Neuroprotection Through Probiotic Intervention: Lessons From Autism Research

Probiotics, live microorganisms with potential health benefits, have gained significant research interest for their impact on gut microbiota and neuroprotection. This paper highlights insights from two collaborative studies focusing on probiotics' multifaceted role in addressing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and mitigating glutamate excitotoxicity. In the first study (Meguid et al., 2022), probiotic supplementation in children with ASD increased Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus colony counts, reduced anxiety, and improved sleep, suggesting a therapeutic potential for ASD symptoms. The second study (El-Ansary et al., 2018) explored neuroprotective effects, revealing probiotics' ability to restore γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and magnesium (Mg2+) levels, mitigating glutamate excitotoxicity. Safety assessments indicated well-tolerated probiotic use in both studies. Future research should focus on personalized probiotic interventions and mechanistic studies to unlock probiotics' full potential in neurodevelopment and neuroprotection.