Hair mineral profile predicts an autism diagnosis? Not quite yet…
Multiple news outlets have latched onto the findings of a new collaborative study suggesting that hair analysis, looking for a specific pattern of metals, might have some early diagnosis capability for predicting autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study, drawing on multiple cohorts of geographically distinct children, relied on the use of a powerful analytical technique called mass spectrometry to analyze levels of various metals in infant hair samples. Study authors reported some initial success following statistical modeling of the results pursuant with regards to the development of an early diagnostic test for ASD. Such findings coincide with other research talking about altered metal levels in ASD and the implications for environmental exposures and metabolism of such compounds. Further studies are needed, with larger sample sizes, to confirm the results.
Full-text: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/23/7154
“An altered cytokine profile in adult patients with ASD”
Immune system findings are not just a feature of childhood ASD according to new research from Germany. Researchers analyzed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 24 adults with autism compared with samples from those diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (causing headaches) for various immune system chemicals called cytokines. They reported some group level differences in various compounds, potentially highlighting immune dysregulation in their cohort. Although invasive to capture, CSF samples are advantageous for analyses because of their proximity to the brain. Further studies are required to add to the growing research literature talking about immune system issues in cases of autism and their longitudinal profiles from childhood to older age.
Note from J. Rodakis: Remember...
An uncomfortable truth: parents of children with ASD are less likely to have a job
Among a cohort of nearly 1500 families - divided into those with children with ASD, asthma and asymptomatic controls - parents of children with ASD are a lot more likely to be unemployed and if employed, more likely to have employment difficulties or issues with job productivity than the other groups. That was the headline finding from a collaborative research group based in the US. Although not exactly novel findings, the magnitude of the difference in employment experience discussed in this latest paper is notable. The authors further discuss how employment policies could be adapted to mitigate some of the employment inequality and allow parents caring for children with ASD to more fully participate in the labour market.
The SNAP cohort: “Only 5% of autistic adults were living independently”
Longitudinal data from the Special Needs and Autism Project (SNAP) has recently provided a stark message about the living arrangements for autistic adults: 95% were either living with family or in specialist residential settings with significant support. SNAP included a cohort of UK children formally diagnosed with ASD and provided some important data on the prevalence of childhood autism. Over a decade later, researchers measured various outcomes of participants into adulthood. Alongside the message on independent living, other trends were noted. The subjective quality of life of the 100+ participants was not dissimilar from the UK average aside from lower levels of social interaction. Around 1 in 10 of the cohort were also reported to experiencing moderate to severe anxiety and/or depressive symptoms.
Words matter but so does scientific accuracy
A recent commentary delves into an increasingly divisive issue in autism research: how best to talk about autism and describe the huge and varied challenges faced by autistic people. The authors, who are all mothers of children diagnosed with ASD, assert that moves to change some of the language around autism to reduce stigma are noble in effort but in doing so, are hindering science and potentially further disenfranchising some of the most vulnerable autistic people. They argue that scientific accuracy and the description of observable realities should not suffer as a consequence of linguistic mandates allied to sociological models. One can expect further future discussion on this topic, particularly in light of the increasing moves towards including the concept of ‘profound autism’ into the research and clinical narrative.
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