Deep phenotyping reveals movement phenotypes in mouse neurodevelopmental models
ConclusionsOur automated pipeline for deep phenotyping successfully captures model-specific deviations in adaptation and movement as well as differences in the detailed structure of behavioral dynamics. The reported deficits indicate that deep phenotyping constitutes a robust set of ASD symptoms that may be considered for implementation in clinical settings as quantitative diagnosis criteria. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - March 12, 2022 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Phenotypic differences between female and male individuals with suspicion of autism spectrum disorder
ConclusionOur results do not suggest the need for new or altered diagnostic algorithms for females with ASD. Although we identified some phenotypic differences between females and males, the existing diagnostic tools seem to sufficiently capture the core autistic features in both groups. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - March 7, 2022 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Pharmacological and dietary-supplement treatments for autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
ConclusionsSome medications could improve core symptoms, although this could be likely secondary to the improvement of associated symptoms. Evidence on their efficacy and safety is preliminary; therefore, routine prescription of medications for the core symptoms cannot be recommended.Trial registration PROSPERO-ID CRD42019125317. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - March 4, 2022 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Two neuroanatomical subtypes of males with autism spectrum disorder revealed using semi-supervised machine learning
ConclusionsThe two distinct neuroanatomical subtypes of ASD validated by other data modalities not only adds reliability of the result, but also bridges from brain phenomenology to clinical behavior. The current neurosubtypes of ASD could facilitate understanding the neuropathology of this disorder and could be potentially used to improve clinical decision-making process and optimize treatment. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - February 23, 2022 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Nonshared environmental factors in the aetiology of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions: a monozygotic co-twin control study
ConclusionsThe findings support previous research by indicating an association between exposure to perinatal and postnatal risks and subsequent NDCs within twin pairs and suggest that autism may be especially linked to accumulative early environmental risks. The findings are potentially important for developmental outcomes prognoses and may inform targeted prevention and early interventions. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - February 19, 2022 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Autism and chronic ill health: an observational study of symptoms and diagnoses of central sensitivity syndromes in autistic adults
ConclusionsCSS diagnoses and symptoms appear to be very common in the autistic population. Increased awareness of an association between autism and central sensitisation should inform clinicians and guide diagnostic practice, particularly for women where CSS are common and autism under recognised. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - February 14, 2022 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
A proof-of-concept study of growth hormone in children with Phelan –McDermid syndrome
ConclusionsOverall, findings are promising and indicate the need for larger studies with rhGH in PMS.Trial registration NCT04003207. Registered July 1, 2019,https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04003207. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - January 29, 2022 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Friend matters: sex differences in social language during autism diagnostic interviews
ConclusionsAutistic girls used significantly more social words than boys during a diagnostic assessment —despite being matched on age, IQ, and both parent- and clinician-rated autism symptom severity. Sex differences in linguistic markers of social phenotype in autism are especially important in light of the late or missed diagnoses that disproportionately affect autistic girls. Specifically, height ened talk about social topics could complicate autism referral and diagnosis when non-clinician observers expect a male-typical pattern of reduced social focus, which autistic girls may not always exhibit. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - January 10, 2022 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Correction to: Visual attention and inhibitory control in children, teenagers and adults with autism without intellectual disability: results of oculomotor tasks from a 2-year longitudinal follow-up study (InFoR)
(Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - January 5, 2022 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Delineating the autistic phenotype in children with neurofibromatosis type 1
ConclusionsFindings provide strong support for elevated autistic behaviours in children with NF1. While these behaviours were relatively independent of other NF1 comorbidities, the importance of taking broader child characteristics into consideration when interpreting data from autism-specific measures in this population is highlighted. Social communication deficits appear similar to those observed in idiopathic autism and are coupled with a unique RRB profile comprising prominent IS behaviours. This autistic phenotype and its relationship to common NF1 comorbidities such as anxiety and executive dysfunction will be import...
Source: Molecular Autism - January 4, 2022 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Rescuing epileptic and behavioral alterations in a Dravet syndrome mouse model by inhibiting eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K)
ConclusionsOur data indicate that pharmacological inhibition of eEF2K could represent a novel therapeutic intervention for treating epilepsy and related comorbidities in the Dravet syndrome. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - January 3, 2022 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Autism screening at 18 months of age: a comparison of the Q-CHAT-10 and M-CHAT screeners
ConclusionsLimitations of the currently recommended two-stage M-CHAT-R/F at the 18-month visit include low sensitivity with minimal balancing benefit of improved PPV from the follow-up interview. Ordinal, rather than dichotomous, scoring of autism screening items appears to be beneficial at this age. The Q-CHAT-10-O with ordinal scoring shows advantages to M-CHAT-R/F with half the number of items, no requirement for a follow-up interview, and improved sensitivity. Yet, Q-CHAT-10-O sensitivity is less than M-CHAT-R (without follow-up) and specificity is less than the two-stage procedure. Such limitations are consistent with...
Source: Molecular Autism - January 3, 2022 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Preference for biological motion is reduced in ASD: implications for clinical trials and the search for biomarkers
ConclusionsBiological motion preference elicits small-to-medium-sized case –control effects, but individual differences do not strongly relate to core social autism associated symptomatology. We interpret this as an autistic difference (as opposed to a deficit) likely manifest in social brain regions. The extent to which this is an innate difference present from birth an d central to the autistic phenotype, or the consequence of a life lived with ASD, is unclear. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - December 15, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Childhood diagnoses in individuals identified as autistics in adulthood
ConclusionA majority of those with an adult autism diagnosis had no records of having received any of the investigated diagnoses in childhood. In these cases, the late autism diagnosis is therefore unlikely to be explained by either misdiagnosis or overshadowing. This result is at odds with the prevailing notion that autistic symptoms tend to diminish with age. Therefore, further research is warranted to examine how and if early signs of autism may have manifested among these individuals, and how similar they are to autistic people diagnosed earlier in their development. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - December 13, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Examining the effect of a wearable, anxiety detection technology on improving the awareness of anxiety signs in autism spectrum disorder: a pilot randomized controlled trial
ConclusionsAlthough these results are limited by the relatively small sample size, they support the feasibility of using a wearable device and real-time feedback to improve anxiety symptom awareness.Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02160691, registration date: 06/05/2014. (Source: Molecular Autism)
Source: Molecular Autism - November 14, 2021 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research