Scientists Say A Simple Urine Test Could Help Detect Autism In Children — And The Results Are Turning Heads
A groundbreaking urine test, called the MDM system, could revolutionize early autism detection in children, leading to earlier intervention. The post Scientists Say A Simple Urine Test Could Help Detect Autism In Children — And The Results Are Turning Heads appeared first on MadameNoire.
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Researchers at Arizona State University and Harvard Medical School have developed a promising new urine test that could help identify children at risk for autism earlier, potentially leading to faster diagnosis and earlier intervention. According to a press release published on May 26, researchers announced successful trial results for the Microbially-Derived Metabolite (MDM) System, a screening tool that analyzes urine samples for 17 microbial metabolites, small molecules produced by microorganisms in the gut, in children between the ages of 2 and 11. Researchers believe there is a strong connection to these molecules and autism in children. The system generates a score based on how many of these metabolites exceed the normal reference range.
What did the MDM System urine test find about autism?
To evaluate the test, researchers measured concentrations of microbially-derived metabolites in 52 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 47 typically developing children. Participants were recruited from four states: Arizona, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Texas. The results revealed a significant difference between the two groups. Nearly every child with autism had at least one metabolite level that exceeded the highest level observed among typically developing children. In some cases, metabolite concentrations were found to be 100 to 1,000 times higher. On average, children with autism had approximately three elevated metabolites, while the control group showed none.
The urine test also demonstrated encouraging accuracy during trials, achieving 90% sensitivity and 100% specificity. In other words, it correctly identified 90% of children with autism and did not incorrectly classify any children without autism in the study.
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The post Scientists Say A Simple Urine Test Could Help Detect Autism In Children — And The Results Are Turning Heads appeared first on MadameNoire.
