A new urine test was 90% accurate in diagnosing children with autism through analysis of intestinal microbial metabolites.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a new and promising diagnostic tool which can help detect autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using just a urine sample.
The innovative screening method, detailed in a publication in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, analyzes urine for specific microbial compounds linked to autism. Scientists say the test could provide a faster, less invasive alternative to traditional behavioral assessments, which are often time-consuming and have waiting periods.
The study involved urine samples collected from 99 children between 2 and 11 years of age. Of these participants, 52 had been diagnosed with autism, while 47 had not. The researchers analyzed the samples looking for 17 microbial metabolites.
Using a classification tool called the Microorganism-Derived Metabolite System (MDM), scientists measured how many metabolites in each child’s urine exceeded the normal range. Almost all children with autism had at least one abnormally high level of metabolites compared to children without the disorder.
The researchers found that children with autism generally had about three metabolites elevated, with some concentrations reaching levels up to 1000 times higher than normal. Many of these metabolites are linked to amino acids involved in the production of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters that influence mood, memory and cognition.
“What’s really impressive about bacteria is that they produce metabolites that are basically altered versions of serotonin and dopamine“, said the study’s corresponding author, James Adams, in a university press release.
Adams explained that these altered compounds may help explain symptoms often associated with autism, including social communication difficulties, anxiety, depression and attention problems.
The findings are in line with more than 40 previous studies that have identified elevated metabolites in the gut microbiome of children with autism. During testing, the new screening method demonstrated 90% accuracy in identifying children with autism and, according to reports, did not present false positives among participants without the disorder.
The researchers warn that larger studies are still needed to confirm the reliability of the test. However, they believe that the screening tool could transform the diagnosis of autism, making detection earlier, faster and more objective.
