Autistic Symptoms Research Articles

An acceptability and feasibility investigation of a community-based motor program for autistic children with moderate and high support needs

BackgroundGeneral motor impairments are ubiquitous in Autism and are positively correlated with autism symptom severity. This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a 13-week community-based motor program for autistic children with moderate and high support needs (MHS). MethodIn this exploratory single arm within-subject study, 10 autistic children with MHS, ages 4–10 years, completed a community-based motor program delivered in a one-on-one format by therapists. Feasibility was determined through recruitment, retention, attendance, enjoyment, engagement and useability of motor, physical activity (PA), and behavioural assessment tools. Thematic analysis evaluated post-intervention semi-structured parent interviews. ResultsHigh program attendance and retention were demonstrated, and therapists reported child engagement and enjoyment were high. Identified themes revealed parents perceived unexpected substantial positive impacts including improvements in social, motor, and behavioural outcomes. They highly valued both the program and the therapeutic relationships fostered within it. Although parents of the children with the higher support needs reported the most substantial improvements, these children were unable to score on motor assessments due to difficulties following instructions and off-task behaviours. Additionally, only four participants wore an accelerometer-based PA monitor. ConclusionsThis community-based motor program was considered feasible and acceptable by the children’s parents, and qualitative findings provided valuable insights into clinical practice for children with MHS. However, recruitment challenges and assessment tools being unfeasible for children with higher support needs led to low participant numbers. Future evaluations should explore alternative assessment measures and study designs, given the challenges associated with studying such a heterogenous and complex group.

Investigating The Effect of Combined Nutritional Supplementation in the Management of Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Progression of Social and Communication Skills: A Nonrandomized Interventional Study

In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of nutritional supplementation as a method of treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of our study is to investigate the effect of using combined supplementation on treating the symptoms of Autism. In this study, we conducted a nonrandomized, nonblinded trial where we followed up with patients with ASD who were diagnosed through the CARS2-ST scale and evaluated through the Vineland-3 scale within two visits. The patients were divided into control and intervention groups where training only and supplementation with training were used, respectively. Results: The study included a total of 115 participants, out of which 95 (82.6%) were assigned to the intervention group and 20 (17.4%) were assigned to the control group. Significant improvement was observed in the intervention group compared to the control group. It was observed that the CARS2 score for the intervention group was reduced by a mean of 16.1 points compared to only 4.45 mean points reduced in the control group. On the other hand, the Vineland-III scale was increased by a mean of 350.23 points in the intervention group, while the control group had an increase of only 41.3 points. Conclusion: Our study concludes that the use of combined supplementation along with behavioral training greatly reduces autism symptoms compared to training alone. Thus, our study can recommend the use of combined supplementation as a form of treatment for Autism. Further studies with randomization and blinding will be helpful in confirming the findings of our study.

Data Mining Technique for Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder

Early detection of autistic symptoms can help lower overall medical expenses, which is beneficial given that autism is a developmental disease that is associated with high medical costs. To assess whether or not a kid may have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), screening for ASD involves asking the child's parents, caregivers, and other members of the child's immediate family a series of questions. The current methods for screening for autism, such as the autistic quotient (AQ), might require a significant number of questions in addition to careful question design, which can make an autism examination more time-consuming. The effectiveness and reliability of the test could be improved, for example, by employing data mining strategies. It could be possible to create a system that can foretell ASD at an early stage and give patients, caregivers, and medical professionals dependable and precise findings on the probable need for expert diagnostic services. This research aims to develop a reliable model for estimating the likelihood of an individual being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder between the ages of 4 and 17. To identify varying degrees of autism, one such model was constructed by utilizing the stochastic gradient descent (SGD) algorithm. Mining data is typically understood to be a decision-making process that enables more effective utilization of available resources in terms of overall performance. The results showed that the suggested prediction model, which used the stochastic gradient descent (SGD) algorithm, could find ASD with an average error of 0.03% and an accuracy of up to 94.5%.

