Tactile cortical responses and association with tactile reactivity in young children on the autism spectrum
ConclusionsOur findings suggest that electrophysiological somatosensory cortex processing measures may be indices of “real-world” tactile reactivity in early childhood autism. Together, these findings advance our understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying tactile reactivity in early childhood autism and, in the clinical context, may have therapeutic implications. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - April 1, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Neuroanatomy and behavior in mice with a haploinsufficiency of AT-rich interactive domain 1B (ARID1B) throughout development
ConclusionsThis study represents a full validation and investigation of a novel model ofArid1b+/ − haploinsufficiency throughout development and highlights the importance of examining both sexes throughout development in NDDs. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - March 23, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
A profile and review of findings from the Early Markers for Autism study: unique contributions from a population-based case –control study in California
ConclusionsResults across EMA studies support the importance of the prenatal and neonatal periods in ASD etiology, and provide evidence for the role of the maternal immune response during pregnancy. Future directions for EMA, and the field of ASD in general, include interrogation of mechanistic pathways and examination of combined effects of exposures. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - March 18, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Hippocampal neurons isolated from rats subjected to the valproic acid model mimic in vivo synaptic pattern: evidence of neuronal priming during early development in autism spectrum disorders
ConclusionsOur study suggests microglial role is not determinant for developing neuronal alterations or counteracting neuronal outcome in the hippocampus and highlights the crucial role of hippocampal neurons and structural plasticity in the establishment of the synaptic alterations in the VPA rat model. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - March 6, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults with autism: a survey study across three countries
ConclusionsResults highlight the psychological burden of the pandemic on adults with autism and shed light on how to support them during this COVID-19 pandemic, which is especially important now that the pandemic is likely to have a prolonged course. There is a need for accessible, affordable (continued) support from health services. Guidance may focus on the maintenance of a social network, and adjusting routines to the rapid ongoing changes. Finally, we may learn from the COVID-19 pandemic-related changes experienced as pleasant by adults with autism to build a more autism-friendly society post-pandemic. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - March 3, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Evaluating the latent structure of the non-social domain of autism in autistic adults
ConclusionsThis study provided evidence for the multidimensional nature of the non-social domain of autism. Given only two of the four criteria within the non-social domain need to be endorsed for a diagnosis of autism, there is room for substantial variation across individuals, who will have a unique profile within the non-social domain. The results have implications for our understanding of the heterogeneous nature of autistic traits, as well as for how we conceptualise autism as a diagnostic category. This is important for the provision of diagnosis and support within research and clinical practice. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - March 3, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Improving the measurement of alexithymia in autistic adults: a psychometric investigation and refinement of the twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale
ConclusionsThese results indicate the potential of the TAS-8 as a psychometrically robust tool to measure alexithymia in both autistic and non-autistic adults. A free online score calculator has been created to facilitate the use of norm-referenced TAS-8 latent trait scores in research applications (available athttp://asdmeasures.shinyapps.io/TAS8_Score). (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - March 2, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Towards robust and replicable sex differences in the intrinsic brain function of autism
ConclusionsAtypical cross-hemispheric interactions are neurobiologically relevant to autism. They likely result from the combination of sex-dependent and sex-independent factors with a differential effect across functional cortical networks. Systematic assessments of the factors contributing to replicability are needed and necessitate coordinated large-scale data collection across studies. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - March 1, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Increased aperiodic gamma power in young boys with Fragile X Syndrome is associated with better language ability
ConclusionsResting-state EEG measures from this study in young boys with FXS identified similar increases in gamma power previously reported in adults and mouse models. The observed positive association between resting state aperiodic gamma power and language development supports hypotheses that alterations in some EEG measures may reflect ongoing compensatory mechanisms. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - February 25, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Sleep disorders in rare genetic syndromes: a meta-analysis of prevalence and profile
ConclusionsDiffering prevalence rates between types of sleep disorder suggest differing causal mechanisms, such as cranio-facial morphology in Down and Prader –Willi syndromes and the build-up of mucopolysaccharides in MPS disorders. Priorities for clinical assessment and intervention for sleep disorders are discussed. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - February 25, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Distinct, dosage-sensitive requirements for the autism-associated factor CHD8 during cortical development
ConclusionsTogether, these findings identify important, dosage-sensitive functions for CHD8 in p53 pathway repression, neurodevelopmental gene expression and neural progenitor fate in the embryonic neocortex. We conclude that brain development is acutely sensitive to reduced CHD8 expression and that the varying sensitivities of different progenitor populations and cellular processes to CHD8 dosage result in non-linear effects on gene transcription and brain growth.Shaun Hurley, Conor Mohan and Philipp Suetterlin have contributed equally to this work. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - February 24, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Oxytocin-induced increase in N , N -dimethylglycine and time course of changes in oxytocin efficacy for autism social core symptoms
ConclusionOur findings demonstrate an association ofN,N-dimethylglycine upregulation with the time-course change in the efficacy of oxytocin on autistic social deficits. Furthermore, the current findings support the involvement of theN-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and neural plasticity to the time-course change in oxytocin ’s efficacy.Trial registration: A multi-center, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, double-blind, confirmatory trial of intranasal oxytocin in participants with autism spectrum disorders (the date registered: 30 October 2014; UMIN Clinical Trials Registry:https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr...
Source: Molecular Autism - February 23, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Modulation of atypical brain activation during executive functioning in autism: a pharmacological MRI study of tianeptine
ConclusionsOur findings provide the first evidence that tianeptine can shift atypical brain activation during EF in adults with ASD towards control levels. Future studies should investigate whether this shift in the biology of ASD is maintained after prolonged treatment with tianeptine and whether it improves clinical symptoms. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - February 19, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Is social camouflaging associated with anxiety and depression in autistic adults?
ConclusionsThe findings suggest that camouflaging is a risk factor for mental health problems in autistic adults without intellectual disability, regardless of gender. We also identified levels of camouflaging at which risk of mental health problems is highest, suggesting clinicians should be particularly aware of mental health problems in those who score at or above these levels. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - February 16, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Analysis of common genetic variation and rare CNVs in the Australian Autism Biobank
ConclusionsWe report on common genetic variation and rare CNVs within the AAB. Prediction analyses using currently available GWAS summary statistics are largely consistent with expected relationships based on published studies. As the size of publicly-available GWAS summary statistics grows, the phenotypic depth of the AAB dataset will provide many opportunities for analyses of autism profiles and co-occurring conditions, including when integrated with other omics datasets generated from AAB biospecimens (blood, urine, stool, hair). (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - February 10, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
