June 05, 2023
- A new South Korean study suggests that exposure to high concentrations of air pollutants during pregnancy is linked to the development of autism or epilepsy in children. The authors believe that maternal exposure to contaminants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM2.5) and heavy metals can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA methylation in the placenta, which can lead to disturbances in oxygen and nutrient transport to the fetus. These exposures, in turn, can cause a fetal systemic inflammatory response that adversely affects brain development.
- Dr. Robert Naviaux has published a new paper that examines salugenesis, the body’s healing cycle. Salugenesis regulates the orchestration of the molecular, cellular, inflammatory, autonomic, neuroendocrine, and behavioral steps needed for the body to heal. His study also discusses the rise and fall of extracellular ATP after stress or injury. Naviaux proposes that the rising increase in chronic disease stems from impaired salugenesis, incomplete healing, pollution, and ecosystem changes caused partly by environmental factors.
- The Journal of Pediatrics has recently published a case report showing that the average delay between a child’s first developmental screening and an autism diagnosis is still over two years. This case report used data from a national research network and found no significant differences in the speed of diagnosis observed by sex, race, or ethnicity.
- According to new research from Malaysia, there is a concrete association between autism severity and the accumulation level of aluminum (Al) in the urine of preschool children with the disorder. The authors discovered children with moderate-functioning autism had the highest concentration level of urinary Al, followed by children considered high-functioning and neurotypical children. This finding indicates the severity of autism in preschool children is directly proportional to the level of exposure to Al.
- Susan A. Daniels, Ph.D., has been appointed the HHS National Autism Coordinator and Director of the Office of National Autism Coordination (ONAC). She will play a critical role in ensuring the implementation of national autism research, services, and support activities across federal agencies. Dr. Daniel’s new role will complement her continuing work as the Executive Secretary of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC).
