A Multilevel Approach to Assess the Involvement of Gut Microbiome in Autism and Childhood Stress Regulation

The purpose of this study is to find out more about stress in children with autism and those who had negative experiences as children. This will help to find new ways to create therapies against stress on children with autism and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This study is important because Adverse Childhood Experiences events put children at risk for many health issues. The aims include the examination of the involvement of the microbiome in autistic behaviors and as a modulator and response to stress in the pediatric population.

This study is significant in that many studies point to the gut microbiota as a significant mediator to brain function and behavior, while gut microbiome has been found to play a role in stress mediation. In general, microbiome studies in humans are still minimal and are even more lacking in autism and pediatric research; nonetheless, they have facilitated the evaluation of the potential connection between the microbiome and brain function. For these reasons, this research study is even more relevant in the formation of targeted and feasible strategies to find external and internal factors responsible in the buffering of stress in children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and those with autism.

The children who participate in this study will be assessed at two time points; the second time will be after 4-6 weeks from our first meeting. The parent will make the first appointment with the researcher to allow the child take part of the study. The parent will be given a survey to complete on the child and the parent. The parent will also be provided with a stool collection kit. This kit will be used for them to collect stool sample from the participating child before they come to the first and second appointments with the researcher.

The child will watch a short 2-minute video of a medium stressful scenario followed by a fun video. The child will watch the short video while the researchers evaluate the child's interest through their eye movement with an eye tracker on the computer. The child's heart rate will be measured using a Fingertip Pulse Oximeter.

During the first visit with the researcher, the parent will also receive a coupon and instructions to purchase Garden of Life Children's probiotics at the grocery store if they want their child to incorporate the probiotics in their diet for 4 weeks. They will receive instructions for the child to eat more fruits and vegetables after consulting with the child's pediatrician and/or specialist. The parent can have the researcher's recommended children's probiotics, multivitamins, more fruits and vegetables in the child's diet for 4 weeks before returning to the lab for a second observation. The child will again provide spit and stool after the 4 weeks which will be brought back to the lab during the second appointment.