Amygdala overgrowth in autism?
The amygdala - thought to be the brain area acting as a central processor for emotions and emotional behavior - may have an important relationship with the development of autism according to a new study from the Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS) Network. Researchers used brain scanning to plot the size of the amygdala in various groups of infants including those at high-risk of developing autism who eventually did get a diagnosis. They reported that this group showed typical amygdala size at around 6 months of age. After 12 months of age however, the autism group had a significantly increased amygdala volume compared to control measurements. The possibility of “an age- and disorder-specific pattern of cascading brain changes preceding autism diagnosis” was the conclusion.
Diet therapies for autism? Second meta-analysis in 6 months says promising
Dietary intervention for autism, including but not limited to the use of a gluten- and/or casein-free diet, received a second boost this month as yet another meta-analysis noted their promise in potentially ameliorating some of the core symptoms of autism. A PROSPERO registered analysis of the cumulative data so far suggested that the gluten-free diet in particular, may positively impact on aspects such as social behaviors. Further, more controlled studies are needed to corroborate the research so far and, importantly, provide further details about potential best responders and accompanying biological markers.
Focusing on the biology of regressive autism
Regression in previously acquired skills is now noted as a hallmark feature in a significant proportion of people diagnosed with autism. A new study out of China adds to the research literature looking at potential biological correlates to such regressive autism by suggesting that various measurements around amyloid precursor protein (APP) might provide some new research directions. APP has a more classic relationship with neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease but its complex biochemistry has been noted in other conditions including autism. Comparing APP metabolites in non-regressive autistic children and non-autistic children, researchers reported a possible ‘signal’ in regressive autism related to total secreted amyloid precursor protein and secreted amyloid precursor protein-α levels. Further work is needed to replicate such findings.
Paediatric stroke raises the risk of subsequent autism diagnosis
“An increased risk of autism was seen after paediatric ischemic stroke, particularly in individuals with comorbid epilepsy.” That was the headline finding from a recent study out of Sweden looking at the medical records of over a thousand people under 18 years of age who have experienced an ischemic stroke. The findings could not be explained by other potentially important variables such as being born preterm or being small for gestational age. The authors concluded that more work needs to be done on mechanisms including the effects of stroke on psychosocial functioning. Such work also adds to other findings linking epilepsy and seizure disorders with a greater risk of an autism diagnosis.
Evidence stacking up for N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) across a range of conditions
There is promising evidence that supplementation with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) can help manage behaviors across a range of diagnostic labels including autism, schizophrenia, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. That was the conclusion reached in a new review of NAC, the acetylated precursor of the amino acid L-cysteine. NAC has been trialled under experimental conditions across a wide range of behavioral and psychiatric labels with inconsistent results recorded in some cases. The data in relation to autism, particularly those with more profound autism, has however been more positive, with supplementation showing potential effects in relation to relieving irritability and add-on behaviors such as hyperactivity. NAC use also led to a lowering of doses of antipsychotic medicines in some trials involving autistic people.
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