Research on Allergies and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Study Overview

Researchers investigated the potential link between various types of allergies and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children aged 3 to 17. The prevalence of ASD is steadily rising in the United States, a trend also observed in other developed and developing nations. Possible risk factors for ASD include both genetic and environmental influences.

Immune Dysfunction and Autism

Immune system dysfunction has been associated with autism spectrum disorder. Studies indicate that immune abnormalities during pregnancy, such as maternal infections, can correlate with ASD. Evidence suggests that premature activation of the immune system may negatively impact several developmental processes within the central nervous system.

The Role of Food Allergies

Food allergies represent a specific type of immune system dysfunction. Animal studies have shown that food allergies may trigger behaviors often associated with autism spectrum disorder, including altered social interactions, repetitive behaviors, and memory impairment. However, there is currently a lack of human studies directly linking food allergies to ASD.

National Study Findings

A research study conducted in the United States analyzed national data to explore the relationship between food allergies and autism spectrum disorder in children. The findings were published in JAMA Network Open. The study utilized data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), an annual health survey by the National Center for Health Statistics, which is a valuable source of information regarding the health of the American population.

Study Population

The researchers included all children aged 3 to 17 for whom data on allergies and autism spectrum disorder were available in the survey. The analysis covered data from 1997 to 2013, encompassing a total of 199,520 children. Among these, 8,734 had food allergies, 24,555 had air allergies, and 19,399 had skin allergies.

Increased Allergy Incidence in ASD

Out of the children studied, 1,868 were reported to have autism spectrum disorder. Notably, children with ASD exhibited a higher prevalence of food, air, and skin allergies compared to their peers without the disorder. Even after adjusting for factors such as age, gender, race, family socioeconomic status, and other allergies, the significant correlation between allergies and autism spectrum disorder persisted. The strongest correlation was observed specifically between food allergies and ASD, compared to air and skin allergies.

Significance of the Study

This nationwide study, which utilized a large sample size, offers a rigorous evaluation of the relationship between allergies and autism spectrum disorder. It is important to recognize that both food allergies and autism spectrum disorder have become more prevalent over the past few decades. While the underlying mechanisms of this association remain unclear, this research underscores the necessity for further investigations in this domain.

Author Information

Written by Ingrid Qemo, PhD

Reference

Xu, G., Snetselaar, L.G., Jing, J., et al. 2018. Association of food allergy and other allergic conditions with autism spectrum disorder in children. JAMA Network Open. 1 (2):e180279. DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.0279