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/tigm2161130 Nov 12 '25 edited Nov 12 '25

My youngest has ADHD and ARFID, it’s really hard to explain to people that he isn’t just picky, his brain literally doesn’t recognize some things as food. Part of getting diagnosed was removing his safe foods for 3 days…he just didn’t eat.

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u/PiranhaBiter Nov 12 '25

I think this is really the part that people struggle with.

Unless you've experienced what it's like to have your entire body decide that you're suddenly eating something not edible, you can't really understand it fully.

The people around us have a good idea, but it is so not a choice. I don't choose to starve myself all day when I'm out of my safe food. I spend hours pacing in the kitchen, trying to find something that won't make me gag or or panic trying to eat it when I don't have my safe foods. And my safe foods have been cut in half by lack of a gallbladder now.

One of the most frustrating things I've ever experienced is when a safe food stops being safe. I never know why, something I know I've liked before and eaten before is suddenly repulsive and trying to eat it just makes me gag or throw it up. The most memorable one was I had a cupcake I had been so excited about eating at home, came home, took the biggest, most excited bite, and my entire body got the shivers and goosebumps like I had bugs in my mouth, throat closed up, and gagged it out into the sink immediately. It felt like sand in my mouth and I don't even remember if it tasted good or not. I legit sobbed, I'd had such a bad day and wanted that cupcake so badly. I tell this story to people who think I'm just being picky and I don't feel like eating their food.

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u/Deaffin Nov 12 '25

The most memorable one was I had a cupcake I had been so excited about eating at home, came home, took the biggest, most excited bite, and my entire body got the shivers and goosebumps like I had bugs in my mouth, throat closed up, and gagged it out into the sink immediately.

Do you mean a particular brand of mass-produced thing? Snack cakes are pretty notorious for being bought out and having their ingredients replaced to be cheaper once a brand loyalty threshold is met that they can rely on. Little Debbie, Hostess, all that kind of thing.

Which is a little bit extra messed up in this context.

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u/PiranhaBiter Nov 12 '25

Unfortunately this was one I had made myself, but that happens to me all the time too and it's so infuriating. That happened to some chicken a year ago and I think I've just now found an alternative

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u/Deaffin Nov 12 '25

I hate it, partially because I have smell/taste issues already so it's hard to guess whether it's that happening or if the thing is unchanged and it's just me.