Pregnant women and new moms who already have one child with autism joined researchers and federal officials Wednesday to announce UC Davis' latest initiative in autism science. Known as MARBLES, for Markers of Autism Risk in Babies - Learning Early Signs, it is the first prospective study that begins the search for causes and early markers of the disorder during pregnancy. CHARGE looks at the influence of environmental factors, the role of genetics and the interplay between the two in the development of autism, a pervasive developmental disorder marked by poor verbal and communication skills, repetitive behaviors and an inability to form social connections. Hertz-Picciotto believes a key outcome of MARBLES will be expanding initial results of CHARGE data indicating that the immune systems of children with autism function quite differently than the immune systems of typically developing children, since it's possible those immune system dysfunctions began in the earliest phases of life. We actually don't anticipate finding just one factor that causes it but will instead uncover patterns of susceptibilities and external influences that can lead to different forms of the disorder,” said Pessah, whose own research points to immune system dysfunction in autism as a focus for finding answers to what causes the disorder. read more
Technorati Tags: autism, environmental, marbles, davis, disorder, immune, pregnancy news
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