USC scientists find a gut-brain link that may affect behavior in children with autism
April 14, 2025
An imbalance in the microbiome disrupts neurotransmitter production and may manifest as social difficulties and repetitive behaviors.
By Leigh Hopper
A new USC study suggests that gut imbalances in children with autism may create an imbalance of metabolites in the digestive system — ultimately disrupting neurotransmitter production and influencing behavioral symptoms.
The research, published Monday in Nature Communications, adds to a growing body of science implicating the “gut-brain” axis in autism. The discovery raises the possibility of new treatment avenues. It’s an example of how research at USC, and other universities, drives innovation and leads to discoveries that improve lives.
“We demonstrated that gut metabolites impact the brain, and the brain, in turn, affects behavior. Essentially, the brain acts as the intermediary between gut health and autism-related behaviors,” said first author Lisa Aziz-Zadeh, a professor at the Brain and Creativity Institute at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. “Previous studies highlighted differences in gut microbiomes and brain structures in autism, but our research connects the dots.”
The gut-brain connection is not as far-fetched as it might seem. From an evolutionary perspective, the gut was likely the first “brain,” explained Aziz-Zadeh, who also is a professor at USC Dornsife’s Department of Psychology and the USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy.
In fact, most of the neurons from the gut send signals to the brain; there are actually more neurons in the gut than in the spinal cord. About 90% of the neural signals between the gut and brain travel from the gut to the brain, while only 10% go in the opposite direction.
Read “USC scientists find a gut-brain link that may affect behavior in children with autism” at USC Today.
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