Screening tools for autism in culturally and linguistically diverse paediatric populations: a systematic review

BackgroundAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has varying prevalence rates worldwide, often higher in culturally diverse populations. Cultural differences can affect autism symptom recognition. Language barriers and differing healthcare attitudes may delay diagnosis and intervention. Most autism screening tools were developed in Western, predominantly Caucasian populations, and their appropriateness in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) contexts remains uncertain. There is a lack of comprehensive data on the accuracy of these tools in identifying autism in culturally and linguistically diverse groups. Consequently, it is unclear whether current screening tools are culturally sensitive and appropriate.MethodsA research protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022367308). A comprehensive search of literature published from inception to October 2022 was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, Medline Complete, Scopus, PsychInfo and CINAHL Complete. The articles were screened using pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data extracted included participant demographics, screening tool psychometric properties (validity, reliability, accuracy) and acceptability. A narrative synthesis approach was used.ResultsFrom the initial retrieval of 2310 citations, 51 articles were included for analysis. The studies were conducted in 32 different countries with screening tools in the following languages: Chinese, Spanish, Korean, Turkish, Arabic, Kurdish, Persian, Serbian, Italian, French, Sinhala, Taiwanese, Finnish, Northern Soho, Albanian, German, Japanese, Vietnamese, Farsi, Greek and English. There was no data on acceptability of the screening tools in CALD populations. Validity, reliability, and accuracy ranged from poor to excellent with consistently high performance by screening tools devised within the populations they are intended for.ConclusionsThe review evaluated autism screening tools in culturally diverse populations, with a focus on validity, reliability, and acceptability. It highlighted variations in the effectiveness of these tools across different cultures, with high performance by tools devised specifically for the intended population, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive screening tools. Further research is needed to improve culturally specific, reliable autism screening tools for equitable assessment and intervention in diverse communities.

Shank3 deficiency alters midbrain GABAergic neuron morphology, GABAergic markers and synaptic activity in primary striatal neurons

Abnormalities in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurotransmission play a role in the pathogenesis of autism, although the mechanisms responsible for alterations in specific brain regions remain unclear. Deficits in social motivation and interactions are core symptoms of autism, likely due to defects in dopaminergic neural pathways. Therefore, investigating the morphology and functional roles of GABAergic neurons within dopaminergic projection areas could elucidate the underlying etiology of autism. The aim of this study was to (1) compare the morphology and arborization of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD)-positive neurons from the midbrain tegmentum; (2) evaluate synaptic activity in primary neurons from the striatum; and (3) assess GABAergic postsynaptic puncta in the ventral striatum of wild-type (WT) and Shank3-deficient mice. We found a significant decrease in the number of short neurites in GAD positive primary neurons from the midbrain tegmentum in Shank3-deficient mice. The application of a specific blocker of GABAA receptors (GABAAR) revealed significantly increased frequency of spontaneous postsynaptic currents (sPSCs) in Shank3-deficient striatal neurons compared to their WT counterparts. The mean absolute amplitude of the events was significantly higher in striatal neurons from Shank3-deficient compared to WT mice. We also observed a significant reduction in gephyrin/GABAAR γ2 colocalization in the striatum of adult male Shank3-deficient mice. The gene expression of collybistin was significantly lower in the nucleus accumbens while gephyrin and GABAAR γ2 were lower in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in male Shank3-deficient compared to WT mice. In conclusion, Shank3 deficiency leads to alterations in GABAergic neurons and impaired GABAergic function in dopaminergic brain areas. These changes may underlie autistic symptoms, and potential interventions modulating GABAergic activity in dopaminergic pathways may represent new treatment modality.

A Longitudinal Study of Aggression in People with Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disabilities.

