Researchers may have found the cause of autism

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FUKUI, Japan (WJW) — Researchers at a Japanese university said they’ve discovered “a significant link” between metabolites found in umbilical cord blood and the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The findings suggest the levels of certain fatty acid in the umbilical cord blood during pregnancy have an impact on the development of autism spectrum disorder, according to a news release from the University of Fukui. That could “pave the way” for a better understanding of how it develops in children, or even tests predicting the likelihood that a child will develop it, according to the university.

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Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting learning capability and social behavior. In 2020, about 1 in 36 U.S. children over the age of 8 had been diagnosed with it, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Though awareness of the disorder has grown in recent decades, its exact cause is still unclear. Right now, evidence suggests inflammation of the central nervous system is a major factor.

A university research team analyzed the metabolites of polyunsaturated fatty acids found in neonatal umbilical cord blood. When metabolized by a certain enzyme in the body, they produce two other types of fatty acids — one that has inflammatory properties and another with anti-inflammatory effects, said professor Hideo Matsuzaki.

Researchers hypothesized that lower levels of the anti-inflammatory fatty acid and/or higher levels of the opposing inflammatory fatty acid “would influence ASD symptoms and difficulties with daily functioning in children after birth,” Matsuzaki is quoted in the release.

They investigated the link between those metabolites, using cord blood that had been preserved immediately after birth, and the autism spectrum disorder scores for 200 children, which were assessed after they had turned 6.

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They identified a compound in cord blood “that may have strong implications” for the severity of a patient’s autism diagnosis: two dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids, or diHETrE. Higher levels of the compound appeared to affect the children’s social interactions, while lower levels appeared to correlate to repetitive and restrictive behaviors.

“This newfound knowledge could be crucial in understanding, diagnosing, and potentially preventing ASD,” reads the release. “By measuring diHETrE levels at birth, it may be possible to predict the likelihood of ASD development in children.”

It could also enhance early intervention and support for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, researchers said. It also suggests preventing ASD traits in children may be possible by inhibiting the metabolization of diHETrE during pregnancy — “although more research will be needed in this regard,” reads the release.

Previously, researchers had tested how the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids affect the fetal development of mice, “causing impairments closely linked to ASD symptoms.” But research had been lacking a human comparison until the University of Fukui study.

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