New Research Links Bisphenol A (BPA) to Increased Autism Risk in kids

A recent study tracking the development of over 600 infants has uncovered a significant association between higher levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in a pregnant woman's urine and an increased risk of autism in male children. According to findings published in Nature Communications and reported by the Daily Mail, boys exposed to elevated BPA levels in utero were more than three times as likely to be diagnosed with autism by age two. Alarmingly, these boys also had a six-fold higher likelihood of developing autism by age 11 compared to those whose mothers had lower BPA exposure during pregnancy.

Bisphenol A: A Pervasive Chemical with Health Risks

Bisphenol A is widely used to enhance the durability of plastics and prevent metal corrosion. However, this chemical has been under scrutiny for over two decades due to its links to various health issues, including obesity, asthma, diabetes, and heart disease. Furthermore, BPA has been described as a “sex-modifying” chemical because it appears to interfere with hormonal balance, leading to sexual dysfunction in humans and other species.

Scientific Evidence and Implications

The new study provides robust evidence of the connection between BPA exposure and an increased risk of autism. It also highlights specific chemical interactions that may contribute to the development of the condition. Anne Louise Ponsonby, an epidemiologist and public health expert involved in the research, emphasized the significance of these findings: “Our work is crucial because it uncovers a potential biological mechanism involved in autism development.”

Ponsonby further explained that BPA could disrupt the normal development of the male fetal brain, primarily by inhibiting aromatase, an enzyme essential for controlling neurohormones. This disruption is particularly critical during the early stages of male brain development.

Impact on Brain Function

The study revealed that aromatase plays a vital role in converting neuroandrogens (male sex hormones in the brain) into neuroestrogens. These neuroestrogens are crucial for everyone, regardless of gender, as they regulate brain inflammation, maintain synaptic flexibility for neuron communication, and manage cholesterol levels. Notably, the brain is the most cholesterol-rich organ in the human body, utilizing about 20% of the body's cholesterol to perform its functions.

“BPA suppresses aromatase and is linked to anatomical, neurological, and behavioral changes,” noted study co-author and biochemist Wah Chin Boon. This suppression may be a key piece of the autism puzzle.

Exploring Potential Treatments

The research team employed two different approaches to investigate the findings. The first involved analyzing data collected since 2010 by two Australian universities, which tracked various health metrics for over 1,000 children and their parents. Among these, 676 infants were assessed for autism symptoms, enabling the researchers to draw statistically significant conclusions.

Additionally, the team conducted laboratory experiments on mice to explore how BPA disrupts aromatase activity and to identify potential treatments. They discovered that a specific fatty acid, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10HDA), might help mitigate BPA's adverse effects on aromatase in the developing brain.

“It’s worth further exploration to determine if a viable treatment for humans can be developed,” concluded Ponsonby.

This research not only strengthens the evidence linking BPA to autism but also opens the door to potential therapeutic interventions that could reduce the impact of this harmful chemical on brain development.