Exploration of the impact of dysbiosis in the gut microbiota on microbial composition in children’s neurodevelopment

Abstract

Objective To investigate the impact of gut microbiota dysbiosis on neurodevelopment in children. Methods This study included 338 children aged 0-3 years admitted to our hospital from January to December 2022, The children were divided into a normal neurodevelopment group (169 cases) and a poor neurodevelopment group (169 cases). Basic personal information and clinical data were collected through a detailed questionnaire, and the microbial composition in fecal samples was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results Children in the poor neurodevelopment group showed a significant decrease in gut microbiota diversity compared to those in the normal neurodevelopment group (Shannon index, p < 0.05). The abundance of Bifidobacterium and Veillonella genera significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while the abundance of Streptococcus genus increased significantly (p < 0.05). Conclusion There is an association between gut microbiota dysbiosis and poor neurodevelopment in children. The increased abundance of Streptococcus genus and decreased abundance of Bifidobacterium and Veillonella genera in the gut microbiota may be potential risk factors for poor neurodevelopment in preterm infants. Future research should further explore the potential beneficial effects of gut microbiota modulation on neurodevelopment in children.