A major study from The Chinese University of Hong Kong found that a baby's epigenetic programming at birth shapes how their gut microbiome develops in the first year of life. Certain gut bacteria that emerge during infancy appear to reduce the risk of autism spectrum disorder and ADHD by age three. Researchers analyzed cord blood DNA methylation from 571 infants and microbiome samples from 969 infants at multiple timepoints. Factors like C-section delivery, breastfeeding, antibiotic exposure, and having older siblings all influenced which microbes colonized the gut. The findings open the door to early dietary or probiotic interventions to support healthy neurodevelopment.
