Developmental abnormalities of structural covariance networks of cortical thickness and surface area in autistic infants within the first 2 years

Converging evidence supports that a collection of brain regions is functionally or anatomically abnormal in autistic subjects. Structural covariance networks (SCNs) representing patterns of coordinated regional maturation are widely used to study abnormalities associated with neurodisorders. However, the possible developmental changes of SCNs in autistic individuals during the first 2 postnatal years, which features dynamic development and can potentially serve as biomarkers, remain unexplored. To fill this gap, for the first time, SCNs of cortical thickness and surface area were constructed and investigated in infants at high familial risk for autism and typically developing infants in this study. Group differences of SCNs emerge at 12 months of age in surface area. By 24 months of age, the autism group shows significantly increased integration, decreased segregation, and decreased small-worldness, compared with controls. The SCNs of surface area are deteriorated and shifted toward randomness in autistic infants. The abnormal brain regions changed during development, and the group differences of the left lateral occipital cortex become more prominent with age. These results indicate that autism has more significant influences on coordinated development of surface area than that of cortical thickness and the occipital cortex maybe an important biomarker of autism during infancy.

Automated summary

This study investigated the developmental changes of structural covariance networks (SCNs) in infants at high familial risk for autism. The results showed that group differences in SCNs of surface area emerged at 12 months, and by 24 months, the autism group exhibited increased integration, decreased segregation, and decreased small-worldness compared to controls. The SCNs of surface area in autistic infants deteriorated and shifted towards randomness. The left lateral occipital cortex showed more prominent group differences with age, suggesting it may be an important biomarker of autism during infancy.