Fetal and postnatal metal dysregulation in autism
Genetic and environmental factors contribute to the etiologies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but evidence of specific environmental exposures and susceptibility windows is limited. Here we study monozygotic and dizygotic twins discordant for ASD to test whether fetal and postnatal metal dysregu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Macmillan Publishers Limited
2017
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/59547 |
| _version_ | 1848760509857267712 |
|---|---|
| author | Arora, M. Reichenberg, A. Willfors, C. Austin, C. Gennings, C. Berggren, S. Lichtenstein, P. Anckarsäter, H. Tammimies, K. Bölte, Sven |
| author_facet | Arora, M. Reichenberg, A. Willfors, C. Austin, C. Gennings, C. Berggren, S. Lichtenstein, P. Anckarsäter, H. Tammimies, K. Bölte, Sven |
| author_sort | Arora, M. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Genetic and environmental factors contribute to the etiologies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but evidence of specific environmental exposures and susceptibility windows is limited. Here we study monozygotic and dizygotic twins discordant for ASD to test whether fetal and postnatal metal dysregulation increases ASD risk. Using validated tooth-matrix biomarkers, we estimate pre- and post-natal exposure profiles of essential and toxic elements. Significant divergences are apparent in metal uptake between ASD cases and their control siblings, but only during discrete developmental periods. Cases have reduced uptake of essential elements manganese and zinc, and higher uptake of the neurotoxin lead. Manganese and lead are also correlated with ASD severity and autistic traits. Our study suggests that metal toxicant uptake and essential element deficiency during specific developmental windows increases ASD risk and severity, supporting the hypothesis of systemic elemental dysregulation in ASD. Independent replication in population-based studies is needed to extend these findings. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:16:55Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-59547 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:16:55Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | Macmillan Publishers Limited |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-595472018-03-15T03:19:03Z Fetal and postnatal metal dysregulation in autism Arora, M. Reichenberg, A. Willfors, C. Austin, C. Gennings, C. Berggren, S. Lichtenstein, P. Anckarsäter, H. Tammimies, K. Bölte, Sven Genetic and environmental factors contribute to the etiologies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but evidence of specific environmental exposures and susceptibility windows is limited. Here we study monozygotic and dizygotic twins discordant for ASD to test whether fetal and postnatal metal dysregulation increases ASD risk. Using validated tooth-matrix biomarkers, we estimate pre- and post-natal exposure profiles of essential and toxic elements. Significant divergences are apparent in metal uptake between ASD cases and their control siblings, but only during discrete developmental periods. Cases have reduced uptake of essential elements manganese and zinc, and higher uptake of the neurotoxin lead. Manganese and lead are also correlated with ASD severity and autistic traits. Our study suggests that metal toxicant uptake and essential element deficiency during specific developmental windows increases ASD risk and severity, supporting the hypothesis of systemic elemental dysregulation in ASD. Independent replication in population-based studies is needed to extend these findings. 2017 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/59547 10.1038/ncomms15493 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Macmillan Publishers Limited unknown |
| spellingShingle | Arora, M. Reichenberg, A. Willfors, C. Austin, C. Gennings, C. Berggren, S. Lichtenstein, P. Anckarsäter, H. Tammimies, K. Bölte, Sven Fetal and postnatal metal dysregulation in autism |
| title | Fetal and postnatal metal dysregulation in autism |
| title_full | Fetal and postnatal metal dysregulation in autism |
| title_fullStr | Fetal and postnatal metal dysregulation in autism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fetal and postnatal metal dysregulation in autism |
| title_short | Fetal and postnatal metal dysregulation in autism |
| title_sort | fetal and postnatal metal dysregulation in autism |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/59547 |