Summary: A new study has identified a strong link between oral microbiota and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), revealing 11 bacterial species with potential as biomarkers. By analyzing oral samples from children aged 3–6, researchers developed a prediction model that identifies autism with 81% accuracy.
This simple, non-invasive method could enable earlier detection of ASD through routine dental visits. The findings may revolutionize autism screening by offering a biological complement to traditional observation-based methods.
Key Facts:
- High Accuracy: The model predicts ASD with 81% accuracy based on oral microbiota.
- Biomarker Discovery: 11 bacterial species show strong potential as ASD indicators.
- Non-Invasive Screening: Oral swabs could become part of early autism detection in dental checkups.
Source: University of Hong Kong
A cross-disciplinary research team from the Faculty of Dentistry and the Department of Psychology of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has found promising connection between oral microbiota and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Their study published in the Journal of Dentistry, introduces a prediction model with an 81% accuracy rate for identifying children with autism through simple oral sampling.
ASD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition characterised by social communication difficulties, as well as restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests. ASD has emerged as a critical global public health challenge, with prevalence rates steadily rising – affecting 1 in 36 children in the United States and approximately 1 in 49 children in Hong Kong’s educational system.
Early identification and intervention for ASD is crucial, yet diagnosis typically occurs around age 5, with milder cases often identified when social demands exceed capabilities.
Current screening methods rely heavily on subjective observations by teachers and caregivers, with accuracy varying based on the observer’s understanding of ASD.
Emerging research highlights microbiome biomarkers as promising, objective screening tools that could complement existing methods, improving early detection and enabling timely intervention during critical developmental stages.
Prior studies suggest the gut and oral microbiome play key roles in inflammation, immune dysfunction, and gut-brain axis disruption, all linked to ASD. Since digestion starts in the mouth, analysing oral bacteria could aid early autism identification.
While gut microbiota’s connection to autism has been explored, research on oral microbiota remains limited.
In view of this, a cross-disciplinary research team combining the expertise of Professor Cynthia Kar Yung Yiu, Associate Professor Rory Munro Watt from the HKU Faculty of Dentistry, along with Dr Charles Cheuk-fung Hau and Senior Technical Officer Mr Raymond Wai-man Tong, together with Senior Lecturer and PhD candidate Jacqueline Wai-yan Tang and Associate Professor Kathy Kar-man Shum from the Department of Psychology was formed to explore the differences in oral microbiota between children with ASD and neurotypical children.
The research team examined oral bacterial samples from 25 children with autism and 30 neurotypical children aged 3-6. Their analysis revealed significant differences in bacterial communities, with 11 specific bacterial species showing particularly strong potential as biomarkers for ASD.
Based on the findings, the team developed a prediction model with an 81% accuracy rate for identifying children with autism. This innovation paves the way for a simple, non-invasive screening tool that could be integrated into routine dental check-ups for children, enabling early referral for professional evaluation.
This groundbreaking collaboration provides a promising foundation for developing practical, non-invasive screening tools to complement existing methods.
The team envisions a future where a quick oral swab during regular dental visits could help identify children who would benefit from early intervention, when therapy is most effective.
The next phase of the study will expand the sample size to further validate and refine this innovative technology, with the ultimate goal of making it widely accessible.
About this microbiome and ASD research news
Author: Kathy Shum
Source: University of Hong Kong
Contact: Kathy Shum – University of Hong Kong
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Alterations of oral microbiota in young children with autism: Unraveling potential biomarkers for early detection” by Cynthia Kar Yung Yiu et al. Journal of Dentistry
Abstract
Alterations of oral microbiota in young children with autism: Unraveling potential biomarkers for early detection
Objectives: This study investigated the oral microbiota in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to determine possible alterations in microbial composition and identify potential biomarkers for early detection.
Methods: Dental plaque samples from 25 children with ASD (aged 3–6 years; M = 4.79, SD = 0.83) and 30 age- and sex-matched typically developing (TD) children were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.
Results: The results showed lower bacterial diversity in children with ASD compared to controls, with distinct microbial compositions in the ASD and TD groups. Six discriminatory species (Microbacterium flavescens, Leptotrichia sp. HMT-212, Prevotella jejuni, Capnocytophaga leadbetteri, Leptotrichia sp. HMT-392, and Porphyromonas sp. HMT-278) were identified in the oral microbiota of ASD children, while five discriminatory species (Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. polymorphum, Schaalia sp.
HMT-180, Leptotrichia sp. HMT-498, Actinomyces gerencseriae, and Campylobacter concisus) were identified in TD controls. A model generated by random forest and leave-one-out cross-validation achieved an accuracy of 0.813. Receiver operating characteristic analysis yielded a sensitivity of 0.778, a specificity of 0.857, and an AUC (area under curve) of 0.937 (95 % CI: 0.82 – 1.00) for differentiating children with and without ASD.
Conclusion: The present study has unveiled significant disparities in the oral microbial composition between ASD and TD children.
Significance: These findings contribute to understanding the microbiome-brain connection in ASD and its implications for early detection and management. Further research is needed to validate these oral bacterial biomarkers and explore their mechanistic association with ASD pathophysiology.
