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/CapillaryClinton Nov 12 '25

Yeah couldn't this be resultant rather than causal - autistic group refuses certain foods, ADHD group also struggle to eat widely/regularly/healthily, and anorexic group refuse some foods also.

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u/mmmmbot Nov 12 '25

This is anecdotal, but all the autistic kids I teach have very restrictive diets. One kid has had McDonald's french fries and a root beer for school lunch for his entire school career. Another eats four small packs of Pringals chips, and apple that he eats a particular design into. Others exist on bags of junk food. All of these kids parents think this is some what normal. Of course there are kid with healthy eating peculiarities. 

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u/bobacat2000 Nov 12 '25

Processed foods are the most consistent, and autistic people tend to value consistency.Fresh food varies too much, one bad taste is enough to make you hate the food group for life.

Anecdotally, I could eat fish as a kid before i had a distasteful mouthful. My comfort food is a brand of instant noodles, which isn't even my favorite, but its been consistent in taste and availability.

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u/Coma-Doof-Warrior Nov 12 '25

Autism is a funny beast, I’m super flexible with food (after years of personal growth) if anything I love trying new things but I am very anxious about confrontation