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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Research

Particulate matter 2.5 causally increased genetic risk of autism spectrum disorder

Authors: Tianyu Jin, Qiongyi Pang, Wei Huang, Dalin Xing, Zitian He, Zheng Cao, Tong Zhang

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

Growing evidence suggested that particulate matter (PM) exhibit an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the causal association between PM and ASD risk remains unclear.

Methods

We performed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses, using instrumental variables (IVs) sourced from the largest genome-wide association studies (GWAS) databases. We employed three MR methods: inverse-variance weighted (IVW), weighted median (WM), and MR-Egger, with IVW method serving as our primary MR method. Sensitivity analyses were performed to ensure the stability of these findings.

Results

The MR results suggested that PM2.5 increased the genetic risk of ASD (β = 2.41, OR = 11.13, 95% CI: 2.54–48.76, P < 0.01), and similar result was found for PM2.5 absorbance (β = 1.54, OR = 4.67, 95% CI: 1.21–18.01, P = 0.03). However, no such association was found in PM10 (β = 0.27, OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 0.72–2.36, P = 0.38). After adjusting for the false discovery rate (FDR) correction, our MR results remain consistent. Sensitivity analyses did not find significant heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that PM2.5 is a potential risk factor for ASD. Effective strategies to mitigate air pollutants might lead to a reduced incidence of ASD.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Particulate matter 2.5 causally increased genetic risk of autism spectrum disorder
Authors
Tianyu Jin
Qiongyi Pang
Wei Huang
Dalin Xing
Zitian He
Zheng Cao
Tong Zhang
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05564-y

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