Aggression is common in autism and neurodevelopmental disorders, but longitudinal research on aggression is lacking. We longitudinally tracked aggression in 254 individuals from toddlerhood to emerging adulthood. Our sample included participants with a range of cognitive abilities, with 39.9% classified as more-cognitively-abled (MCA; IQ ≥ 70) and 60.1% as less-cognitively-abled (LCA; IQ < 70). Aggression Composite scores were derived from data from the autism diagnostic observation schedule, autism diagnostic interview-revised, and child behavior checklist at ages 2, 9, and 18. Fifty-four percent, 69%, and 42% of the sample showed aggression in toddlerhood, school age, and emerging adulthood, respectively. LCA individuals had higher rates of aggression in school age (80%) and emerging adulthood (58%) compared to MCA individuals (48 and 22%, respectively). Longitudinal aggression profiles revealed distinct patterns of change over time: 31% displayed persistent aggression, 25% increased, 23% decreased, and 13% never displayed aggression. Higher autism symptoms, lower VIQ, NVIQ, and less-developed adaptive skills correlated with more aggression cross-sectionally. Nonverbal IQ and repetitive behaviors related to aggression longitudinally: people in decreasing or absent profiles had higher NVIQ and fewer RRBs than those with persistent or increasing profiles. Participants with aggression at 9 were four times likelier to exhibit aggression at 18. Aggression is common in autism and NDDs, peaking around age 9, and declining in emerging adulthood. Patterns of change varied widely, with evidence that higher NVIQ and fewer RRBs may be protective. Findings have implications for clinical practices, highlighting important developmental periods and high-risk subgroups.

Whole genome sequencing analysis identifies sex differences of familial pattern contributing to phenotypic diversity in autism

BackgroundWhole-genome sequencing (WGS) analyses have found higher genetic burden in autistic females compared to males, supporting higher liability threshold in females. However, genomic evidence of sex differences has been limited to European ancestry to date and little is known about how genetic variation leads to autism-related traits within families across sex.MethodsTo address this gap, we present WGS data of Korean autism families (n = 2255) and a Korean general population sample (n = 2500), the largest WGS data of East Asian ancestry. We analyzed sex differences in genetic burden and compared with cohorts of European ancestry (n = 15,839). Further, with extensively collected family-wise Korean autism phenotype data (n = 3730), we investigated sex differences in phenotypic scores and gene-phenotype associations within family.ResultsWe observed robust female enrichment of de novo protein-truncating variants in autistic individuals across cohorts. However, sex differences in polygenic burden varied across cohorts and we found that the differential proportion of comorbid intellectual disability and severe autism symptoms mainly drove these variations. In siblings, males of autistic females exhibited the most severe social communication deficits. Female siblings exhibited lower phenotypic severity despite the higher polygenic burden than male siblings. Mothers also showed higher tolerance for polygenic burden than fathers, supporting higher liability threshold in females.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that genetic liability in autism is both sex- and phenotype-dependent, expanding the current understanding of autism’s genetic complexity. Our work further suggests that family-based assessments of sex differences can help unravel underlying sex-differential liability in autism.

Use of Telehealth in Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment in Children: Evaluation of anOnline Diagnostic Protocol Includingthe Brief Observation of Symptoms of Autism.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the need to develop the field of remote assessment for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The purpose of the study was to evaluate an online assessment protocol that includes the Brief Observation of Symptoms of Autism (BOSA). The online protocol consisting of BOSA and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) was administered by experienced examiners to 29 children with suspected ASD. The participants were then evaluated by clinical psychologists in a standard clinical setting using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2) and other methods, and the ASD diagnosis was confirmed or ruled out. The results show substantial to moderate inter-rater agreement between the online and face-to-face raters with the value of Cohen's Kappa = 0.66 (P < 0.001); this corresponds with 79.8% agreement. The sensitivity of the protocol was approx. 94.7%, the specificity was 70%, the positive predictive value was 85.7%, and the negative predictive value was 87.5%. Further, direct false positive or false negative diagnostic conclusions based on the online protocol were absent when the possible conclusion of "I cannot decide" was included. The items B9 Showing, B10 Spontaneous Initiation of Joint Attention, B1 Unusual Eye Contact, B3 Facial Expressions Directed to Others, and C2 Imagination/Creativity were shown to be well observable in BOSA when related to ADOS-2 scoring. The results indicate that the protocol consisting of BOSA and ADI-R administered by an experienced examiner is a promising combination of tools for remote autism assessment.

