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Molecular Autism Feb 2022Autistic adults, particularly women, are more likely to experience chronic ill health than the general population. Central sensitivity syndromes (CSS) are a group of... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Autistic adults, particularly women, are more likely to experience chronic ill health than the general population. Central sensitivity syndromes (CSS) are a group of related conditions that are thought to include an underlying sensitisation of the central nervous system; heightened sensory sensitivity is a common feature. Anecdotal evidence suggests autistic adults may be more prone to developing a CSS. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of CSS diagnoses and symptoms in autistic adults, and to explore whether CSS symptoms were related to autistic traits, mental health, sensory sensitivity, or gender.
METHODS
The full sample of participants included 973 autistic adults (410 men, 563 women, mean age = 44.6) registered at the Netherlands Autism Register, who completed questionnaires assessing autistic traits, sensory sensitivity, CSS, physical and mental health symptoms. The reliability and validity of the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) in an autistic sample was established using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Chi analyses, independent t-tests, hierarchical regression and path analysis were used to analyse relationships between CSS symptoms, autistic traits, measures of mental health and wellbeing, sensory sensitivity, age and gender.
RESULTS
21% of participants reported one or more CSS diagnosis, and 60% scored at or above the clinical cut-off for a CSS. Autistic women were more likely to report a CSS diagnosis and experienced more CSS symptoms than men. Sensory sensitivity, anxiety, age and gender were significant predictors of CSS symptoms, with sensory sensitivity and anxiety fully mediating the relationship between autistic traits and CSS symptoms.
LIMITATIONS
Although this study included a large sample of autistic adults, we did not have a control group or a CSS only group. We also could not include a non-binary group due to lack of statistical power.
CONCLUSIONS
CSS 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.
Topics: Adult; Autistic Disorder; Female; Humans; Male; Netherlands; Reproducibility of Results; Surveys and Questionnaires; Syndrome
PubMed: 35164862
DOI: 10.1186/s13229-022-00486-6 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023This article presents a systematic review on autism care, diagnosis, and intervention based on mobile apps running on smartphones and tablets. Here, the term... (Review)
Review
This article presents a systematic review on autism care, diagnosis, and intervention based on mobile apps running on smartphones and tablets. Here, the term "intervention" means a carefully planned set of activities with the objective of improving autism symptoms. We guide our review on related studies using five research questions. First, who benefits the most from these mobile apps? Second, what are the primary purposes of these mobile apps? Third, what mechanisms have been incorporated in these mobiles apps to improve usability? Fourth, what guidelines have been used in the design and implementation of these mobile apps? Fifth, what theories and frameworks have been used as the foundation for these mobile apps to ensure the intervention effectiveness? As can be seen from these research questions, we focus on the usability and software development of the mobile apps. Informed by the findings of these research questions, we propose a taxonomy for the mobile apps and their users. The mobile apps can be categorized into autism support apps, educational apps, teacher training apps, parental support apps, and data collection apps. The individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are the primary users of the first two categories of apps. Teachers of children with ASD are the primary users of the teacher training apps. Parents are the primary users of the parental support apps, while individuals with ASD are usually the primary users of the data collection apps and clinicians and autism researchers are the beneficiaries. Gamification, virtual reality, and autism-specific mechanisms have been used to improve the usability of the apps. User-centered design is the most popular approach for mobile app development. Augmentative and alternative communication, video modeling, and various behavior change practices have been used as the theoretical foundation for intervention efficacy.
Topics: Child; Humans; Mobile Applications; Autistic Disorder; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Software Design; Smartphone
PubMed: 37514555
DOI: 10.3390/s23146260 -
Neuroscience Bulletin Dec 2018Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, along with repetitive and restrictive... (Review)
Review
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, along with repetitive and restrictive patterns of behaviors or interests. Normal brain development is crucial to behavior and cognition in adulthood. Abnormal brain development, such as synaptic and myelin dysfunction, is involved in the pathogenesis of ASD. Microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) are important in regulating the processes of brain development, including neuron production and synaptic formation, as well as myelination. Increasing evidence suggests that the level of MAPs are changed in autistic patients and mouse models of ASD. Here, we discuss the roles of MAPs.
