Since earlier diagnosis of autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may lead to earlier therapies and treatments which can improve functional outcomes, the search has been ongoing for a biological marker which defines the disorder.
Without such a marker, medical professionals use their clinical acumen to evaluate behavioral patterns and social skills that may provide early clues to diagnose autism.
Now, the approach might be shifting, with novel research examining salivary proteins which might provide earlier clues to suggest autismbefore behavioral patterns become apparent to parents, educators, and clinicians.
Scientists at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York have discovered new proteins contained in saliva which may potentially serve as biomarkers of the condition, helping to diagnose patients earlier who may have autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
The new approach was used to evaluate and compare six children (age range: 6-16) with ASD to six children who were undergoing normal or typical development. Researchers used a technique known as mass spectrometry to evaluate the salivary proteins.
The study was published online January 27 in the Journal,Autism Research.
The salivary proteins uncovered in this study are linked to a heightened immune response as well as inflammation in the gastrointestinal system, and is related to the current thinking about the etiology of autism and the organ systems involved.
The researchers discovered that nine unique proteins were markedly elevated in the saliva of children with ASD, compared with three other proteins in which levels were decreased or absent altogether. Taken together, such information, the researchers theorized, could be useful in creating a specific makeup or profile to indicate the risk of ASD as well as its presence. The specific salivary proteins described by the researchers were noted to be integral in immune system regulation and also in higher concentrations in persons with gastrointestinal issues. This is in agreement with previous research suggesting that inflammation as well as an overactive immune system may be increased in ASD.
One protein identified, lactotransferrin, may actually serve as a marker that may indicate gastrointestinal problems in autism, and may also be able to identify patients that may have or be at risk for gastrointestinal problems with autism. Such patients may have difficulty communicating potential symptoms, and this salivary protein could potentially serve as a marker for such issues.
ASD is reported to occur in 1 in 68 children in the US. Diagnosing ASD is often based on behavioral evaluations and observational clues since no biological marker has yet been identified.
Read the original:
Proteins In Saliva May Help Diagnose Autism