Scientists have developed a universal test for autism in babies that uses a single strand of hair.
It works by analyzing the sample for metal levels such as mercury, lead and aluminium, which are higher in autistic children.
The test involves sending a hair sample to a lab for analysis and was found to accurately predict autism 81 percent of the time in a peer-reviewed study.
The test is already being considered a “breakthrough” by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is speeding up its adoption — although it could take at least another year before it hits shelves.
The new test scans hair for warning signs of the condition due to genetic risk factors
Other scientists heralded the test as a “groundbreaking” development for the notoriously difficult-to-diagnose condition, which affects 5.4 million Americans and 700,000 Britons.
Because there is no standard test for the condition, doctors must rely on a child’s developmental history and behavior.
As a result, children in the US are typically not officially diagnosed until the age of four, while in the UK the average is six.
However, scientists at the New York-based startup called LinusBio said their new test should be used in conjunction with other methods and not alone.
But they insist that shortening the diagnostic window could help.
“We can distinguish the distinct rhythm of autism by about an inch of hair,” Manish Arora, the company’s co-founder and CEO, told NBC News.
Taking antidepressants while pregnant does NOT increase your risk of having an autistic child
Both the use of antidepressants and the incidence of autism have increased in recent years, and previous studies have suggested that the two may be related.
“The problem with autism is that it is diagnosed around the age of four on average. So much brain development has already happened during this time.
“We want to make early intervention possible.”
For the test, scientists first use a laser to remove the surface layer of the hair.
A second, more powerful laser is then sent along the hair, measuring each centimeter at 650 points. It also turns the string into plasma.
It checks for substances linked to autism, including metals such as lead, cadmium and arsenic.
Autistic children have more metals such as lead and arsenic in their hair.
Researchers are not sure why this is the case, although it may be related to genetic factors or exposure to toxic metals in the environment.
The results are then fed into a computer program that looks for patterns that indicate autism.
It was developed based on studies involving hundreds of people in Sweden and the United States.
Just one centimeter—less than half an inch—records about a month of environmental exposure.
Scientists tested their method on strands of hair collected from 468 Japanese children when they were about a month old.
The results were then compared with the clinical diagnosis of autism, which was made when the children were around four years old.
Scientists found that their test correctly identified autism in 394 cases (81 percent of the total).
It correctly identified autism in 96.4 percent of children and correctly identified 75.4 percent of children who did not have autism.
The results were published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, and the developers are now working on another full-scale study involving 2,000 people.
Scientists not involved in the study supported the test, but said more research is needed.
“The technology is incredibly new,” Dr. Andrea Baccarelli, an expert in environmental health sciences at Columbia University in New York.
“The use of hair and the kind of measurements they take with hair is innovative. This is groundbreaking.’
Dr. Scott Myers, neurodevelopmental pediatrician at the Geisinger Autism and Developmental Medicine Institute, added: “There is certainly work to be done before concluding that this test is a valid measure of autism spectrum disorder risk.”
Autism is something people are born with that causes their brain to function differently than other people’s.
People may have difficulty communicating, find it difficult to understand how others think or feel, or become anxious and angry about unfamiliar situations and social events.
Scientists are not sure about the cause of the condition, although environmental and genetic factors are thought to play a role.
The UK’s NHS health service says it is not caused by poor parenting, vaccines, diet or an infection.
Treatment focuses on giving people plans to support their neurological and social development.
In other news…
Autism diagnoses among American children and adolescents have increased by 50% in three years since 2017, research shows.
Taking Xanax during pregnancy does not increase the risk of autism in babies, a large study has found
Scientists are developing a blood test that can detect Alzheimer’s disease in a potential game-changer for the disease.
Source link
Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
