Early biomarker for autism spectrum disorder unveiled - what are we learning?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects 1 in 31 children in the U.S. highlighting the urgent need for early detection and intervention. Identifying reliable early biomarkers could revolutionize ASD diagnosis and improve outcomes by enabling timely therapeutic strategies. This review explores maternal, paternal, and environmental risk factors contributing to ASD, including immune dysregulation, metabolic conditions, toxicant exposures, and placental and amniotic factors. Biomarkers aid in identifying these factors. Future research in maternal health and biomarkers is crucial for predicting ASD risk and developing personalized interventions. Advances in multi-omics, imaging, epigenetics, and AI-driven analysis can improve biomarker accuracy, enabling earlier detection and targeted therapies. However, challenges such as biomarker reliability and ASD heterogeneity must be addressed through large-scale validation studies and interdisciplinary collaboration to translate these discoveries into clinical practice effectively.