatments," Ferguson said

"The Bidirectional Relationship Between Intrinsic Symptoms and Gastrointestinal Problems in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder," was recently published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Journal Reference :

1. Kristen Dovgan, Kyra Gynegrowski, Bradley J.