Volume 28, Issue 150, August 2024

The role of environmental factors in the etiopathogenesis of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A review article

Katarzyna Baranowska^1♦, Alicja Baranowska², Filip Czyżewski¹, Kinga Filipek³, Jakub Kawka¹, Michał Muciek⁴, Sebastian Mrugała⁵, Waldemar Mrugała⁴, Bartosz Skierkowski⁴, Natalia Zalewska⁶

¹Medical University Warsaw, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
²Szpital Miejski w Siemianowicach Śląskich, Poland
³Międzyleski Specialist Hospital in Warsaw, Poland
⁴Medical University Lublin, al. Racławickie 1, 20-059 Lublin, Poland
⁵Uniwersytet Medyczny w Białymstoku, Jana Kilińskiego 1, 15-089 Białystok, Poland
⁶Bielanski Hospital, Warsaw, Poland

^♦Corresponding Author
Medical University Warsaw, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders typically manifesting in early childhood. According to the ICD-11 ASD diagnosis relies on a dyad of symptoms: Deficits in social interaction and repetitive behavioral patterns. The significant increase in ASD diagnoses in children observed in recent years suggests the need to deepen our understanding of the disorder's etiology to implement appropriate preventive measures. Brief description of the state of knowledge: While the disorder is believed to have both genetic and environmental origins, research on the influence of individual factors remains inconclusive. Results: The reviewed studies show an association between factors such as advanced parental age, gestational diabetes, heavy metals exposure, imbalance of the microbiome, and autism spectrum disorders. Because of the varying results in existing research, it is necessary to further investigate how low levels of vitamin D in expectant mothers impact their offspring. Researchers haven’t identified a link between the MMR vaccine and ASD.

Keywords: Autism, environment, diabetes, vitamin D, dysbiosis

Medical Science, 2024, 28, e114ms3431

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v28i150.e114ms3431

Published: 25 August 2024