Microbial activity in the mouth may differentiate children with autism spectrum disorder

(Bioscribe) Research suggests that shifts in bacterial populations within a child's mouth could provide objective biomarkers for identifying autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The findings catalyze development of a novel, saliva-based panel to aid clinicians in earlier diagnosis of ASD. Five ratios of oral microbes distinguished ASD from typically developing children (79.5 percent accuracy), three distinguished ASD from developmentally delayed, non-autistic (76.5 percent accuracy), and three distinguished ASD children with/without GI disturbance (85.7 percent accuracy).

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science https://ift.tt/2Pc8e6V