Scientists believe they have developed a blood and urine test that can detect autism in children. Researchers at Warwick University say the test, believed to be the first of its kind, could lead to earlier diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD ) in children, who could then be given appropriate treatment much earlier in their lives. ASD mainly affects a person’s social interaction and communication, with symptoms that can include speech
disturbances, repetitive and/or compulsive behavior, hyperactivity, anxiety, and difficulty adapting to new environments. As there is a wide range of ASD symptoms, diagnosis can be difficult and uncertain, particularly at the early stages of development. It is estimated that about one in every 100 people in the UK has ASD, with more boys diagnosed with the condition than girls. The scientists said their research found a link between ASD and damage to proteins in blood plasma. The most reliable of the tests they developed involved examining protein in blood plasma. Children with ASD had higher levels of the oxidation marker Di-tyrosine and certain sugar-modified compounds called advanced glycation end products. Genetic causes are thought to be responsible for about a third of ASD cases. The rest are believed to be caused by a combination of environmental factors, mutations, and rare genetic variants. However, the researchers believe their new tests could reveal new causes of ASD. The Warwick team worked with collaborators at the University of Bologna in Italy, who recruited 38 children diagnosed with ASD, along with a control group of 31 children aged from five to 12. Blood and urine samples were taken from the children for analysis. The Warwick team discovered that there were chemical differences between the two groups. Working with a further collaborator at the University of Birmingham, they developed a mathematical equation to distinguish between ASD and healthy controls. The research is published in the journal Molecular Autism.