Lead researcher John Lukens explained the goal of the study: “Our aim is to pinpoint specific characteristics of the maternal microbiome that may influence fetal brain development.”
However, experts caution that manipulating the immune system during pregnancy could be dangerous. IL-17a is just one element in a complex system, and more research is needed before any clinical treatments are developed.
Still, the findings offer an important direction for future research on how a mother’s gut health might affect her child’s brain and the risk of autism.
