A Simple Test for Autism?

Scientists have raised hopes for a cheap and simple test for autism after discovering consistent differences between the microbes found in the guts of autistic people and those without the condition.

The finding suggests that a routine stool sample test could help doctors to identify autism earlier, meaning people would receive their diagnosis, and hopefully support, much faster than with the lengthy procedure used in clinics today.

"Usually it takes three to four years to make a confirmed diagnosis for suspected autism, with most children diagnosed at six years old," said Prof Qi Su, a specialist in molecular biology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the first author of the study. "Our microbiome biomarker panel has a high performance in children under the age of four, which may help facilitate an early diagnosis." ...

Wong Tai Sin
unknown artist
Photo Credit:  Horniman Museum and Gardens [CC BY-SA]

In the UK  and many other western countries, about one in 100 people are now thought to be on the autism spectrum.

Studies in twins suggest that 60% to 90% of autism is down to genetics, but other factors contribute, such as older parents, birth complications and exposure to air pollution or pesticides in pregnancy. Signs of autism range from children not responding to their name and avoiding eye contact, to adults who find it difficult to understand what neurotypical people are thinking and getting anxious if their daily routine is disrupted...

Su and his colleagues analysed stool samples from 1,627 children aged one to 13, some of whom were autistic. They checked the samples to see which bacteria were present, and did the same for viruses, fungi and other microbes called archaea...

Using machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence, the scientists were able to identify the autistic children with up to 82% accuracy,  based on 31 microbes and biological functions in the digestive system...

The team is now running a clinical trial to investigate whether stool samples can help to identify autistic children as young as one...

Dr Elizabeth Lund, an independent consultant in nutrition and gastrointestinal health said: "The idea that analysis of stool samples may aid in diagnosis is very exciting, as currently there is a massive backlog in children and adults waiting to be assessed."

(Ian Sample, The Guardian, 2024)

                            

Let us hope that scientific research, helped enormously by a form of artificial intelligence will  provide a simple test for autism. Thank you Prof Qi Su and his team.