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New research has found that repetitive behaviors and gastrointestinal problems may be linked in children with autism.
The study found that greater severity of other autism symptoms was also associated with more severe constipation, stomach pain, and other bowel difficulties.
The research, which appears in the journal Autismfound no association between social and communication difficulties and gastrointestinal symptoms.
The study does not explain the biological mechanism for the relationship between repetitive behaviors, such as rocking back and forth and flapping hands, and bowel problems. But it helps establish that gastrointestinal symptoms can exacerbate repetitive behaviors, or vice versa, a discovery that could one day help lead to useful interventions, said Payal Chakraborty, a graduate student at Ohio State University College of Public Health who led the study.
Children with autism spectrum disorder are more likely than their typical developing peers to experience a range of gastrointestinal abnormalities, including chronic diarrhea, constipation, food sensitivity, and abdominal pain. These symptoms have been associated with higher levels of irritability and aggressive behavior, but less is known about their relationship to other autism spectrum disorder symptoms.
“In the general population, there is a fair amount of evidence on the connection between mood and mental disorders and gastrointestinal distress. In autism, we wonder whether the intestinal problems children experience are a fundamental part of the disease itself or whether they are caused by other symptoms that children with autism experience, “Chakraborty said.
Chakraborty began her study as a student at Duke University, where she worked at the Center for Autism and Brain Development and became interested in the potential connection between the gut and other features of developmental disability.
Using data from a study designed to test the feasibility of umbilical cord blood transplants as a treatment for autism, Chakraborty looked at detailed clinical measures and reports provided by the families of 176 children between the ages of 2 and 7 to see if he could find information on the drivers of gastrointestinal problems. Almost all of the children, 93%, had at least one gastrointestinal symptom.
“Gastrointestinal problems are a significant problem for many people with autism, and there is evidence that these symptoms could exacerbate some autistic behaviors, which can lead to greater developmental challenges,” he said.
Details of the relationship aren’t clear, but it’s possible that repetitive behaviors in children with autism may be a coping mechanism that helps them manage their gastrointestinal distress, Chakraborty said, adding that autism symptoms often emerge in a time when children are not. able to adequately communicate their physical suffering with words.
“Gastrointestinal problems are a major concern for many children with autism, and we still have a lot to learn about the complicated gut / brain axis,” he said.
Reference:
Chakraborty P, Carpenter KLH, Major S, et al. Gastrointestinal problems are associated with increased repetitive behaviors but not with social communication difficulties in young children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism. Published online September 24, 2020: 1362361320959503. doi: 10.1177 / 1362361320959503
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