Topics: Animals; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autistic Disorder; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Neurons; Social Behavior
PubMed: 29936584
DOI: 10.1007/s12264-018-0246-2 -
Autism : the International Journal of... Jan 2021Latino children experience delays in access to diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Primary care-based screening of all children for autism spectrum...
Latino children experience delays in access to diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Primary care-based screening of all children for autism spectrum disorder and referring them for services may reduce racial/ethnic differences and improve care. REAL-START, a yearlong screening intervention, was effective in increasing screening for autism spectrum disorder and general developmental delays, increasing therapy referrals, and shortening time for developmental assessment in primary care clinics with Latino patients.
Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autistic Disorder; Child; Child, Preschool; Hispanic or Latino; Humans; Mass Screening; Primary Health Care; Referral and Consultation
PubMed: 32921144
DOI: 10.1177/1362361320957461 -
The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics 2023The increasing incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common finding of many studies. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment approaches for ASD can provide...
BACKGROUND
The increasing incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common finding of many studies. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment approaches for ASD can provide favourable clinical outcomes. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting the age at diagnosis, in children with ASD.
METHODS
Two hundred and two cases diagnosed with ASD were included in the study, according to the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, at the Mersin City Training and Research Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatry outpatient clinics, between April 2021 and August 2022. Clinical features and sociodemographic data that may be related to early diagnosis were investigated.
RESULTS
The mean age at diagnosis was 36.76 ± 15.30 months. In 71.3% of cases parents were the first to suspect that children were developmentally different. In 38.1% of the cases, at least one of the parents denied the symptoms and evaluated their child`s development as age-appropriate. It was found that 32.7% of the cases evaluated by pediatricians and 32.5% of cases evaluated by family physicians, were referred to child psychiatry examination. The present study revealed that higher educational level of the father and the middlehigh socioeconomic status, were associated with early diagnosis. There was also a positive correlation between paternal age and age at diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS
The age at diagnosis is below the target level for early diagnosis. Studies should focus on increasing awareness of health professionals and parents about ASD.
Topics: Child; Adolescent; Humans; Infant; Child, Preschool; Autistic Disorder; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Parents; Early Diagnosis; Child Development
PubMed: 37853969
DOI: 10.24953/turkjped.2023.233 -
PLoS Computational Biology Mar 2020Autism is still diagnosed on the basis of subjective assessments of elusive notions such as interpersonal contact and social reciprocity. We propose to decompose...
Autism is still diagnosed on the basis of subjective assessments of elusive notions such as interpersonal contact and social reciprocity. We propose to decompose reciprocal social interactions in their basic computational constituents. Specifically, we test the assumption that autistic individuals disregard information regarding the stakes of social interactions when adapting to others. We compared 24 adult autistic participants to 24 neurotypical (NT) participants engaging in a repeated dyadic competitive game against artificial agents with calibrated reciprocal adaptation capabilities. Critically, participants were framed to believe either that they were competing against somebody else or that they were playing a gambling game. Only the NT participants did alter their adaptation strategy when they held information regarding others' competitive incentives, in which case they outperformed the AS group. Computational analyses of trial-by-trial choice sequences show that the behavioural repertoire of autistic people exhibits subnormal flexibility and mentalizing sophistication, especially when information regarding opponents' incentives was available. These two computational phenotypes yield 79% diagnosis classification accuracy and explain 62% of the severity of social symptoms in autistic participants. Such computational decomposition of the autistic social phenotype may prove relevant for drawing novel diagnostic boundaries and guiding individualized clinical interventions in autism.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Autistic Disorder; Computational Biology; Computer Simulation; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Reward; Social Behavior; Task Performance and Analysis; Young Adult
PubMed: 32176684
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007700 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) May 2020In a special issue that focuses on complex presentations related to Autism, we ask the question in this editorial whether an Autism Spectrum Condition without complexity...
