Someday, it may be possible for each woman to know ahead of time
if she will give birth to a child with a neuro-developmental
disorder. That is because SUNY Downstate Medical Center received
a grant worth $50,000 to develop a diagnostic test that would
pick up the folate receptor autoantibody. The autoantibody has
been linked to autism, neural tube defects, and cerebral folate
deficiency. Babies with neural tube defects have either brains
or spinal cords that do not properly develop. The result may be
lifelong paralysis, or even death shortly after birth. Cerebral
folate deficiency can lead to progressive retardation, starting
as early as four months. Children with autism can show a wide
spectrum of behavior, usually showing difficulty with social
interaction and repetitive behavior. Over the years, proper
amounts of folate in the diet have reduced the number of babies
born with neuro-developmental disorders. Yet the folate receptor
autoantibody prevents folate from doing its work by blocking
folate nutrients