Potential approaches and recent advances in biomarker discovery in autism spectrum disorders

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental, childhood-onset, a lifelong disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and repetitive sensory–motor behaviors. Over the last few decades, there have been growing concerns over the increasing prevalence of ASD, imposing enormous burdens on society both economically and socially. Unfortunately, the causes of ASD are not fully understood. Furthermore, due to the complex and multifaceted nature of ASD, individuals are faced with their own set of challenges. Consequently, a one-size-fits-all approach to diagnosis, intervention, and treatment cannot apply. Unfortunately, there are deficiencies in the current medical treatments offered, with the available drugs limited to targeting some symptoms or accompanying comorbidities rather than the disorder itself. Instead, behavioral interventions are heavily relied upon. Thus, there is an increasing demand to identify biomarkers that can be used as predictive and diagnostic tools as well as act as potential targets for personalized medicine. This chapter highlights promising areas of ASD biomarker research and touches upon current advancements in the field.