Article
Clinical Neurology
Yilu Zhao, Li Yang, