What gastrointestinal diseases are present in ASD?5 answersGastrointestinal diseases that are present in ASD include ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, gastroesophageal reflux, and nutritional disorders. These diseases are more common in children with ASD compared to neurotypical children. The severity of gastrointestinal malformations in ASD has been found to be associated with the severity of behavioral symptoms. Common symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders in ASD include hyperactivity, anxiety, aggression, self-mutilation, and changes in behavior. Gastrointestinal symptoms in ASD can be difficult to diagnose and may be misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all. The presence of gastrointestinal disorders in ASD is associated with intellectual disability, sleep disorders, and the prescription of psychopharmacological treatment. Further research is needed to understand the specific phenotypic characteristics and biological markers underlying the association between gastrointestinal disorders and ASD.
What is the connection between gut and brain?5 answersThe gut and brain are closely connected through the brain-gut axis, which involves the interaction between the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system. This bidirectional communication occurs through sensory and autonomic pathways, allowing the brain to influence the function of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and vice versa. The gut microbiota also plays a crucial role in this connection, with the composition and function of the microbiome affecting both GI and brain health. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the gut microbiome, has been linked to various diseases, including neurological disorders. Understanding the gut-brain connection has important implications for the treatment of functional GI disorders and neurological diseases.
What are Neurological Diseases with Gastrointestinal Effects?4 answersNeurological diseases can have gastrointestinal effects. Gastrointestinal disorders can be associated with neurological disease through various mechanisms such as nutritional deficiencies, immune-mediated processes, or degenerative changes. Common gastrointestinal symptoms in neurologic disorders include sialorrhea, dysphagia, gastroparesis, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, constipation, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence. Lesions in different brain structures can cause appetite loss, decreased peristalsis, decreased abdominal strain, hiccupping, and vomiting. Inflammatory diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system can also contribute to gastrointestinal dysfunction. Parkinson's disease, for example, is characterized by abnormal accumulation of α-synuclein fibrils and is often preceded by constipation. The gut microbiota may play a role in both intestinal and brain pathologies, and interventions targeting the gut microbiota and its metabolites may have potential therapeutic benefits for neurologic and gastrointestinal diseases.
What is the relationship between epilepsy and psychiatric disorders?5 answersEpilepsy is frequently associated with psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy patients varies depending on the type of epilepsy, with rates up to 51% in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE), up to 43.1% in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), and up to 43.3% in a general population of epilepsy patients. Specific psychiatric disorders commonly observed in epilepsy patients include mood/affective disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and psychotic disorders. Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy have an increased polygenic burden for psychiatric disorders, particularly psychosis and depression, compared to responsive cases. Childhood maltreatment experiences are a powerful predictor for the occurrence of psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy patients. The relationship between epilepsy and psychiatric disorders in adults with intellectual disabilities is less clear, with some studies showing no significant difference in the overall rate of psychiatric disorders between epilepsy and non-epilepsy groups.
Gut brain axis and neurological disorders?5 answersThe gut-brain axis is a communication system between the gut and the brain that plays a significant role in neurological disorders. Imbalances in the gut microbiome can contribute to the development and progression of these disorders. The gut microbiome affects the brain through the microbiota-gut-brain axis, which has been found to influence the pathophysiology of neurological disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and migraine. The gut microbiota regulates neurodevelopment through immune, neuronal, and endocrine/systemic pathways, and dysregulation of this axis has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The gut microbiota also produces and modulates neurotransmitters, and its bidirectional communication with the brain has been linked to various neurological disorders including schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. Furthermore, dysbiosis of the gut microbial makeup has been associated with the emergence of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and multiple sclerosis.
Gut microbiome and mental health disorders?1 answersThe gut microbiome has been found to have an impact on mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, autism, and schizophrenia. The gut and brain have a bidirectional communication known as the gut microbiome-brain axis, where disturbances in the gut microbiota can lead to dysregulation of pathways and trigger changes in the blood-brain barrier permeability, causing neurological and functional gastrointestinal disorders. Changes in the gut microbiome can result from factors such as diet, antibiotics, stress, and current illnesses. Genetic variants also play a role in shaping the gut microbiome and its connection to behavioral outcomes. Understanding the role of the gut microbiome can provide new tools for preventing, treating, or reducing symptoms of mental illness and improving general immune function. Probiotics and postbiotics may also have a beneficial role when used in conjunction with psychiatric medication.