Mixed evidence for impact of early infant gut microbiome and later development of autism spectrum disorder in the MARBLES prospective cohort study.

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This study suggests that differences in babies’ gut bacteria in the first months of life are small and not clearly linked to later autism outcomes, meaning that for families affected by 16p11.2 genetic syndromes, current evidence does not support changing diets, probiotics, or microbiome-focused treatments in infancy as a way to influence neurodevelopment, and early supports should continue to focus on monitoring development and accessing proven interventions.