Data from: Infant microbes and metabolites point to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders

This study has followed a birth cohort for over twenty years to find
factors associated with neurodevelopmental disorder (ND) diagnosis.
Detailed, early-life longitudinal questionnaires captured infection and
antibiotic events, stress, prenatal factors, family history, and more.
Biomarkers including cord serum metabolome and lipidome, HLA genotype,
infant microbiota, and stool metabolome were assessed. Among the 16,440
Swedish children followed across time, 1,197 developed an ND. Significant
associations emerged for future ND diagnosis in general and for specific
ND subtypes, spanning intellectual disability, speech disorder, attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism. This investigation revealed
microbiome connections to future diagnosis, as well as early-emerging mood
and gastrointestinal problems. The findings suggest links to
immunodysregulation and metabolism, compounded by stress, early-life
infection, and antibiotics. The convergence of infant biomarkers and risk
factors in this prospective, longitudinal study on a large-scale
population establishes a foundation for early-life prediction and
intervention in neurodevelopment.