A new study is shedding powerful light on a question that has intrigued scientists and families alike: What role does the gut play in autism? According to a landmark international study featured in The Brighter Side of News, researchers have found compelling evidence that gut bacteria are strongly linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The study, which involved 1,627 children (including 1,140 with autism), revealed clear and consistent differences in the gut microbiome between autistic and neurotypical participants. This massive dataset — the largest of its kind — showed that certain bacterial species were strongly correlated with the severity of autism traits, particularly social communication differences.

One of the most striking aspects of the research was the use of machine learning tools to identify patterns in the microbiome and predict autism-related behaviors with remarkable accuracy. In fact, the findings were so consistent that the researchers were able to replicate them across multiple independent cohorts.

While the study stops short of claiming that gut bacteria cause autism, it adds significant weight to the theory that the gut-brain axis — the complex communication system between the digestive tract and the brain — plays a key role in how autism manifests.

This breakthrough could eventually lead to microbiome-based interventions — such as diet changes, probiotics, or personalized therapies — to help support autistic individuals in ways that are safe, targeted, and grounded in biology.

As our understanding of autism deepens, one thing becomes clearer: the answers may lie not just in the brain, but in the belly.