Researchers at the Autonomous University of Madrid have created a rapid, low-cost urine-based biosensor capable of distinguishing children with autism spectrum disorder by detecting the gut compound p-cresol, offering potential for earlier diagnosis and intervention.
Researchers at the Autonomous University of Madrid say they have developed a urine-based biosensor that could one day help screen for autism by detecting p-cresol, a gut compound linked in several studies to autism spectrum disorder. In work published in ACS Sensors, the team led by Tania Garcia Mendiola said the device was tested on human urine samples from children with ASD and showed strong performance in distinguishing those samples from controls.
P-cresol is produced when gut bacteria break down proteins during digestion and is later excreted in urine. Previous research has suggested that higher levels of microbially derived metabolites, including p-cresol sulfate, may be tied to gut dysbiosis and differences in neurodevelopment, adding to interest in the gut-brain axis as a possible route to earlier detection.
For now, autism diagnosis still relies mainly on behavioural assessment, and there is no accepted biological test. Garcia Mendiola said the biosensor could become a screening tool to support clinicians, help monitor children at risk and identify those who may need a fuller diagnostic evaluation sooner. The study describes the device as rapid, simple, low-cost and highly sensitive.
The new work sits within a wider effort to find objective biomarkers for autism. A separate systematic review published this year also found growing evidence linking elevated p-cresol with ASD, while other research has explored urinary metabolite changes after gut-focused treatment and non-invasive tests based on hair analysis. But experts caution that such approaches remain investigational, and any future test would need larger validation before it could be used routinely in clinics.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
