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New blood test can be used to diagnose autism in children
Autism often occurs before the age of three. The early detection of the disease usually turns out to be extremely difficult. Researchers now found that a new diagnostic tool could enable physicians to diagnose autism in children through a simple blood test.
Researchers at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York found in a study that a simple blood sample could be enough to determine if children are suffering from a so-called autism spectrum disorder. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "PLOS Computational Biology".
Autism is a disease that is difficult to diagnose. Many children reach the age of four before doctors diagnose the disease. A new method of diagnosis might change this soon. (Image: dubova / fotolia.com) Can a blood test detect autism?
Can the secret behind autism be reduced to some simple biomarkers or is the disorder far too complex? Experts claim that with the help of a novel diagnostic tool, autism spectrum disorders in children could be easily detected by a simple blood test.
Root causes of ASD are still a mystery
Clarity in diagnosing children suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been a major challenge for modern medicine, say the authors. The root causes of ASD remain a mystery, but early diagnosis could lead to more effective treatment and management of the disease, the researchers report.
ASS is incredibly complex
Finding a reliable way to diagnose ASA has proven to be a delicate task for researchers. In general, the diagnosis is based on the assessment of a child's behavior patterns and social skills by a physician, the researchers say. Many children are not recognized as autistic until they are four years or older. The disorder turns out to be incredibly complex, with a multitude of different manifestations and probable causes, the scientists add.
Other research on the subject
Current research has begun to allow early diagnosis through certain biological markers. Other studies are trying to develop a more accurate physiological medical test for the disease. For example, in 2015, scientists identified certain proteins that can be found in saliva. These proteins are often found in elevated levels in people with autism. The discovery raised hope for a quick and uncomplicated saliva test to diagnose the disorder, explain the authors.
New technology is the most comprehensive diagnostic method for ASD to date
There is also more research on this topic. Last year, another group of researchers attempted to develop so-called eye-tracking technology to enable early diagnosis of ASA. Researchers from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute claimed that their scientific work has produced the most comprehensive physiological diagnostic process for ASD.
Newly developed method measures 24 separate metabolites from a single blood sample
While previous research has often focused on single metabolites or biomarkers, the new method measures 24 separate metabolites from a blood sample, the experts explain. A complex algorithm can be used to determine if an individual is within the autism spectrum. The newly developed method uses new data processing techniques that are able to view a number of metabolites that correlate with ASA, explains author Jürgen Hahn.
Diagnosis detects in almost 98 percent of subjects a present ASA
The first results are impressive, say the researchers. The sample group consisted of 83 participants with ASA and 76 age-matched neurotypical subjects. The new technique correctly identified 96.1 percent of the control group and 97.6 percent of subjects diagnosed with ASD. We are very optimistic that the results can also be replicated in other cohorts, says Professor Hahn. This is the first form of physiological diagnosis and the method is very precise and specific.
Further research is needed
Although the test results are very impressive at first glance, it should be noted that specific metabolites are in no way definitely associated with ASA, say the authors. Many other behavioral disorders could be related to similar biomarkers. This would mean that a blood sample may misdiagnose common learning disabilities or even epilepsy, explain the physicians. It will probably take some time before an infallible physiological diagnostic tool for this mysterious disorder is available, the researchers concluded. (As)