IntegraGen Announces The Publication Of The Results Of A Study Assessing The Impact Of A Combined Analysis Of Four Genetic Variants On Autism Risk

Main Category: Autism
Also Included In: Genetics
Article Date: 14 May 2010 - 0:00 PDT


IntegraGen SA, a French biotechnology company dedicated to gene discovery, announced today the publication of the results of a collaborative study reporting the use of a combined analysis of multiple genetic variants in a genetic score to help identify individuals at high risk of developing autism.

The study, entitled "Assessing the Impact of a Combined Analysis of Four Common Low-risk Genetic Variants on Autism Risk" appears in Molecular Autism, a peer-reviewed journal that publishes research on the molecular basis of autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions.

Based on an analysis of samples from two separate genetic sample collections which included over 450 families and nearly 1,000 children affected by autism, the authors report that the accumulation of multiple risk alleles in a genetic score is a useful strategy for assessing the risk of autism in children who have older siblings affected by autism. The authors suggest that this approach may be better than studying single polymorphisms for identifying subgroups of individuals with significantly greater risk of autism.

"This study confirms that the identification of genetic variations could complement existing clinical tools," commented Prof. Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D., co-author of the study and chief science officer of Autism Speaks. "Having a better understanding of the genetics of autism is especially important in children who have an older sibling affected by autism since this group is at a significantly higher risk of developing the autism. This and other related research may be a step towards the development of genetic tools which contribute to the earlier diagnosis and treatment of children with this disorder."

"IntegraGen is pleased by the publication of this important study which helps to further the understanding of the role of common genetic variants as markers of an increased risk of autism" said Dr. Bernard Courtieu, CEO of IntegraGen. "This study is a result of IntegraGen's continued gene discovery efforts and its research collaboration with key scientists in the autism community. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the patients and families who donated genetic materials to programs such as Autism Speaks' Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE), without which this study would not have been possible. We are continuing our autism gene discovery and collaborative research efforts to further identify opportunities for the earlier identification of children at risk of autism."

Autism is a developmental disorder that causes significant social, communication and behavioral challenges in children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in 110 children in the U.S. has an autism-related disorder, and that the incidence of autism is up 57 percent from 2002 to 2006. Even though parents typically express concerns about their child's developmental progress before the age of three, the average age of diagnosis is not until 53 months. Early intervention has been shown to be effective in improving a child's ability to develop into a competent adult.

Source
IntegraGen

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