Clinical trial NCT00106652: Childhood Autism Risks From Genetics and the Environment (The CHARGE Study)
Official title: Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Autism
Developmental Disabilities
Keywords: autism
neurodevelopment
neurotoxicology
perinatology
teratology
Lead sponsor: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Sponsor class: NIH
Collaborators: name: University of California, Davis
name: University of California, Los Angeles
First posted: 2005-03-29
Enrollment: 2000
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 24
Maximum age (years): 60
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Time perspective: OTHER

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.

Eligibility criteria: 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)

Primary outcomes:
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Davis
country: United States
facility: University of California
state: California
Study officials:
affiliation: University of California, Davis
name: Isaac N. Pessah, Ph.D.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: University of California, Davis
name: Irva Hertz-Picciotto, Ph.D.
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References: