Autism: 'different developmental brain chemistry'

Featured Article Academic Journal Main Category: Autism Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience Article Date: 01 Aug 2013 - 4:00 PDT

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Researchers have discovered that children with autism can be set apart from those with other developmental disorders through differences in chemical changes in the brain.

The study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, reveals that gray matter chemical changes that occur between the ages of 3 and 10 years differentiate children with autism spectrum disorder from those with idiopathic (an unknown cause) developmental disorder.

Researchers from the University of Washington, Seattle, analyzed three groups of children in different age groups: one group at age 3 to 4 years, one at 6 to 7 years and one at 9 to 10 years.

All groups had a mix of children with autism spectrum disorder, developmental disorder and "typical development."

The participants with autism spectrum disorder and idiopathic developmental disorder were analyzed using data from proton magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), while those with typical development were assessed using cross-sectional data.

Between 3 and 10 years of age there were specific differences in rates of change in the brain chemicals cerebral gray matter N-acetylaspartate, choline and creatine.

The study authors explain:

"The results from our study suggest that a dynamic brain developmental process underlies autism spectrum disorder, whereas the children with developmental disorder exhibited a different, more static developmental pattern of brain chemical changes."

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Autism: 'different developmental brain chemistry'