Intranasal Insulin Eases Autism in Rats via GDF-15 and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways.

In rat models, it is well-documented that chronic administration of propionic acid (PPA) leads to autism-like behaviors. Although the intranasal (IN) insulin approach is predominantly recognized for its effects on food restriction, it has also been shown to enhance cognitive memory by influencing various proteins, modulating anti-inflammatory pathways in the brain, and reducing signaling molecules such as interleukins. This study seeks to explore the potential therapeutic benefits of IN insulin in a rat model of autism induced by PPA. Thirty male Wistar albino rats were categorized into three cohorts: the control group, the PPA-induced autism (250 mg/kg/day intraperitoneal PPA dosage for five days) group, treated with saline via IN, and the PPA-induced autism group, treated with 25 U/kg/day (250 µL/kg/day) insulin via IN. All treatments were administered for 15 days. After behavioral testing, all animals were euthanized, and brain tissue and blood samples were collected for histopathological and biochemical assessments. Following insulin administration, a substantial reduction in autism symptoms was observed in all three social behavior tests conducted on the rats. Moreover, insulin exhibited noteworthy capabilities in decreasing brain MDA, IL-2, IL-17, and TNF-α levels within autism models. Additionally, there is a notable elevation in the brain nerve growth factor level (p < 0.05) and GDF-15 (p < 0.05). The assessment of cell counts within the hippocampal region and cerebellum revealed that insulin displayed effects in decreasing glial cells and inducing a significant augmentation in cell types such as the Purkinje and Pyramidal cells. The administration of insulin via IN exhibits alleviating effects on autism-like behavioral, biochemical, and histopathological alterations induced by PPA in rats. Insulin-dependent protective effects show anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and neuroprotective roles of insulin admitted nasally.

Understanding Depression in Autism: The Role of Subjective Perception and Anterior Cingulate Cortex Volume.

The prevalence of depression is elevated in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to the general population, yet the reasons for this disparity remain unclear. While social deficits central to ASD may contribute to depression, it is uncertain whether social interaction behavior themselves or individuals' introspection about their social behaviors are more impactful. Although the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and amygdala are frequently implicated in ASD, depression, and social functioning, it is unknown if these regions explain differences between ASD adults with and without co-occurring depression. The present study contrasted observed vs. subjective perception of autism symptoms and social performances assessed with both standardized measures and a lab task, in 65 sex-balanced (52.24% male) autistic young adults. We also quantified ACC and amygdala volume with 7-Tesla structural neuroimaging to examine correlations with depression and social functioning. We found that ASD individuals with depression exhibited differences in subjective evaluations including heightened self-awareness of ASD symptoms, lower subjective satisfaction with social relations, and less perceived affiliation during the social interaction task, yet no differences in corresponding observed measures, compared to those without depression. Larger ACC volume was related to depression, greater self-awareness of ASD symptoms, and worse subjective satisfaction with social interactions. In contrast, amygdala volume, despite its association with clinician-rated ASD symptoms, was not related to depression. Due to the cross-sectional nature of our study, we cannot determine the directionality of the observed relationships. Additionally, we included only individuals with an IQ over 60 to ensure participants could complete the social task, which excluded many on the autism spectrum. We also utilized self-reported depression indices instead of clinically diagnosed depression, which may limit the comprehensiveness of the findings. Our approach highlights the unique role of subjective perception of autism symptoms and social interactions, beyond the observable manifestation of social interaction in ASD, in contributing to depression, with the ACC playing a crucial role. These findings imply possible heterogeneity of ASD concerning co-occurring depression. Using neuroimaging, we were able to demarcate depressive phenotypes co-occurring alongside autistic phenotypes.

