Characteristics of the oral Microbiome in Patients Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous, multifactorial developmental disorder that begins early in life and evolves throughout the lives of affected individuals. The main characteristics of ASD are deficits in communication and social interaction, restrictive interests, and repetitive, sensory, and motor behaviors that generally require lifelong support. In patients with ASD, comorbidities are very common, including periodontal disease, allergies, gastrointestinal diseases, dysbiosis, and alterations of the oral and intestinal microbiome. Objective: To describe the characteristics of the oral microbiome in patients with ASD aged 6 to 18 years through a narrative review. Materials and Methods: An electronic search was conducted in the following databases: Pubmed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. The search was carried out from January 2024 to July 2024. Results: After analyzing the publications that met the proposed objectives, three articles were selected for data extraction and interpretation. Conclusion: Alterations in the oral microbiome of patients with ASD can be found. Consequently, understanding the functioning of the gut-brain axis as a complex system that can express how the state of the gut might affect cognitive development, and vice versa, is necessary. Understanding this axis offers new horizons for creating alternative strategies in the diagnosis and treatment of ASD.