Discovery of first-ever gene linked to Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Authors: Tanner Koomar, Taylor R. Thomas, Natalie R. Pottschmidt, Michael Lutter
Researchers at the University of Iowa found the first ever gene linked to avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) in autism. They note that ARFID is highly comorbid with autism.
In their article published in the June 2021 issue of Frontiers in Psychiatry, the authors provide the first estimate of its prevalence in a large and phenotypically diverse autism cohort. They address under-diagnosis of ARFID, and the potential lack of awareness among caretakers and clinicians.
Researchers at the Michaelson Lab for Computational Psychiatry & Genomics at UI are partners in the nationwide study, SPARK, to build the largest study of autism genetics. SPARK aims to enroll 50,000 individuals with autism, and their families, to learn more about the biology of autism, and how that affects the health and well-being of people on the spectrum.