Impact of parent-delivered traditional Thai massage on children with autism spectrum disorder and parenting stress: a randomized controlled trial

Objectives To evaluate the effects of parent-delivered traditional Thai massage (TTM) on children with autism and its potential influence on parenting stress. Methods Forty-eight children with autism (aged 10.32 ± 1.35 years) were enrolled from Haikou Special Education School (Haikou Province, China) and randomly assigned to either the TTM group or control group in a 1:1 ratio. Alongside their regular school routines, the TTM group underwent 16 sessions of 50-min TTM, twice weekly for 8 weeks. The control group continued their usual daily school routines. Intervention effects and parenting stress were measured using the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist and Parenting Stress Index, Fourth Edition Short Form. Results The TTM intervention had a significant positive impact on sociability (p = 0.001, partial ŋ2=0.168) and total scores (p = 0.009, partial ŋ2=0.103). Additionally, the TTM group had significantly reduced parental distress (p = 0.016, partial ŋ2=0.179), parent − child dysfunctional interaction scores (p = 0.008, partial ŋ2=0.206), and total scores (p = 0.001, partial ŋ2=0.179) post-intervention, with a significant rebound observed during the follow-up period. Conclusions Our findings indicate that parent-delivered TTM can effectively improve certain autism symptoms and reduce parenting stress in the short-term. Incorporating parent-delivered massage into family-based interventions offers a convenient, effective, and personalized treatment option for families with limited access to alternative treatment resources. Trial registration Clinical Trials Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2100051355, 2021-09-21

Behavioral characteristics of toddlers later identified with an autism diagnosis, ADHD symptoms, or combined autism and ADHD symptoms.

Autism commonly co-occurs with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but less is known regarding how ADHD symptoms impact the early presentation of autism. This study examined early behavioral characteristics of a community sample of toddlers later identified with autism diagnosis, ADHD symptoms, combined autism and ADHD symptoms, or neither condition. Participants were 506 toddlers who were part of a longitudinal study of children's behavioral development. Parents completed questionnaires about their children's behavior at two time points. Four groups were identified based on study measures or medical record: autism diagnosis (n = 45), elevated ADHD symptoms (n = 70), autism and ADHD symptoms (n = 30), or neurotypical development (n = 361). Relationships between early parent report of autism- and ADHD-related behaviors, social-emotional and behavioral functioning, and caregiver experience and subsequent group designation were evaluated with adjusted linear regression models controlling for sex. Significant group differences were found in measures of autism-related behaviors, ADHD-related behaviors, externalizing and internalizing behaviors, and parent support needs (p < .0001). Pairwise comparisons indicated toddlers later identified with combined autism diagnosis and ADHD symptoms had higher levels of autism-related behaviors, externalizing and internalizing behaviors, and autism-related parent support needs compared to the other groups. Toddlers with subsequent elevated ADHD symptoms or combined autism diagnosis and ADHD symptoms exhibited similar levels of ADHD-related behaviors, while both groups displayed more ADHD-related behaviors than toddlers subsequently identified with autism or those with neither condition. In this community sample, toddlers for whomcombined autism diagnosis and ADHD symptoms were subsequently identified showed a distinct presentationcharacterized by higher early autism-related behaviors, broader behavioral concerns, and higherparent support needs. Presence of ADHD symptoms (alone or in combination with autism) was associated with higher parent-reported ADHD-related behaviors during toddlerhood. Results indicate that ADHD-related behaviors are manifest by toddlerhood, supporting screening for both autism and ADHD during early childhood.

Functional alterations of lateral temporal cortex for processing voice prosody in adults with autism spectrum disorder.

