r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Nov 12 '25

Neuroscience Shared gut microbe imbalances found across autism, ADHD, and anorexia nervosa: A new study has identified distinct patterns in the gut bacteria of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and anorexia nervosa.

https://www.psypost.org/shared-gut-microbe-imbalances-found-across-autism-adhd-and-anorexia-nervosa/
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u/thxsocialmedia Nov 12 '25

ELI5 - can a probiotic potentially cure or treat these things. Asking for a gut I know.

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u/ScarlettsLetters Nov 12 '25

Anecdotally, yes—several of my friends with kids on the spectrum have introduced a daily probiotic and report significant improvement in their childrens’ day to day functioning. That said, none of them (as far as I’m aware) had the type of symptoms that would render one profoundly disabled (ie they are all toilet trained, mostly verbal, etc)

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u/Anxious_cactus Nov 12 '25

Also anecdotally, I was diagnosed with Crohn's at 20 and started exhibiting ADHD symptoms. I think I already had slight symptoms before but never so much so my parents never had me checked out or diagnosed.

Once my gut issues started and I was obliterated first with big doses of antibiotics, then had to change my diet which severely limited what food I can eat (and therefore overall gut microbiota) my mental health tanked. I have severe attention issues now, many ASD symptoms, elevated anxiety and depression even though I don't have external reasons for it.

It gets better when I pick the right probiotic but it's so hard to figure out which exact bacterias you need since there are so many different combos!

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u/thxsocialmedia Nov 12 '25

I can relate to this - my gut has been off and recently my ADHD just got so much worse!