(Photo by Pixabay via Pexels) By Stephen Beech via SWNS Air pollution may trigger autism, suggests new research. Scientists have uncovered "complex" links between air pollutants and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, in a landmark study. The findings indicate that exposure to air pollution during critical developmental periods may "significantly" increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Up to three in 200 people (1.5%) worldwide are autistic, according to official estimates. The new study reveals how common air pollutants, including fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, can trigger "complex" biological cascades affecting how the young brain develops.
Senior author Professor Haitham Amal, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, said: "Different kinds of neurological disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, can be associated with this environmental factor. (Brain Medicine via SWNS) "The timing of exposure appears crucial, with heightened vulnerability during prenatal development and early childhood when critical neurodevelopmental processes occur." The study, published in the journal Brain Medicine , identifies several key pathways through which air pollutants may influence ASD development.
These include nitrosative stress orchestrated by nitric oxide; neuroinflammation and oxidative stress; disruption of neurotransmitter systems; epigenetic modifications; endocrine system interference and metabolic pathway dysregulation. The resea.
