A New Blood test can predict autism in children with high accuracy .An early diagnosis of autism can improve a child’s overall development

Children and adults with Autism have a wide range of abilities. Therefore, the disease is now termed as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The new blood test uses an algorithm to predict if a child has ASD. The algorithm search for 24 different chemicals (metabolites) in a blood sample. These Chemicals are related to 2 biochemical pathways associated with autism.

Initial research reported a remarkable 97.6% success rate in identifying ASD and also a 96.1% success rate in identifying healthy subjects. A follow up study confirms the success of the test with 88 percentage accuracy. Currently, there is no known cure for autism.

However, early detection can provide an autistic child with the potential for a better life. Exactly what causes autism to develop is still unknown. There is no single known cause for this neurological disorder to develop.

Research suggests that both genetics and Environmental Factors may play a role. Abnormalities in the genetic code result in abnormal brain development which leads to neurological and behavioral abnormalities.

Several genes are involved that make a child more prone to developing the disease. Genetic causes have been found in 30-35% of cases of ASD. Physical and environmental factors can also affect brain development which increases the risk of having a child with autism.

Research reported that both the prenatal and childhood exposure to toxic chemicals such as hormone disrupting phthalates (often found in plastics) and pesticides play a role. Mothers who have bacterial or viral infections during pregnancy as well as obese mothers are more likely to give birth to autistic babies.

65-70 Percentage of autism cases are caused by a combination of environmental factors and multiple genetic mutations.  A new study found a link between ASD and damage to proteins in Blood plasma. The Study can lead to identification of important biomarkers for ASD.

Autism affects language, communication skills and the behavior of the patient. It is estimated that approximately 1.7 percentages of all children are diagnosed with ASD.

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