MIND Institute Study Highlights Metabolic Patterns in Mothers of Children with Autism, Down Syndrome, and Developmental Delays
A new study from the MIND Institute at UC Davis leveraged data from the childhood autism risk from genetics and the environment (CHARGE) study to examine plasma metabolic profiles of mothers whose children had autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Down syndrome (DS), idiopathic developmental delay (iDD), or typical development (TD). Researchers identified maternal metabolic differences associated with the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, 1-carbon metabolism (1CM), and lipid metabolism. Mothers of children with ASD exhibited elevated lactate and altered lipid-related metabolites, suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction, a known contributor to ASD risk. These findings align with previously observed metabolic disturbances in children with ASD or iDD, indicating shared genetic, mitochondrial, and environmental influences. In contrast, minimal metabolic differences were found in mothers of children with DS, potentially due to gene dosage differences between euploid mothers and their children with trisomy 21. The study underscores the potential role of maternal metabolism in shaping neurodevelopmental outcomes and the importance of investigating maternal-fetal metabolic interactions.
