Precision Medicine in Autism Spectrum

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

What drives the metabolic and epigenetic regulation of fetal programming?

Maternal immune activation

Mitochondrial dysfunction

Placenta (correct)

Oxidative stress

Which time window is crucial for brain wiring according to the text?

First two years of life (correct)

Adolescence

Early adulthood

Elderly age

Which interconnected molecular pathways are involved in the 'bad trio' mentioned in the text?

Mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, dysbiosis (correct)

Genomic background, maternal immune activation, dysbiosis

Placenta, rare mutations, synaptic homeostasis

Oxidative stress, genomic background, neurodevelopment

What may act as a 'buffer' for the impact of rare mutations on the phenotypic outcome?

Genomic background Signup and view all the answers

In which environment is the epigenome programmed in an adaptive sense, influencing lifelong disease risk?

Intrauterine and cellular microenvironment Signup and view all the answers

What influences the lifelong risk for diseases according to the text?

Genomic background Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of a precision medicine approach in treating individuals in the autism spectrum?

Identify targeted treatments based on underlying pathophysiology Signup and view all the answers

How do stratification biomarkers function in selecting patients for treatments?

Divide patients into subgroups with shared biological characteristics Signup and view all the answers

Why are stratification biomarkers considered clinically relevant for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

They have prognostic and predictive value Signup and view all the answers

In what stage is the research on stratification biomarkers for ASD?

Still in the early stages Signup and view all the answers

What role does Mitochondrial Dysfunction (MD) play in the determinants of Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Interplay with other determinants like Maternal Immune Activation Signup and view all the answers

How does matrilinear transfer of mitochondria contribute to genetic information in newborns?

Adds to the genetic information stored in maternal and paternal germinal cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of tau protein in mature neurons?

Tau is involved in the regulation of microtubule dynamics. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of tau hyperphosphorylation in Alzheimer's disease patients?

Tau hyperphosphorylation causes the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and neuronal death. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between tau concentration and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?

Tau concentration decreases in the serum of ASD males. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary limitation of using individual proteins as universal biomarkers for ASD?

It may be impractical to assume that every individual protein could be used as a universal biomarker for ASD. Signup and view all the answers

What is the key metabolic abnormality observed in ASD patients?

Imbalance in the glutamatergic and GABAergic systems. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and ASD?

SCFA production is decreased in the intestinal microbiota of ASD patients. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of SCFA in the brain?

SCFA act as histone deacetylase inhibitors, which is important for glial cell function Signup and view all the answers

How does the gut microbiota impact neurological processes?

The gut microbiota impacts blood-brain barrier formation, myelination, and synthesis of neurotransmitters including GABA, dopamine, and others Signup and view all the answers

What is the connection between the gut microbiome and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?

The link between the gut microbiome and ASD was made because GI disturbances have been frequently detected in ASD Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and the gut?

The autonomic nervous system that controls gut function is called the enteric nervous system (ENS) and this system shares many structural and functional characteristics with the central nervous system (CNS) Signup and view all the answers

What was observed in germ-free mice that received microbiota transfer from ASD donors?

Germ-free mice that received microbiota transfer from ASD donors showed autistic-like behaviors compared to mice that received a transfer from typically-developed donors Signup and view all the answers

What is the evidence linking ASD core symptoms to GI disturbances?

The evidence that links ASD core symptoms to GI disturbances is strong and is currently being explored in clinical trials Signup and view all the answers

What does the text suggest about individuals with a small number of common risk variants for ASD?

They may require a higher burden of deleterious mutations to develop ASD. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following environmental factors is mentioned as potentially influencing the risk for ASD during the embryonic stage?

Maternal infections and prenatal exposure to toxins Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the observed variance in ASD is attributed to environmental influences?

5-6% Signup and view all the answers

What does the text suggest about the timing of different factors impacting neuronal development?

The timing of both genetic and environmental factors plays a crucial role in determining developmental outcome. Signup and view all the answers

What determines brain development initially?

Distinct temporal and spatial stages of gene expression and intrinsic neuronal activity Signup and view all the answers

What does the text suggest about the role of animal studies in understanding the impact of genetic/environmental insults on development?

Animal studies can trace the effects of these insults across cellular, molecular, brain systems, and behavioral levels. Signup and view all the answers