Environmental Factors
Genetic abnormalities in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are widely-accepted; however, recent studies point to an equal contribution by environmental factors, particularly environmental toxicants. New publications investigating potential associations between environmental toxicants and ASD examine the estimated toxicant exposures in the environment during the preconceptional, gestational and early childhood periods; look for biomarkers of toxicants; and examine potential genetic susceptibilities to toxicants.
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Published Articles
Results are displayed in descending order beginning with most recent publications.
Synchrony 2022: Catalyzing Research and Treatments to Benefit Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorders
Nanda, H.; Frye, R.E. Synchrony 2022: Catalyzing Research and Treatments to Benefit Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorders. J. Pers. Med. 2023, 13, 490. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm13030490
Air Pollution and Maximum Temperature Are Associated with Neurodevelopmental Regressive Events in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Frye RE, Cakir J, McCarty PJ, Rose S, Delhey LM, Palmer RF, Austin C, Curtin P, Yitshak-Sade M, Arora M. J Pers Med. 2022 Nov 1;12(11):1809. doi: 10.3390/jpm12111809. PMID: 36579525; PMCID: PMC9696106.
Physiological mediators of prenatal environmental influences in autism spectrum disorder
Frye RE, Cakir J, Rose S, Palmer RF, Austin C, Curtin P. Bioessays. 2021 Sep;43(9):e2000307. doi: 10.1002/bies.202000307. Epub 2021 Jul 14. PMID: 34260745.
Mitochondria May Mediate Prenatal Environmental Influences in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Frye RE, Cakir J, Rose S, Palmer RF, Austin C, Curtin P, Arora M. J Pers Med. 2021 Mar 18;11(3):218. doi: 10.3390/jpm11030218. PMID: 33803789; PMCID: PMC8003154.
Prenatal air pollution influences neurodevelopment and behavior in autism spectrum disorder by modulating mitochondrial physiology
Frye RE, Cakir J, Rose S, Delhey L, Bennuri SC, Tippett M, Melnyk S, James SJ, Palmer RF, Austin C, Curtin P, Arora M. Mol Psychiatry. 2021 May;26(5):1561-1577. doi: 10.1038/s41380-020-00885-2. Epub 2020 Sep 22. PMID: 32963337; PMCID: PMC8159748.
Early life metal exposure dysregulates cellular bioenergetics in children with regressive autism spectrum disorder
Frye RE, Cakir J, Rose S, Delhey L, Bennuri SC, Tippett M, Palmer RF, Austin C, Curtin P, Arora M. Transl Psychiatry. 2020 Jul 7;10(1):223. doi: 10.1038/s41398-020-00905-3. PMID: 32636364; PMCID: PMC7341836.
Butyrate enhances mitochondrial function during oxidative stress in cell lines from boys with autism
Rose S, Bennuri SC, Davis JE, Wynne R, Slattery JC, Tippett M, Delhey L, Melnyk S, Kahler SG, MacFabe DF, Frye RE. Transl Psychiatry. 2018 Feb 2;8(1):42. doi: 10.1038/s41398-017-0089-z. PMID: 29391397; PMCID: PMC5804031.
Modulation of Immunological Pathways in Autistic and Neurotypical Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines by the Enteric Microbiome Metabolite Propionic Acid
Frye RE, Rose S, Chacko J, Wynne R, Bennuri SC, Slattery JC, Tippett M, Delhey L, Melnyk S, Kahler SG, MacFabe DF. Transl Psychiatry. 2016 Oct 25;6(10):e927. doi: 10.1038/tp.2016.189. PMID: 27779624; PMCID: PMC5290345.
Oxidative Stress Challenge Uncovers Trichloroacetaldehyde Hydrate-Induced Mitoplasticity in Autistic and Control Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines.
Frye, R.E., Rose, S., Wynne, R., Bennuri, S.C., Blossom, S., Gilbert, K.M., Heilbrun, L., Palmer, R.F. Sci Rep. 2017; 7(1):4478.
Modulation of mitochondrial function by the microbiome metabolite propionic acid in autism and control cell lines
Frye RE, Rose S, Chacko J, Wynne R, Bennuri SC, Slattery JC, Tippett M, Delhey L, Melnyk S, Kahler SG, MacFabe DF. Transl Psychiatry. 2016 Oct 25;6(10):e927. doi: 10.1038/tp.2016.189. PMID: 27779624; PMCID: PMC5290345.
Environmental Toxicants and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Rossignol, D.A., Frye, R.E. Psychiatric Times. 2016; 33(9)
Enteric Ecosystem Disruption in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Can the Microbiota and Macrobiota be Restored?
Slattery J, MacFabe DF, Kahler SG, Frye RE. Curr Pharm Des. 2016;22(40):6107-6121. doi: 10.2174/1381612822666160905123953. PMID: 27592717.
Environmental toxicants and autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review.
Rossignol, D.A., Genuis, S.J., Frye, R.E. Transl Psychiatry. 2014; 4:e360.
Unique acyl-carnitine profiles are potential biomarkers for acquired mitochondrial disease in autism spectrum disorder.
Frye, R.E., Melnyk, S., Macfabe, D.F. Transl Psychiatry. 2013; 3:e220.
A review of research trends in physiological abnormalities in autism spectrum disorders: immune dysregulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and environmental toxicant exposures.
Rossignol, D.A., Frye, R.E. Mol Psychiatry. 2012; 17(4):389-401.
Other Resources
THE HEALTHY CHILD GUIDE
from Neurological Health Foundation
How to increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy and a healthy child
Title: How to increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy and a healthy child
Date: June 5, 2018
Location: Online NHF Healthy Child Guide
Presented by: Dr. Richard Frye, MD PhD
The Healthy Child Guide
Title: The Healthy Child Guide
Date: September 30, 2015
Location: Neurological Health Foundation (NHF)
Presented by: Dr. Richard Frye, MD PhD