Microbial Reconstitution Reverses Maternal Diet-Induced Social and Synaptic Deficits in Offspring.

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This study found that a mother's high-fat diet during pregnancy can disrupt gut bacteria in offspring and cause social behavior problems similar to autism, but that restoring healthy gut bacteria—even with a single probiotic strain—can reverse these social deficits, offering hope that probiotic treatments may help address behavioral challenges relevant to families affected by 16p11.2 syndromes.