The human auditory system includes discrete cortical patches and selective regions for processing voice information, including emotional prosody. Although behavioral evidence indicates individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulties in recognizing emotional prosody, it remains understudied whether and how localized voice patches (VPs) and other voice-sensitive regions are functionally altered in processing prosody. This fMRI study investigated neural responses to prosodic voices in 25 adult males with ASD and 33 controls using voices of anger, sadness, and happiness with varying degrees of emotion. We used a functional region-of-interest analysis with an independent voice localizer to identify multiple VPs from combined ASD and control data. We observed a general response reduction to prosodic voices in specific VPs of left posterior temporal VP (TVP) and right middle TVP. Reduced cortical responses in right middle TVP were consistently correlated with the severity of autistic symptoms for all examined emotional prosodies. Moreover, representation similarity analysis revealed the reduced effect of emotional intensity in multivoxel activation patterns in left anterior superior temporal cortex only for sad prosody. These results indicate reduced response magnitudes to voice prosodies in specific TVPs and altered emotion intensity-dependent multivoxel activation patterns in adult ASDs, potentially underlying their socio-communicative difficulties.

Boardgame Sebagai Media Edukasi Bagi Orang Tua Terhadap Perkembangan Motorik Anak Penyandang Autisme di Kota Palembang

Autism is a developmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, behavior and learning ability. Autism is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Autism symptoms generally begin to appear at the age of 1.5 to 3 years, with obvious physical and mental decline compared to individuals who do not have autism. In this case, the main problem is parental guidance which is very influential, such as the lack of knowledge or understanding of parents about how to improve the development or ability of their children. This has a very bad impact, because it only makes autistic children feel not understood and accepted as they are. To overcome the problems in the developmental disorders of autistic children, a solution was found, namely the therapy given to each child with autism will indeed be more effective if it involves the active role of parents. Therefore, it is necessary to design a Visual Communication Social Campaign on the Role of Parents towards the Motoric Development of Children with Autism in Palembang City. In the process of designing media, the design thinking method is used which includes empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. With this design, it is expected to be an educational platform, especially the role of parents that can improve the motoric development of children with autism in Palembang City.

Synucleins As Biomarkers of Severity in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong disorder affecting children quite early in life, manifested as delays in communication and stereotypic behaviors. To date, it is diagnosed clinically using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (DSM-V) criteria due to the lack of biomarkers that can specifically denote the disorder. The role of synucleins in this context has been considered due to the increasing evidence of neurodegeneration in many autistic children. Synucleins are a group of soluble neuronal proteins primarily expressed in the central nervous system. They are of three types: α-, β-, and ɣ-synuclein. α-synuclein is involved in vesicle trafficking and release of neurotransmitters. There is no uniformity in the scientific community regarding their levels of autism, with few studies showing increasing levels and others to the contrary. Hence, the present study was conceived to analyze the levels of α-synuclein and β-synuclein in autistic children and to correlate with the disease severity. Objectives The main objectiveof the study was to assess the levels of α- and β-synuclein in autistic children of 2-8 years of age and to identify the correlation between the severity of core symptoms of autism and α- and β-synuclein levels. It is intended to assessthe possibility of using α- and β-synuclein/their ratioas a biomarker of the severity of autism. Materials and methods Plasma levels of α-synuclein and β-synuclein were measured in 160ASD childrenand 40 healthy age and sex-matched children by ELISA. Their symptom severity was assessed with CARS-2 ST and the Indian Scale of Autism Assessment (ISAA). Values of α- and β-synuclein were analyzed for correlation with the severity rating of ASD. Cut-off values ofα-synuclein and β-synuclein that discriminate the presence of autism and its severity were assessed using Jamovi 2.4.14 software. Results The results show that α-synuclein levels were significantly reduced (5.02 ± 0.586; range: 3.13-6.0 ng/ml) when compared with healthy controls (29.47 ± 18.62 ng/ml; range: 22.39- 36.56) with p < 0.001, and β-synuclein levels were elevated (1424 ng/ml ± 122; range: 1229-1616 ng/ml) when compared to control, though not significantly. Plasma levels of α-synuclein significantly correlate with disease severity with good diagnostic accuracy (86%), but β-synuclein levels did not correlate with severity. The fold changes of synucleins, especially the fold decrease in levels of α-synuclein, were discriminative for the diagnosis and severity with good sensitivity (93.6%), specificity (74.3%), positive predictive (92.6%), and negative predictive values (76.5%). The fold increase in β-synuclein did not have any significance in predicting the severity of autism. Conclusion The present study showed thatα-synuclein and β-synuclein were associated with ASD and can be used to assess its severity. A fold decrease inα-synuclein was found to have good discriminating value in differentiating the severity of autism. It may be of use especially in mild and high-functioning autism, when clinically distinguishing them may be difficult.