In a special issue that focuses on complex presentations related to Autism, we ask the question in this editorial whether an Autism Spectrum Condition without complexity is a disorder, or whether it represents human diversity? Much research into Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASCs) over the years has focused on comparisons between neuro-typical people and people with Autism Spectrum Conditions. These comparisons have tended to draw attention to 'deficits' in cognitive abilities and descriptions of behaviours that are characterised as unwanted. Not surprisingly, this is reflected in the classification systems from the World Health Organisation and the American Psychiatric Association. Public opinion about ASC may be influenced by presentations in the media of those with ASC who also have intellectual disability. Given that diagnostic systems are intended to help us better understand conditions in order to seek improved outcomes, we propose a more constructive approach to descriptions that uses more positive language, and balances descriptions of deficits with research finding of strengths and differences. We propose that this will be more helpful to individuals on the Autism Spectrum, both in terms of individual self-view, but also in terms of how society views Autism Spectrum Conditions more positively. Commentary has also been made on guidance that has been adjusted for people with ASC in relation to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autistic Disorder; Betacoronavirus; COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections; Disabled Persons; Humans; Mass Media; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Public Opinion; SARS-CoV-2; Self Concept
PubMed: 32413984
DOI: 10.3390/medicina56050233 -
Nature Medicine Oct 2023Researchers have developed a screening tool for autism that uses computer vision and machine learning to analyze autism-related behaviors – but greater reliability and...
Researchers have developed a screening tool for autism that uses computer vision and machine learning to analyze autism-related behaviors – but greater reliability and robust validation will be needed if such tools are to be used in primary care settings.
Topics: Humans; Autistic Disorder; Phenotype
PubMed: 37798439
DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02557-4 -
Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Nov 2023ATRX is an ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling protein with essential roles in safeguarding genome integrity and modulating gene expression. Deficiencies in this protein...
BACKGROUND
ATRX is an ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling protein with essential roles in safeguarding genome integrity and modulating gene expression. Deficiencies in this protein cause ATR-X syndrome, a condition characterized by intellectual disability and an array of developmental abnormalities, including features of autism. Previous studies demonstrated that deleting ATRX in mouse forebrain excitatory neurons postnatally resulted in male-specific memory deficits, but no apparent autistic-like behaviours.
METHODS
We generated mice with an earlier embryonic deletion of ATRX in forebrain excitatory neurons and characterized their behaviour using a series of memory and autistic-related paradigms.
RESULTS
We found that mutant mice displayed a broader spectrum of impairments, including fear memory, decreased anxiety-like behaviour, hyperactivity, as well as self-injurious and repetitive grooming. Sex-specific alterations were also observed, including male-specific aggression, sensory gating impairments, and decreased social memory.
CONCLUSIONS
Collectively, the findings indicate that early developmental abnormalities arising from ATRX deficiency in forebrain excitatory neurons contribute to the presentation of fear memory deficits as well as autistic-like behaviours.
Topics: Female; Mice; Male; Animals; Autistic Disorder; Neurons; Memory Disorders; Cognition
PubMed: 37957569
DOI: 10.1186/s11689-023-09508-7 -
International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2021Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) remains one of the most detrimental neurodevelopmental conditions in society today. Common symptoms include diminished social and... (Review)
Review
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) remains one of the most detrimental neurodevelopmental conditions in society today. Common symptoms include diminished social and communication ability. Investigations on autism etiology remain largely ambiguous. Previous studies have highlighted exposure to lead (Pb) may play a role in ASD. In addition, lead has been shown to be one of the most prevalent metal exposures associated with neurological deficits. A semi-systematic review was conducted using public databases in order to evaluate the extent of lead's role in the etiology of autism. This review examines the relationship between autistic comorbid symptoms-such as deterioration in intelligence scores, memory, language ability, and social interaction-and lead exposure. Specifically, the mechanisms of action of lead exposure, including changes within the cholinergic, dopaminergic, glutamatergic, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic systems, are discussed. The goal of this review is to help illustrate the connections between lead's mechanistic interference and the possible furthering of the comorbidities of ASD. Considerations of the current data and trends suggest a potential strong role for lead in ASD.
Topics: Autistic Disorder; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Intelligence; Intelligence Tests; Language Development; Lead; Lead Poisoning, Nervous System; Memory; Social Interaction
PubMed: 33561959
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041637