This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.The overall goal of this proposal is to understand the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the pathophysiology of autism and to determine the influence of diet on these levels. The central hypothesis of this application is that children with autism have lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the phospholipid bi-layer of their cell membranes than typically developing children. Two separate labs have observed low levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the red blood cell membranes of autistic children. These studies are of limited value in that they used small sample sizes, inappropriate control groups, and did not control for potentially confounding factors. This study is designed to account for deficiencies in the methodology of prior work in this area. This case control study will enroll 32 children ages 3-18 with autistic disorder. Control group 1 will consist of 32 typically developing siblings of children with autism. This control group will account for potential contributions of familial/genetic variability in polyunsaturated fatty acid levels and dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Control group two will consist of 32 age matched, (+/- 1yr) non-relative, typically developing children. Polyunsaturated fatty acid levels from red blood cell phospholipid membranes and dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids will be measured in all participants. This work is important to the field of autism because the etiology of autism remains elusive. The search for biochemical markers of autism is critical for understanding its pathophysiology and for developing efficacious treatment. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential components of neuronal cell membranes and play important roles in neuronal cell signaling, growth and neurotransmission. There is some evidence that these processes are abnormal in autism. If low polyunsaturated fatty acid levels are reproducible findings in children with autism, this would warrant further investigation into the possible link between abnormal polyunsaturated fatty acid levels and abnormalities in neurotransmission, cell signaling and brain growth.
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