Spatiotemporal Eye Movement Dynamics Reveal Altered Face Prioritization in Early Visual Processing Among Children With Autism

BackgroundReduced social attention—looking at faces—is one of the most common manifestations of social difficulty in autism that is central to social development. Although reduced social attention is well characterized in autism, qualitative differences in how social attention unfolds across time remains unknown. MethodsWe used a computational modeling (i.e., hidden Markov modeling) approach to assess and compare the spatiotemporal dynamics of social attention in a large, well-characterized sample of children with autism (n = 280) and neurotypical children (n = 120) (ages 6–11) who completed 3 social eye-tracking assays at 3 longitudinal time points (baseline, 6 weeks, 24 weeks). ResultsOur analysis supported the existence of 2 common eye movement patterns that emerged across 3 eye-tracking assays. A focused pattern was characterized by small face regions of interest, which had high a probability of capturing fixations early in visual processing. In contrast, an exploratory pattern was characterized by larger face regions of interest, with a lower initial probability of fixation and more nonsocial regions of interest. In the context of social perception, children with autism showed significantly more exploratory eye movement patterns than neurotypical children across all social perception assays and all 3 longitudinal time points. Eye movement patterns were associated with clinical features of autism, including adaptive function, face recognition, and autism symptom severity. ConclusionsDecreased likelihood of precisely looking at faces early in social visual processing may be an important feature of autism that is associated with autism-related symptomology and may reflect less visual sensitivity to face information.

Age-related differences in delta-beta phase-amplitude coupling in autistic individuals

ObjectiveWe aim to investigate the relationship between the core symptoms of autism, anxiety levels, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) traits, and a non-autism-specific, neurophysiological metric, the Delta-Beta phase-amplitude coupling (PAC), extracted from the resting-state EEG for autistic and non-autistic populations across three different age groups (children, adolescents, and adults). MethodsWe analyze the eyes-open resting-state EEG of 371 individuals. We applied a phase de-biasing PAC algorithm expected to result in a more accurate PAC estimate than other PAC methodologies available in the literature. ResultsIn the adult group, we found a significant increase of the delta-beta PAC in the autistic subgroup who met the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2) Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADR-R) ADOS-2/ADI-R threshold compared to non-autistic individuals. The differences seem age-specific since we found no statistically significant differences in the children and adolescent populations. Moreover, we found a significant positive correlation with the restricted and repetitive behaviours score of the ADOS-2 diagnostic instrument and with ADHD hyperactivity/impulsivity in the entire autistic cohort. ConclusionsThe neurophysiological differences we found only in the autistic individuals that meet the thresholds also point out the need for future studies that look for autistic neurodiverse subgroups beyond age. SignificanceThe delta-beta debiasing PAC (dPAC) may potentially serve as a severity biomarker in the autistic population.

Neuroprotective effect of PPAR gamma agonist in rat model of autism spectrum disorder: Role of Wnt/β-catenin pathway

