scholarly journals 2091 Neurophysiological substrates and developmental sequelae of sensory differences in infants at high risk for autism spectrum disorder

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (S1) ◽  
pp. 22-22
Author(s):  
Tiffany G. Woynaroski ◽  
Cara Damiano ◽  
David Simon ◽  
Lisa Ibanez ◽  
Michael Murias ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Background: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show a broad range of unusual responses to sensory stimuli and experiences. It has been hypothesized that early differences in sensory responsiveness arise from atypical neural function and produce “cascading effects” on development across a number of domains, impacting social and communication skill, as well as broader development in children affected by ASD. A primary challenge to confirming these hypotheses is that ASD cannot be definitely diagnosed in the earliest stages of development (i.e., infancy). A potential solution is to prospectively follow infants at heightened risk for ASD based on their status as infant siblings of children who are diagnosed. We examined the developmental sequelae and possible neurophysiological substrates of three different patterns of sensory responsiveness—hyporesponsiveness (reduced or absent responding to sensory stimuli) and hyperresponsiveness (exaggerated responding to sensory stimuli), as well as sensory seeking (craving of or fascination with certain sensory experiences). Infants at high risk (HR) for ASD were compared with a control group of infants at relatively lower risk for ASD (LR; siblings of children with typical developmental histories). Objectives: Research questions included: (a) Do HR infants differ from LR infants in early sensory responsiveness?, (b) Does sensory responsiveness predict future ASD and related symptomatology? and (c) Is sensory responsiveness predicted by resting brain states? METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Methods: To answer these questions, we carried out a longitudinal correlational investigation in which 20 HR infants and 20 LR controls matched on sex and chronological age were followed over 18 months. At entry to the study, when infants were 18 months old, sensory responsiveness was measured using the Sensory Processing Assessment and the Sensory Experiences Questionnaire, and a number of putative neural signatures of early sensory differences were measured via resting state EEG. When infants were 24 and 36 months of age, ASD and related symptomatology was evaluated in a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Results: HR infants trended towards increased hyporesponsiveness and hyperresponsiveness and showed significantly elevated levels of sensory seeking relative to LR controls at 18 months of age. Both groups, furthermore, displayed a high degree of heterogeneity in sensory responsiveness. Atypical sensory responsiveness (increased hyperresponsiveness and/or hyporesponsiveness, as well as sensory seeking behavior) predicted several aspects of ASD and related symptomatology, including social, communication, and play skill, and was associated with differences in resting brain state, including metrics of oscillatory power, complexity, and connectivity, as well as hemispheric asymmetry. Moderation analyses revealed that several relations varied according to risk group, such that associations were stronger in magnitude in the HR Versus LR group. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Conclusion: Findings provide empirical support for the notion that early sensory responsiveness may produce cascading effects on development in infants at heightened risk for ASD. Differences in resting brain states may underlie atypical behavioral patterns of sensory responsiveness. From a clinical standpoint, results suggest that early sensory differences may be useful for predicting developmental trajectories, and be potentially important targets for early preventive intervention, in infants at risk for autism.

Autism ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 136236132094337
Author(s):  
Paul J Yoder ◽  
Wendy L Stone ◽  
Sarah R Edmunds

In this second of two primary papers, we examined moderators of treatment effects for younger siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders whose parents were taught to use a parent-implemented intervention called “Improving Parents As Communication Teachers”. Investigators randomized 97 high-risk siblings and their primary parent to either the Improving Parents As Communication Teachers or control group, used intent-to-treat analysis, and used assessors and coders who were blinded to group assignment. We hypothesized that a cumulative risk score (incorporating younger siblings’ sex, multiplex status, and behavioral risk) would moderate the effect of Improving Parents As Communication Teachers on younger siblings’ proximal skills related to their continuously measured communication challenges. Pre-intervention level of parents’ depressive symptoms was the proposed moderator of Improving Parents As Communication Teachers on parenting-related stress and parenting efficacy. In high-risk siblings with no additional risk factors (i.e. girls with only one older sibling with autism spectrum disorder and who score at low risk on an autism spectrum disorder screen), parental receipt of Improving Parents As Communication Teachers training had indirect effects on children’s expressive language ability or autism spectrum disorder diagnosis through earlier effects on high-risk siblings’ intentional communication or expressive vocabulary. “Improving Parents As Communication Teachers” intervention did not show moderated or total effects on parenting-related stress or parenting efficacy. Lay Abstract In this second of two primary papers, we examined two pre-intervention characteristics that might describe for whom a parent-implemented intervention, “Improving Parents As Communication Teachers,” worked. Investigators randomized 97 high-risk siblings and their primary parent to either the Improving Parents As Communication Teachers or control group, used intent-to-treat analysis, and used assessors and coders who were blinded to group assignment. We predicted that a combined risk score (incorporating young siblings’ sex, multiplex status, and behavioral risk) would describe the subgroup for whom Improving Parents As Communication Teachers affected the targeted skills related to reducing communication challenges. We also predicted that pre-intervention level of parents’ depressive symptoms would describe the parents whose parenting stress and effectiveness as parents would be improved by learning to use Improving Parents As Communication Teachers. In girls with only one older sibling with autism spectrum disorder and who scored at low risk on an autism spectrum disorder screen, parental receipt of Improving Parents As Communication Teachers training had an indirect effect on children’s expressive language ability or autism spectrum disorder diagnosis through earlier effects on high-risk siblings’ intentional communication or expressive vocabulary. We did not confirm our prediction regarding Improving Parents As Communication Teachers’ effect on parenting-related stress or sense of parenting effectiveness.


