Environmental Factor – May 2019: Autism Awareness Stimulates Awareness in April

The NIEHS kicked off its month-long celebration of World Autism Awareness Month with a symposium on 2 April by an NIEHS-funded researcher. Rebecca Schmidt, Ph.D.from the University of California, Davis, as well as a social media event and webinar.

Autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, is a broad group of conditions that affect communication and behavior. according to more Recent estimates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ASD affects 1 in 59 children in the United States

Based on 2014 data, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that one in every 59 children in the United States has an autism spectrum disorder. Of this number, for each girl, four boys were identified as having autism.

The NIEHS has steadily increased funding for autism research over the past decade, in response to reports that autism risk may be affected by environmental factors such as air pollution, exposure to pesticides, or levels of certain nutrients in the mother’s blood before and during pregnancy.

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“We know from previous studies that autism has a neurobiological basis,” Schmidt said during her Keystone Science seminar series. “Folic acid, the synthetic form of folic acid, is essential for brain and nervous system development,” she said.

According to Schmidt, previous studies have shown that taking folic acid early and even before pregnancy helps reduce neural tube defects and the risk of behavior or social problems. This led her to question the connection between folic acid and autism.

Regardless of the mother’s genetic variant, if she did not take prenatal vitamins, the child was more likely to develop autism spectrum disorder. Rebecca Schmidt

In addition, some genetic variants are present in both mothers and their children with autism, suggesting a genetic link. Schmidt’s work showed that mothers of children with autism reported taking fewer prenatal vitamins in the first trimester and in the months leading up to pregnancy. Could genetic interaction and environment be involved?

“We wanted to look at the pathways involved in folate metabolism,” she said. Her team did this by looking at prenatal vitamin use and genetic variant data.

Schmidt reported that “regardless of which genetic variant the mother had, if she did not take prenatal vitamins, the child was more likely to have autism spectrum disorder.” The team is now working to discover the mechanism behind the link between prenatal vitamins and ASD.

Schmidt, left, answered questions from the audience about her work regarding folic acid intake during pregnancy. The symposium was hosted by NIEHS and National Toxicology Program Director Linda Birnbaum, PhD, right. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Schmidt explained that folic acid is involved in the synthesis and repair of DNA, which is especially important in fetal development. Folic acid is also known to be involved in DNA methylation, a process that can change when genes are active by adding chemical tags, called methyl groups, to DNA. She cited previous research that showed the environment can affect DNA methylation.

“this is [work] She suggests there may be a way to counteract those effects with methyl donors, such as folic acid.

Ask Me Reddit Anything – BIG SUCCESS

Shortly after the symposium, Schmidt joined NIEHS scientists for a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) on environmental risk factors for autism spectrum disorder. The event was hosted by Cindy Lawler, PhD, chair of the NIEHS Branch of Genes, Environment and Health, and branch members Astrid Haugen and Amanda Garton.

From left, Garton, Lawler, Schmidt, and Hogin joined in to answer Reddit community questions during the Reddit AMA. (Photo courtesy of Sheena Serges)

Using Reddit – a news site and discussion forum – NIEHS researchers can reach a potential audience of over 17 million people worldwide. Questions are submitted by the Reddit community, and scientists take time to explain their science in an engaging way.

The team answered nearly 30 questions related to topics such as the microbiome’s role in autism, endocrine disorders, and how a father’s health might contribute to autism risk. Check out some of the Q&A in the sidebar, or read them all in a file Reddit AMA.

Webinar addressing the challenges of risk communication

On April 24, Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH) addressed communication challenges in a webinar with Craig Neuschaffer, Ph.D.from Pennsylvania State University and Annie Hui Chiang, Ph.D.From Kaiser Permanente.

Speakers discussed the scientific understanding of autism and the challenges scientists face when communicating new findings. Specific topics included maternal risk factors for autism, such as diabetes and other conditions relevant to women’s health.

For more World Autism Day events, check out NIEHS’ Environmental Health Topics for Autism.

the quote: Schmidt RJ, Hansen RL, Hartiala J, Allayee H, Schmidt LC, Tancredi DJ, Tassone F, Hertz-Picciotto I. 2011. Prenatal vitamins, one-carbon metabolic genetic variants, and autism risk. Epidemiology 22 (4): 476-485.

(Sheena Scroggs, Ph.D., is the Digital Communications Coordinator in the Office of Communications and Public Communications of the National Foundation for Occupational Health and Safety.)

from San Jose News Bulletin https://sjnewsbulletin.com/environmental-factor-may-2019-autism-awareness-stimulates-awareness-in-april/