Dental News - New study on primary dentition takes first steps toward early autism diagnosis

Dental Tribune International

Mon. 25. June 2018

save

NEW YORK, U.S.: According to the Autism Society of America, more than 3.5 million Americans have some form of autism spectrum disorder. With prevalence of the disorder reportedly increasing by 6–15 percent annually over the period of 2002–2010, the need for early detection is critical. In a new study, researchers have found that a close examination of primary dentition may help with this and give an insight into the origin of the disorder.

Speaking to Dental Tribune Online, senior author of the study Dr. Manish Arora, Professor of Dentistry and of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, U.S., said: “We had undertaken a study in 2016 on twins living in Sweden and found that metal uptake was different in the sibling affected by autism spectrum disorder. The strongest signal was for zinc, which was lower in the affected twin. Interestingly, this only persisted in the third trimester and for a few weeks after birth.”

For the current study, the team of researchers set out to develop an algorithm through the replication of their findings from 2016 to help with early detection. Focusing on four populations, two in the U.S. and one in the U.K., and cross-referencing them to the Swedish study, Arora and his colleagues found that it was not the concentration of metals that was the difference, but rather the rhythms of the cyclic processes underlying the metabolism of the metals that were being disrupted.

By employing two distinct classification models that used metal rhythmicity data, the researchers were then able to achieve 90 percent accuracy in classifying cases and controls, with sensitivity to autism spectrum disorder diagnosis ranging from 85 to 100 percent and specificity from 90 to 100 percent. However, despite the positive results, Arora was quick to point out that there is still a great deal of development required before any concrete markers can be set.

“The algorithm that we developed uses metal uptake signatures from the prenatal and early childhood periods to identify those health trajectories that are leading to an autism diagnosis later in life. This is not a diagnostic test, but it is a first step toward one.”

The study, titled “Dynamical features in fetal and postnatal zinc-copper metabolic cycles predict the emergence of autism spectrum disorder,” was published online in Science Advances on May 30.

Tags:

To post a reply please login or register

Primary dentition study links exposure to toxins in early life to autism

NEW YORK, USA: Evidence found in primary dentition has suggested that exposure to specific toxins and nutrients is associated with the risk of developing ...

Planmeca takes another step towards innovative digitalisation

HELSINKI, Finland: Digitalisation is changing industries throughout the world. With a growing demand for innovative digital solutions, new technology is ...

New study highlights latest advances in AI diagnosis of MIH

MUNICH, Germany: Molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) constitutes a global oral health issue, affecting around 14% of the world’s population. Like with ...

Artificial intelligence takes early steps in predicting post-treatment periodontal disease severity

LAHORE, Pakistan: Because treating periodontal disease requires a nuanced approach, a means of predicting the most likely treatment requirements could help ...

Dubai Autism Center launches UAE’s first autism-friendly dental clinic

DUBAI, UAE: For individuals with autism, a trip to the dentist poses a range of serious challenges, which can include sensory overstimulation, departure ...

Fluoride varnish in primary dentition positively affects caries prevention

COLOGNE, Germany: Whereas caries in adults and adolescents in Germany is declining, research has found that about 14 per cent of 3-year-olds in the country ...

Early microbial determinants of peri-implant health discovered in a new study

ANN ARBOR, Mich., US: As the number of dental implants placed globally continues to rise, so too does the clinical significance of understanding ...

OsteoBiol GTO: A new step towards excellence in biomaterials

LISBON, Portugal: At the beginning of this year, Tecnoss, a leading biomaterials manufacturer based in Italy, launched a new bone substitute which combines ...

Oral microbiota may serve as a biomarker for early autism screening

HONG KONG: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a global public health concern. Early identification and timely support for children with ASD can significantly...

Study shines spotlight on oral health of children with autism

DURBAN, South Africa: As the number of reported cases of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continues to climb across the globe, the special ...

Education

Live webinar
Mon. 15 September 2025
1:00 pm EST (New York)