A recent study published in Molecular Neurobiology reveals a potential connection between gut microbiota and intellectual disability in people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). While the early stage of research is considered exploratory, the findings suggest that the gut-brain axis may play a role in the cognitive challenges associated with the disease.
The researchers analyzed stool samples of individuals with DMD to assess their gut microbiota, the ecosystem of microorganisms that live in the digestive tract and includes bacteria, archaea, fungi and viruses. In recent years, scientists have been researching the many ways the balance (or imbalance) of these microbes may affect both physical and mental health.
The study included 50 participants with a median age of 13. Thirty-four percent of the participants had an intellectual disability, defined as an IQ below 70. The analysis showed significant differences in gut microbiota composition between individuals with DMD and an intellectual disability and those with DMD but no intellectual disability.
Specifically, there was an increased abundance of Propionibacterium and Bifidobacterium and a reduction in Bulleidia in participants with cognitive challenges. These bacteria are involved in the production of short-chain fatty acids, which are known to affect brain function and communication between the gut and brain, a connection known as the gut-brain axis. A growing body of evidence suggests the gut-brain axis plays a crucial role in regulating various processes throughout the body, and disruptions to this connection may be tied to a number of diseases.
While primarily affecting muscle function, DMD is also associated with cognitive impairments, including intellectual disability, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The underlying mechanisms behind the increased risk of these conditions in people with DMD are unknown; the new research suggests the gut microbiome may play a contributing role.
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The authors stressed that the study only points towards a correlation, and does not prove that gut bacteria cause intellectual disability in DMD. Still, the researchers say this is an important step in better understanding the disease, which may one day help lead to new interventions to improve brain function in people with DMD.
“While these preliminary findings suggest a possible association between gut microbiota profile and cognitive impairment in DMD, further research is needed to explore a causal relationship and consider microbiota-targeted therapeutic strategies,” the study’s authors wrote.
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