Childhood Autism Risks From Genetics and the Environment (The CHARGE Study)

Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00106652

Enrollment

2000

Registered

2005-03-29

Start date

2001-09-30

Completion date

2017-09-30

Last updated

2017-09-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Autism, Developmental Disabilities

Keywords

autism, neurodevelopment, neurotoxicology, perinatology, teratology

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to understand how genes, environment, and the interplay between the two, influences the development of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Detailed description

The causes and contributing factors for autism are poorly understood. Evidence suggests that incidence is increasing, but diagnostic changes and improvements may be playing a role. Both genetic and environmental factors appear to play a role. Autopsy studies demonstrate structural changes in the brain and clinical investigations reveal neurophysiologic differences in information processing in autistic versus normal children. Members of our team recently demonstrated altered levels of certain neuropeptides at birth in children who later developed autism. This case-control study is the first large-scale epidemiologic investigation of underlying causes for autism and triggers of regression. This study capitalizes on the strengths of the case-control design, which is well suited to examine a broad array of factors for rare conditions that are thought to be multifactorial. Comparisons will be made with both general population controls and mentally retarded children. The aims are to assess the influence of exogenous exposures, the role of susceptibility factors, and the interplay between these two in the etiology of autism and its phenotypic variation. Chemicals with known or suspected neurodevelopmental toxicity, such as PCB's, certain pesticides, and metals, are being investigated. This study pursues several hypotheses that have recently gained attention, including the combined measles, mumps, rubella vaccine and mercury present in vaccines given during infancy and early childhood. Additionally, biochemical susceptibility is examined through characterization of metabolic, immunologic, and neuronal gene expression profiles and genetic polymorphisms.

Interventions

None listed

Study design

Time perspective

OTHER

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

24 Months to 60 Months

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Children between 2 and 5 years old * Born in California * Parents must speak either English or Spanish * Children must be living with at least one biologic parent

Exclusion criteria

* Children not meeting eligibility criteria listed above * Children not residing in selected geographical areas (please contact for more information about specific study locations)

Countries

United States

Outcome results