BackgroundThe clinical manifestation of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is linked to the disruption of fundamental neurodevelopmental pathways. Emerging evidences claim to have an upregulation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway while downregulation of PPARγ pathway in ASD. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of pioglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, in rat model of ASD. The study further explores the possible role of PPARγ and Wnt/β-catenin pathway and their interaction in ASD by using their modulators. Material and methodsPregnant female Wistar rats received 600 mg/kg of valproic acid (VPA) to induce autistic symptoms in pups. Pioglitazone (10 mg/kg) was used to evaluate neurobehaviors, relative mRNA expression of inflammatory (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α), apoptotic markers (Bcl-2, Bax, & Caspase-3) and histopathology (H&E, Nissl stain, Immunohistochemistry). Effect of pioglitazone was evaluated on Wnt pathway and 4 μg/kg dose of 6-BIO (Wnt modulator) was used to study the PPARγ pathway. ResultsASD model was established in pups as indicated by core autistic symptoms, increased neuroinflammation, apoptosis and histopathological neurodegeneration in cerebellum, hippocampus and amygdala. Pioglitazone significantly attenuated these alterations in VPA-exposed rats. The expression study results indicated an increase in key transcription factor, β-catenin in VPA-rats suggesting an upregulation of canonical Wnt pathway in them. Pioglitazone significantly downregulated the Wnt signaling by suppressing the expression of Wnt signaling-associated proteins. The inhibiting effect of Wnt pathway on PPARγ activity was indicated by downregulation of PPARγ-associated protein in VPA-exposed rats and those administered with 6-BIO. ConclusionIn the present study, upregulation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway was demonstrated in ASD rat model. Pioglitazone administration significantly ameliorated these symptoms potentially through its neuroprotective effect and its ability to downregulate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The antagonism between the PPARγ and Wnt pathway offers a promising therapeutic approach for addressing ASD.

Examining the Link Between Social Affect and Visual Exploration of Cute Stimuli in Autistic Children.

Baby schema refers to physical features perceived as cute, known to trigger attention, induce positive emotions, and prompt social interactions. Given the reduced visual attention to social stimuli observed in individuals on the autism spectrum, the current study examines whether the sensitivity to baby schema is also affected. We expected that the looking time towards cute-featured stimuli would vary with symptom severity levels and would be associated with social affect. Ninety-four children (31 typically developing; 63 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder - ASD) aged 20-83 months (M = 49.63, SD = 13.59) completed an eye-tracking visual exploration task. Autistic participants were separated into two groups based on symptom severity: children with high autism severity symptoms (HS ASD; N = 23) and low-moderate autism symptoms (LMS ASD; N = 40). Animals and neutral objects were simultaneously presented on the screen along with either human babies (condition 1) or adults (condition 2). The results indicated that visual attention oriented to cute-featured stimuli varied with autism symptom severity: only LMS and TD groups spend more time looking at cute-featured stimuli (babies; animals) than neutral objects. Moreover, children with higher severity in the social affect domain spent less time on the stimuli depicting cute than non-cute stimuli. These findings suggest that autism symptom severity and social skills are linked to variations in visual attention to cute stimuli. Implications of baby schema sensitivity are discussed in relation to the development of social competencies and play, responsiveness to robot-based interventions, as well as appraised relevance in autistic children.

The impact of probiotics on core autism symptoms - A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Background & AimsStudies have shown evidence of gut dysbiosis in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Various microbiome-modifying treatments, including probiotics, have been proposed. This review systematically assessed the evidence on the effects of probiotics on core autism symptoms in children with ASD. MethodsWe performed a comprehensive literature search in Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, PsycInfo, and clinical trial registries, up to March 2023, and updated on January 10, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of parallel-group and cross-over designs were eligible. The population included individuals below 20 years of age diagnosed with ASD. Trials evaluating the effects of probiotics (any strain or dose) compared to placebo, no treatment, or another intervention were included. The outcomes of interest included the core autism symptoms: deficits in social skills, communication skills, and restricted, repetitive behaviors. No language restrictions were applied. Studies were excluded if an additional active compound was administered. The risk of bias was assessed using the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2). This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023393000). ResultsIn total, 12 RCTs assessing 630 participants were included. A borderline significant beneficial effect of probiotics on core ASD symptoms was found (8 RCTs, mean difference -0.21; 95% CI –0.39 to -0.03). Subgroup analysis according to study type showed a significant positive effect in parallel group trials (6 RCTs, mean difference -0.26; 95% CI –0.48 to -0.05). The pooled effect estimates for the other outcomes didn’t reveal significant differences between the groups. Importantly, the risk of bias was high in nine studies. ConclusionsAvailable data do not provide high-quality evidence supporting the use of probiotics for ASD symptoms in children.