Author(s):  
Ana Gentil-Gutiérrez ◽  
José Luis Cuesta-Gómez ◽  
Paula Rodríguez-Fernández ◽  
Jerónimo Javier González-Bernal

(1) Background: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently have difficulties in processing sensory information, which is a limitation when participating in different contexts, such as school. The objective of the present study was to compare the sensory processing characteristics of children with ASD in the natural context of school through the perception of professionals in the field of education, in comparison with neurodevelopmental children (2) Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study as conducted with study population consisting of children between three and ten years old, 36 of whom were diagnosed with ASD and attended the Autismo Burgos association; the remaining 24 had neurotypical development. The degree of response of the children to sensory stimuli at school was evaluated using the Sensory Profile-2 (SP-2) questionnaire in its school version, answered by the teachers. (3) Results: Statistically significant differences were found in sensory processing patterns (p = 0.001), in sensory systems (p = 0.001) and in school factors (p = 0.001). Children with ASD who obtained worse results. (4) Conclusions: Children with ASD are prone to present sensory alterations in different contexts, giving nonadapted behavioral and learning responses.


Author(s):  
OJS Admin

Sensory issues and Repetitive Behaviors are the key features of Autism Disorder Syndrome (ASD). This is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by social communication impairments and the occurrence ofrestricted and repeated behavioral habits and desires, including irregular responses to sensory stimuli.


Author(s):  
Maria Gevezova ◽  
Danail Minchev ◽  
Iliana Pacheva ◽  
Yordan Sbirkov ◽  
Ralitsa Yordanova ◽  
...  

Background: Although Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is considered a heterogeneous neurological disease in childhood, a growing body of evidence associates it with mitochondrial dysfunction explaining the observed comorbidities. Introduction: The aim of this study is to identify variations in cellular bioenergetics and metabolism dependent on mitochondrial function in ASD patients and healthy controls using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We hypothesized that PBMCs may reveal the cellular pathology and provide evidence of bioenergetic and metabolic changes accompanying the disease. Method: PBMC from children with ASD and a control group of the same age and gender were isolated. All patients underwent an in-depth clinical evaluation. A well-characterized cohort of Bulgarian children was selected. Bioenergetic and metabolic studies of isolated PBMCs were performed with a Seahorse XFp analyzer. Result: Our data show that PBMCs from patients with ASD have increased respiratory reserve capacity (by 27.5%), increased maximal respiration (by 67%) and altered adaptive response to oxidative stress induced by DMNQ. In addition, we demonstrate а strong dependence on fatty acids and impaired ability to reprogram cell metabolism. The listed characteristics are not observed in the control group. These results can contribute to a better understanding of the underlying causes of ASD, which is crucial for selecting a successful treatment. Conclusion: The current study, for the first time, provides a functional analysis of cell bioenergetics and metabolic changes in a group of Bulgarian patients with ASD. It reveals physiological abnormalities that do not allow mitochondria to adapt and meet the increased energetic requirements of the cell. The link between mitochondria and ASD is not yet fully understood, but this may lead to the discovery of new approaches for nutrition and therapy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shorifa Shahjadi ◽  
Arif Salam Khan ◽  
Mesbah Uddin Ahmed

Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction and abnormal brain bioenergetics can cause autism.Cellular function impairment due to mitochondrial dysfunction may cause cognitive impairment, language deficits and abnormal energy metabolism in autism.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate biochemical evidence of the mitochondrial dysfunction by measuring blood ammonia, serum lactate, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatinine kinase (CK) in autism spectrum disorder children.Methods: This observational type of analytical study with case-control design was conducted in the Department of Physiology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Shahbag, Dhaka. For this study, a total number of 20 Subjects were randomly selected, among which 10 were apparently healthy subjects (control group-A) for comparison and 10 were diagnosed children with autism spectrum disorder (study group-B). 5ml venous blood was collected from both groups for analysis serum CK, AST, ALT, lactate and blood ammonia. Blood ammonia, serum lactate, AST, ALT and CK level were estimated in all children by standard laboratory method. Independent sample‘t’ test was used for statistical analysis. P value <0.05 was accepted as significant. The mean of all the measured biochemical variables in normal children were within normal ranges.Result: Blood ammonia, serum lactate, AST, CK were found significantly higher in autism spectrum disorder children in comparison to control Conclusion: From the result of this study it may be concluded that mitochondrial dysfunction occur in autistic spectrum disorder children .J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 26, No.1, April, 2017, Page 43-47


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Smily Jesupriya Victor Paulraj ◽  
Siti Nur Azalia Mohamad Salleh ◽  
Jayachandran Vetrayan

This study aimed to examine the parental occupation in pre and post-natal among Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and to identify the desired factors to work. The 124 samples ages between 26 to 52 years old including 59 males and 65 females from 5 difference rehabilitation centres were recruited. A self-rated parental occupation questionnaire was used to measure. Finding shows the parent who works in the high professionals and technicals has a high risk of having ASD. The factors which contribute to the desired parents to work in that field are earning more money, knowledge development and satisfying basic needs.© 2016. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.Keywords: Parental occupation; Autism spectrum disorder; Prenatal; Post-natal


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Schelinski ◽  
Katharina von Kriegstein

We tested the ability to recognise speech-in-noise and its relation to the ability to discriminate vocal pitch in adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developed adults (matched pairwise on age, sex, and IQ). Typically developed individuals understood speech in higher noise levels as compared to the ASD group. Within the control group but not within the ASD group, better speech-in-noise recognition abilities were significantly correlated with better vocal pitch discrimination abilities. Our results show that speech-in-noise recognition is restricted in people with ASD. We speculate that perceptual impairments such as difficulties in vocal pitch perception might be relevant in explaining these difficulties in ASD.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document