Early pollution exposure and folate's role in autistic behaviors in children
The interplay of early life exposure to environmental pollutants and folate system in the etiology of autistic behaviors
This project looks at whether prenatal exposure to air pollution and chemicals, together with mothers' folic acid use and genetics, relate to autistic traits in children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11223313 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are pregnant or the parent of a young child, this project will look at whether maternal exposure to air pollutants and chemicals like phthalates, combined with prenatal folic acid use and genetic markers, relate to autistic traits in offspring. Researchers will use a large, well-characterized pregnancy and birth cohort carried out in ten Canadian cities and will measure pollutant levels (including phthalates), record folic acid supplementation, and analyze maternal genetic markers linked to folate metabolism. The team will examine timing of exposures (for example first and third trimesters) to identify critical windows when the fetus may be most vulnerable. The aim is to understand how environmental, nutritional, and genetic factors work together to influence early childhood social and behavioral development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant people (particularly early in pregnancy) or parents of young children up to about 11 years old, especially those living in or able to join a Canadian pregnancy/birth cohort.
Not a fit: People who are long past childbearing or whose child's autism is driven primarily by non-environmental or unmeasured genetic causes may not see direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to preventable exposures and clearer folic acid guidance that may reduce some autism-related traits.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies and the investigators' preliminary data suggest folic acid can lower autistic traits in genetically susceptible children and may offset phthalate harms, but comprehensive, joint analyses of timing, pollutants, nutrition, and genetics remain limited.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oulhote, Youssef — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Oulhote, Youssef
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.