Yoga

2021 ◽  
pp. 361-390
Author(s):  
Kankan Gulati ◽  
Praerna H. Bhargav ◽  
Shalu Elizabeth Abraham ◽  
Hemant Bhargav
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Relaxation Techniques ◽  
Yoga Therapy ◽  
Gross Motor Skills

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder, manifests as impairment in social communication an interaction with restrictive and repetitive patterns of behaviour. Yoga therapy, a mind-body intervention, employs a multi-dimensional approach to reduce psychological distress and bring balance and harmony at the levels of body, breath and mind through physical postures, breathing practices, chanting, and relaxation techniques, respectively, thus enhancing overall well-being. Various yoga studies have shown promise in improving symptoms of ASD by improvement in sensory processing, gross motor skills, balance and coordination, cognition, imitation skills, and the ability to connect in relationships. This chapter aims to provide an overview of the potential role of Yoga therapy in the management of ASDs with emphasis on future standardized yoga trials with robust methodology and long-term follow-ups to establish the clinical utility of Yoga therapy for the same. Also, a tentative yoga lifestyle module for ASD with necessary contra-indications and practical tips has been provided.

scholarly journals The long-term outcomes of a cohort of adolescents and adults from Greece with autism spectrum disorder

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaia Sevaslidou ◽  
Christina Chatzidimitriou ◽  
Grigoris Abatzoglou
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Psychiatric Clinic ◽  
International Studies ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Adolescents And Adults

Abstract Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Although it is a lifelong condition, treatments and services can improve a person’s symptoms and ability to function. Research on the outcomes in adolescence and adult life and on the associated factors is limited. The objective of the present study is to examine the outcomes as well as the contributing factors in adolescents and adults diagnosed with ASD in Greece. Method Participants included 69 parents of individuals diagnosed with ASD in their childhood. Interviews were conducted with the parents, and archived medical and psychological records were collected. Participants had been diagnosed in the Child and Adolescent Unit of the 3d Psychiatric Clinic of the AHEPA Hospital in Thessaloniki, Greece between 1990 and 2007. Results The overall outcome was poor in most of cases (22.6% “very poor” and 24.5% “poor”); however, a substantial number had “good” (18.9%) or “very good” (22.6%) outcomes. Severity of initial diagnosis (χ2 = 65.956, DF = 8, p < 0.001), presence of comorbid disorders in childhood (χ2 = 14,085, DF = 4, p < 0.007), current comorbidity (χ2 = 15.834, DF = 4, p = 0.003), and certain developmental milestones [early acquisition of language skills (χ2 = 16.991, DF = 8, p = 0.030)] were positively correlated with adult outcomes. Conclusions Overall outcomes in the Greek sample were consistent with international studies. It seems that important contributing factors are comorbidity and especially overall lower cognitive function (intellectual disability), but further research is needed as well as enhanced adult-oriented research and intervention programs.

scholarly journals Role of Oligodendrocytes and Myelin in the Pathophysiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 951
Author(s):  
Alma Y. Galvez-Contreras ◽  
David Zarate-Lopez ◽  
Ana L. Torres-Chavez ◽  
Oscar Gonzalez-Perez
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Interpersonal Communication ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Abnormal Development ◽  
Matter Production

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an early neurodevelopmental disorder that involves deficits in interpersonal communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors. Although ASD pathophysiology is still uncertain, alterations in the abnormal development of the frontal lobe, limbic areas, and putamen generate an imbalance between inhibition and excitation of neuronal activity. Interestingly, recent findings suggest that a disruption in neuronal connectivity is associated with neural alterations in white matter production and myelination in diverse brain regions of patients with ASD. This review is aimed to summarize the most recent evidence that supports the notion that abnormalities in the oligodendrocyte generation and axonal myelination in specific brain regions are involved in the pathophysiology of ASD. Fundamental molecular mediators of these pathological processes are also examined. Determining the role of alterations in oligodendrogenesis and myelination is a fundamental step to understand the pathophysiology of ASD and identify possible therapeutic targets.

scholarly journals Pathogenetical and Neurophysiological Features of Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Phenomena and Diagnoses

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1588
Author(s):  
Yunho Jin ◽  
Jeonghyun Choi ◽  
Seunghoon Lee ◽  
Jong Won Kim ◽  
Yonggeun Hong
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Neural Development ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Deficits ◽  
Restricted Interests ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Comorbidities ◽  
The Brain

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is accompanied by social deficits, repetitive and restricted interests, and altered brain development. The majority of ASD patients suffer not only from ASD itself but also from its neuropsychiatric comorbidities. Alterations in brain structure, synaptic development, and misregulation of neuroinflammation are considered risk factors for ASD and neuropsychiatric comorbidities. Electroencephalography has been developed to quantitatively explore effects of these neuronal changes of the brain in ASD. The pineal neurohormone melatonin is able to contribute to neural development. Also, this hormone has an inflammation-regulatory role and acts as a circadian key regulator to normalize sleep. These functions of melatonin may play crucial roles in the alleviation of ASD and its neuropsychiatric comorbidities. In this context, this article focuses on the presumable role of melatonin and suggests that this hormone could be a therapeutic agent for ASD and its related neuropsychiatric disorders.

scholarly journals The effect of being imitated on empathy for pain in adults with high-functioning autism: Disturbed self–other distinction leads to altered empathic responding

Autism ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 712-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lize De Coster ◽  
Jan R Wiersema ◽  
Eliane Deschrijver ◽  
Marcel Brass
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
High Functioning Autism ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
High Functioning ◽  
Empathy For Pain ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Motor Representations

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is associated with problems in empathy. Recent research suggests that impaired control over self–other overlap based on motor representations in individuals with autism spectrum disorder might underlie these difficulties. In order to investigate the relationship of self–other distinction and empathy for pain in high-functioning autism and matched controls, we manipulated self–other distinction by using a paradigm in which participants are either imitated or not by a hand on a computer screen. A strong pain stimulus is then inflicted on the observed hand. Behavioral and physiological results in this study showed that overall affective responses while watching pain movies were the same in adults with high-functioning autism as in controls. Furthermore, controls showed higher affective responding after being imitated during the whole experiment, replicating previous studies. Adults with high-functioning autism, however, showed increased empathic responses over time after being imitated. Further exploratory analyses suggested that while affective responding was initially lower after being imitated compared to not being imitated, affective responding in the latter part of the experiment was higher after being imitated. These results shed new light on empathic abilities in high-functioning autism and on the role of control over self–other representational sharing.

scholarly journals Research Progress in Vitamin A and Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Zhonghui Liu ◽  
Jingyu Wang ◽  
Qu Xu ◽  
Qin Hong ◽  
Jiansheng Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
The Past ◽  
Process Memory ◽  
The Relationship

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder. Over the past few decades, many studies have investigated the effects of VA supplementation in ASD patients and the relationship between vitamin A (VA) levels and ASD. VA is an essential micronutrient that plays an important role in various systems and biological processes in the form of retinoic acid (RA). Recent studies have shown that serum VA concentration is negatively correlated with the severity of ASD. The lack of VA during pregnancy or early fetal development can affect brain development and lead to long-term or even permanent impairment in the learning process, memory formation, and cognitive function. In addition, VA deficiency has been reported to have a major impact on the gastrointestinal function of children with ASD, while VA supplementation has been shown to improve the symptoms of ASD to a certain extent. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the relationship between VA and ASD.

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