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The Dynamics of Autism Spectrum Disorders: How Neurotoxic Compounds and Neurotransmitters Interact

In recent years concern has risen about the increasing prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Accumulating evidence shows that exposure to neurotoxic compounds is related to ASD. Neurotransmitters might play a key role, as research has indicated a connection between neurotoxic compounds, neu...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Quaak, Ilona, Brouns, Madeleine R., de Bor, Margot Van
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: MDPI 2013
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3774444/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23924882
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10083384
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author Quaak, Ilona
Brouns, Madeleine R.
de Bor, Margot Van
author_facet Quaak, Ilona
Brouns, Madeleine R.
de Bor, Margot Van
author_sort Quaak, Ilona
collection PubMed
description In recent years concern has risen about the increasing prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Accumulating evidence shows that exposure to neurotoxic compounds is related to ASD. Neurotransmitters might play a key role, as research has indicated a connection between neurotoxic compounds, neurotransmitters and ASD. In the current review a literature overview with respect to neurotoxic exposure and the effects on neurotransmitter systems is presented. The aim was to identify mechanisms and related factors which together might result in ASD. The literature reported in the current review supports the hypothesis that exposure to neurotoxic compounds can lead to alterations in the GABAergic, glutamatergic, serotonergic and dopaminergic system which have been related to ASD in previous work. However, in several studies findings were reported that are not supportive of this hypothesis. Other factors also might be related, possibly altering the mechanisms at work, such as time and length of exposure as well as dose of the compound. Future research should focus on identifying the pathway through which these factors interact with exposure to neurotoxic compounds making use of human studies.
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spelling pubmed-37744442013-09-17 The Dynamics of Autism Spectrum Disorders: How Neurotoxic Compounds and Neurotransmitters Interact Quaak, Ilona Brouns, Madeleine R. de Bor, Margot Van Int J Environ Res Public Health Review In recent years concern has risen about the increasing prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Accumulating evidence shows that exposure to neurotoxic compounds is related to ASD. Neurotransmitters might play a key role, as research has indicated a connection between neurotoxic compounds, neurotransmitters and ASD. In the current review a literature overview with respect to neurotoxic exposure and the effects on neurotransmitter systems is presented. The aim was to identify mechanisms and related factors which together might result in ASD. The literature reported in the current review supports the hypothesis that exposure to neurotoxic compounds can lead to alterations in the GABAergic, glutamatergic, serotonergic and dopaminergic system which have been related to ASD in previous work. However, in several studies findings were reported that are not supportive of this hypothesis. Other factors also might be related, possibly altering the mechanisms at work, such as time and length of exposure as well as dose of the compound. Future research should focus on identifying the pathway through which these factors interact with exposure to neurotoxic compounds making use of human studies. MDPI 2013-08-06 2013-08 /pmc/articles/PMC3774444/ /pubmed/23924882 http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10083384 Text en © 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
spellingShingle Review
Quaak, Ilona
Brouns, Madeleine R.
de Bor, Margot Van
The Dynamics of Autism Spectrum Disorders: How Neurotoxic Compounds and Neurotransmitters Interact
title The Dynamics of Autism Spectrum Disorders: How Neurotoxic Compounds and Neurotransmitters Interact
title_full The Dynamics of Autism Spectrum Disorders: How Neurotoxic Compounds and Neurotransmitters Interact
title_fullStr The Dynamics of Autism Spectrum Disorders: How Neurotoxic Compounds and Neurotransmitters Interact
title_full_unstemmed The Dynamics of Autism Spectrum Disorders: How Neurotoxic Compounds and Neurotransmitters Interact
title_short The Dynamics of Autism Spectrum Disorders: How Neurotoxic Compounds and Neurotransmitters Interact
title_sort dynamics of autism spectrum disorders: how neurotoxic compounds and neurotransmitters interact
topic Review
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3774444/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23924882
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10083384
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