Umbilical Cord Blood May Reveal a Child's Risk of Autism

Researchers have discovered that a specific fatty acid found in umbilical cord blood could predict whether a newborn is more likely to develop autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) now impacts one in 36 children in the United States. Though autism is a lifelong condition, early intervention and treatment can lessen the impact it has on the autistic person and their family.

However, while the warning signs of ASD can emerge within the first 12 months of a child's life, reliably diagnosing the disorder before age two is challenging.

Generally, healthcare professionals diagnose ASD based on parent reports and the clinician's observation of the child's development and behavior. However, recently, other potential diagnostic tools have surfaced, including smartphone-based games and eye-tracking devices. In addition, newborn hearing tests have shown promise as a way to detect autism soon after a baby is born.

Now, researchers from Japan have revealed another potential diagnostic tool that may be able to identify whether a newborn is at higher risk for autism.

The study, published in Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, found that high or low levels of a specific fatty acid in umbilical cord blood may predict whether a newborn may go on to develop ASD symptoms.

Fatty acids, inflammation, and autism

To conduct the study, the research team tested umbilical cord blood samples from 200 mother-child pairs for the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).

In addition to cord blood samples, the team also collected parent-reported data on the children's ASD symptoms at six years of age.

After close investigation, the scientists found that an inflammatory dihydroxy fatty acid called 11,12- dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids (diHETrE) found in cord blood was significantly associated with autism severity at age six.

Specifically, they discovered that higher levels of 11,12-diHETrE were linked to an increased likelihood of autism-related social interaction symptoms. In contrast, lower levels of this fatty acid impacted repetitive and restrictive behaviors.

However, the links between 11,12-diHETrE in cord blood and autism symptoms were more robust in girls.

While more research is needed, the study's results show that it may be possible to identify children at risk for ASD soon after birth, which could open the door for early intervention and treatment. Moreover, the scientists say that preventing autism could be a possibility if they find ways to control 11,12-diHETrE levels during pregnancy.