Prenatal identification of autism propensity.

The innovative method described involves antepartum testing to determine if the fetus has the potential of later developing autism. A technique is detailed which allows examining the maternal blood for SNPs (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) known to be associated with IGF1/IRS1 cellular pathway malfunction potentially leading to brain dysconnectivity in neonates. Results can then be corroborated with umbilical cord sampling at birth by the Autism Index test. [The discussion presented here is the follow-up to the recent prior report: Steinman, G. IGF - Autism prevention/amelioration, Medical Hypotheses 2019;122:45-47].