New autism test can detect disorder years earlier
- The new method designed by New York’s Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the first to analyze metabolic biomarkers that come before behavioral changes
- It is a blood test that looks for unbalanced chemical levels in the blood
- In a trial, it accurately detected autism in 97.6 children in Arkansas
Mia De Graaf For Dailymail.com
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Scientists have hailed a first-of-its-kind blood test for autism that could detect the disorder years earlier – with 98 percent accuracy.
The new method is the first to analyze metabolic biomarkers that come before behavioral changes.
‘The method presented in this work is the only one of its kind that can classify an individual as being on the autism spectrum or as being neurotypical,’ said lead author Professor Juergen Hahn, of New York’s Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
‘We are not aware of any other method, using any type of biomarker that can do this, much less with the degree of accuracy that we see in our work.’
Breakthrough? The new method designed by New York’s Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the first to analyze metabolic biomarkers that come before behavioral changes (file image)
Although ASD affects about 1.5 percent of all children, its exact cause remains unknown, and diagnosis requires many doctors specializing in a number of different disciplines.
Previous research has revealed certain differences in metabolic processes among autistic children. But researchers have struggled to translate these into new diagnostic tools.
Professor Hahn found clear evidence children with autism have altered levels of FOCM (folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism) and TS (transulfuration) – and that this could be detected in a blood test.
In the study, Professor Hahn and colleagues used blood sample data collected at Arkansas Children’s Hospital from 83 three- to 10-year-olds with autism and 76 without the condition.
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With the help of advanced modelling and statistical analysis tools, the metabolic data allowed the researchers to correctly classify 97.6 and 96.1 percent of the autistic and ‘neurotypical’ children, respectively.
The breakthrough could also lead to new treatments for the disorder by targeting chemicals the test measures.
Identifying youngsters with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) paves the way for parents and doctors to begin treatment earlier.
It can cause a wide range of symptoms from communicating with others to perceiving the world.
Professor Hahn said further research is required to confirm the findings.
The team is also hoping to study whether treatments could be used to alter the concentrations of FOCM and TS products and, if so, whether this could impact symptoms of autism spectrum disorder.
Autism has been linked to a number of potential causes, including genes and exposure in the womb to drugs such as sodium valproate, used to treat epilepsy.
But Chinese research suggests obesity may also be a factor. Obese women are nearly 50 per cent more likely to have a child with autism compared with normal weight mothers.
It affects social interaction, communication, interests and behaviour.
Professor Hahn said: ‘The number of diagnosed cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased dramatically over the last four decades.
‘However, there is still considerable debate regarding the underlying pathophysiology of ASD.’
He added: ‘We emphasise these models are cross validated helping to ensure the results will generalise to new samples.
‘The models developed herein have much stronger predictability than any existing approaches from the scientific literature.’
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