"Research Roundup" October 2024 Edition
- Jennifer Philips
- Oct 31, 2024
- 4 min read
Research Roundup is a monthly newsletter from N of One’s UK-based science writer, Paul Whiteley, PhD. Each month we summarize a few research papers on a variety of topics in one simple, easy-to-read paragraph. It’s our hope that by skimming these each month, you will broaden your knowledge topics currently being explored by researchers and perhaps find information helpful in your journey of navigating a complex autism landscape.
Vitamin B6 supplementation influences ‘sensory over-responsivity’
Adults taking daily doses of 100 mg of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) for a month reported positive changes to certain aspects of sensory over-responsivity as gauged via questionnaire responses, according to a small trial from the United Kingdom (UK). As part of a larger study looking at the various effects of vitamin B6 versus vitamin B12 versus placebo, researchers published results suggesting that sensory issues may show important connections due to “the excitation–inhibition balance in the brain” being affected by vitamin B6 availability. Postural disorder was a primary correlate seemingly affected by vitamin B6 use. Authors suggest more detailed trials of vitamin B6 use in autism in particular, given the often important role sensory over- responsibility can play in quality of life. Such work brings back important memories of how Dr Bernard Rimland talked about vitamin B6 use and autism decades ago.
“Propranolol for Severe and Chronic Aggression in Autism”: small trial results say possibly
A small, methodologically ‘gold-standard’ trial recently concluded that the beta- blocker drug propranolol might have an important place in tackling aggressive behaviors exhibited by some people with autism. East coast US researchers used a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial methodology to test propranolol use with six youths diagnosed with autism who also presented with serious and enduring aggressive behaviors. Alongside looking at behavioral effects, they also looked at safety of this heart and blood pressure affecting medication. They concluded that together with an acceptable safety profile, decreasing aggressive behaviors were noted following medication use, offering scope for the further large-scale trials. Propranolol has been previously mooted for clinical use in autism following independent promising (off-label) results in relation to anxiety comorbid to autism.
Bacteroides fragilis as an intervention for autism?
Researchers in China have reported promising results following the use of a specific bacterial species as a possible intervention option for autism. Looking at the potential usefulness of Bacteroides fragilis (BF839), a bacterium that has quite a long research history as a beneficial probiotic with anti-inflammatory and other beneficial gastrointestinal (GI) properties, researchers reported both overall and specific positive changes to autistic presentations compared against a dummy or placebo intervention. Administering BF839 as part of a food bar, twice a day for 16 weeks, behavioral changes were also complemented by improvements in GI symptoms and changes to “fecal microbiome composition” (where stool samples are analyzed for the types and levels of certain bacteria). Side-effects from BF839 use were also minimal; with only two participants in the intervention group reporting mild diarrhea. Further studies are indicated.
Full-text: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1447059/abstract
[Note from J. Rodakis: Long-time followers may recognize B. fragilis from the seminal research from the lab of N of One supported researcher and Scientific Advisory Board Member, Dr. Sarkis Mazmanian from Cal Tech. That work led to the formation of the company, Axial Biotherapeutics now pursuing treatments for autism. Axial eventually dropped its B. Fragilis program for commercial reasons. It’s encouraging to see it being pursued again in humans]
Cord blood immune system compounds “possible predictive” for offspring neurodevelopmental disorder, including autism
Data derived from the Markers for Autism Risk in Babies – Learning Early Signs (MARBLES) study recently provided further interesting findings in relation to how immune functions seemed to be an important part of autism etiology and pathology. Looking for specific immune markers called cytokines in the cord blood taken from newborn infants, some of whom later developed autism, researchers from the US identified a potential early cytokine ‘footprint’ that may be able to predict which will go on to develop autism potentially separate autism from typical development. A pattern of inflammatory and non-inflammatory cytokines was observed exemplified by “increased granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and decreased interleukin- 1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, and IL-4.” Researchers also found evidence that levels of specific inflammatory cytokines also correlated with various markers of autism behavioral severity. Further work is needed to substantiate the findings but set within the context of significant immune involvement being linked to various autism phenotypes, the idea of an immune-mediated ‘test for autism’ is becoming a distinct reality.
Suicide mortality and autism: a global perspective
A large-scale analysis of the research literature looking at risk of suicide in relation to autism has concluded that autism was relevant to around 2% of all suicides globally in 2021. Drawing on data from 10 studies and relying on population data on suicide deaths from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, authors revealed some sobering statistics about the involvement of autism in suicide risk. They also reported that those with autism without intellectual (learning) disability were around five times more likely to die by suicide compared with the non-autistic general population and autistic females (compared to non-autistic females) were particularly at risk. Realizing that each statistic represents a person with family and loved ones reiterates the huge importance of addressing this issue and providing evidence-based suicide prevention strategies. The causes of suicide are often complicated and very individual but screening for, and treating, comorbid psychiatric conditions known to be important influencers of such extreme behaviors for example, provides a starting point to potentially save lives.
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