Relationship of Autism Spectrum Disorder with Enteric Nervous System

Year 2024, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 31 - 41, 31.05.2024

Rabet Gozil Esma Deniz Barç Meltem Bahcelıoglu

Abstract

The aim of this review is to evaluate the studies on changes in the enteric nervous system in autism spectrum disorder and to present current developments.
Autism spectrum disorder is a combination of neurodegenerative disorders characterised by genetically and environmentally variable restricted social communication with impaired repetitive behaviours that negatively affect social communication. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), autism spectrum disorder is subdivided into autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. It has been reported that certain brain areas in the cerebellum, limbic system and cortex are affected in neuropathology of autism spectrum disorder. The enteric nervous system is a major component of the gut-brain axis. The enteric nervous system is composed of a network of neurons and glial cells responsible for coordinating many aspects of gastrointestinal function. The enteric nervous system is responsible for the control and coordination of local motility in the gastrointestinal tract, the movement of fluids through the mucosal epithelium, changes in blood flow and immune system interactions. Impaired communication between the gut and brain resulting in incompatibility of the gut-brain axis in people with autism spectrum disorder. Digestive problems and gastrointestinal dysfunction occur depending on these.
By means of bidirectional communication on the intestine-brain axis, problems occurred in both systems may have negative effects on the systems in mutual way. People with autism spectrum disorder also have gastrointestinal problems because of changes in the enteric nervous system. More studies on the relationship between autism spectrum disorder and enteric nervous system are needed to solve these problems. As a result of these studies, improvement of gastrointestinal problems in autism spectrum disorder will improve the overall quality of life in people with autism spectrum disorder.

Keywords

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Enteric Nervous System, gatrointestinal symptom

Otizm Spektrum Bozukluğunun Enterik Sinir Sistemi ile İlişkisi

Abstract

Bu derlemenin amacı, otizm spektrum bozukluğunda enterik sinir sisteminde olan değişikliklerle ilgili çalışmaları değerlendirerek günümüz gelişmelerini ortaya koymaktır. Otizm spektrum bozukluğu, sosyal iletişimi negatif etkileyen, bozulmuş tekrarlayan davranışlar sergileyen genetik ve çevresel olarak değişkenlik gösteren kısıtlı sosyal iletişimle karakterize olan nörodejeneratif bozuklukların kombinasyonudur. Mental Bozuklukların Tanısal ve İstatistiksel El Kitabında (DSM-V); otizm spektrum bozukluğu, otistik bozukluk, Asperger bozukluğu, çocukluk çağı dezintegratif bozukluğu ve başka türlü tanımlanmayan yaygın gelişimsel bozukluk olarak alt gruplara ayrılarak tanımlanmıştır. Otizm spektrum bozukluğunun nöropatolojisinde beyincik, limbik sistem ve korteksteki belirli beyin alanlarının etkilendiği bildirilmiştir. Enterik sinir sistemi, bağırsak beyin eksenini oluşturan çok önemli bir yapıdır. Enterik sinir sistemi gastrointestinal fonksiyonun birçok yönünü koordine etmekten sorumlu olan nöron ve glial hücre ağından oluşmaktadır. Enterik sinir sistemi; gastrointestinal kanalda lokal hareketliliğin kontrolü ve koordinasyonundan, sıvıların mukoza epiteli boyunca hareketinden, kan akışındaki değişikliklerden ve bağışıklık sistemi ile etkileşimlerde görev almaktadır. Otizm spektrum bozukluğu olan bireylerde bağırsak beyin arasındaki iletişimin bozulması bağırsak beyin ekseninin uyumsuzluğu ile sonuçlanmaktadır. Bunlara bağlı olarak sindirim sorunları ve gastrointestinal disfonksiyon ortaya çıkmaktadır. Bağırsak- beyin ekseninde çift yönlü iletişim sayesinde her iki sistemde oluşan sorunlar karşılıklı olarak sistemler üzerinde olumsuz etkiler oluşturabilmektedir. Otizm spektrum bozukluğu olan bireylerde de enterik sinir sisteminde oluşan değişiklikler nedeniyle gastrointestinal sorunlar görülmektedir. Bu sorunların çözümü için otizm spektrum bozukluğu ve enterik sinir sistemi ilişkisi konusunda daha fazla araştırmaya gereksinim vardır. Bu araştırmalar sonucunda otizm spektrum bozukluğunda gastrointestinal sorunların iyileştirilmesi otizm spektrum bozukluğu olan bireylerde genel yaşam kalitesini artıracaktır.

Keywords

Otizm Spektrum Bozukluğu, Enterik Sinir Sistemi, gastrointestinal semptom

Supporting Institution

Yazarlar bu çalışma için finansal destek almadıklarını beyan etmişlerdir.

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