A recent review article published in Current Medicinal Chemistry sheds light on the interplay between environmental factors and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Authored by a distinguished team of researchers from Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU) – Konstantin Yenkoyan and Meri Mkhitaryan – alongside Geir Bjørklund from the Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, the paper titled “Environmental Risk Factors in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Narrative Review” (Yenkoyan et al., 2024) contribute to the understanding of the origins of ASD.

The review delves into environmental exposures and their potential impact on ASD risk. It synthesizes insights from existing literature, revealing that environmental influences may contribute to as much as 50% of the variability in ASD susceptibility.

Key findings of the review highlight specific environmental triggers associated with heightened ASD risk, including advanced parental age, preterm birth, birth complications, and exposure to toxic metals, pharmaceuticals, air pollutants, and endocrine-disrupting compounds. Furthermore, the research elucidates underlying mechanisms connecting environmental exposures to ASD susceptibility, encompassing oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, neurotransmitter alterations, and disruption of crucial signaling pathways.

The review dispels misconceptions surrounding ASD risk factors, clarifying the absence of a causal relationship between ASD and factors like vaccination, maternal smoking, and alcohol consumption. Additionally, it presents inconclusive evidence regarding the association between ASD risk and certain dietary constituents while exploring the potential correlation between ASD and toxic metals.

Lead author Professor Konstantin Yenkoyan, who serves as the Vice-rector for Science of YSMU, Scientist-in-Chief and Head of the Neuroscience Laboratory at the COBRAIN Center of YSMU, as well as a Professor of the Biochemistry Department, emphasizes the significance of these findings. He states, “These insights underscore the pivotal role of environmental factors in shaping autism spectrum disorder. By unraveling and addressing these modifiable risk elements, we can pave the way for more effective preventive and therapeutic interventions.”

The paper advocates for targeted research aimed at exploring the environmental determinants of ASD, which has the potential to drive the development of innovative interventions to mitigate its prevalence. Given the global surge in autism prevalence, this review’s implications are profound for public health policies and clinical strategies worldwide.

Vital Press

Reference

Yenkoyan K, Mkhitaryan M, Bjørklund G. Environmental risk factors in autism spectrum disorder: A narrative review. Curr Med Chem 2024. doi: 10.2174/0109298673252471231121045529.