Exploring pathological targets and advancing pharmacotherapy in autism spectrum disorder: Contributions of glial cells and heavy metals.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a globally recognized neurodevelopmental condition characterized by repetitive and restrictive behavior, persistent deficits in social interaction and communication, mental disturbances, etc., affecting approximately 1 in 100 children worldwide. A combination of genetic and environmental factors is involved in the etiopathogenesis of the disease, but specific biomarkers have not yet been identified.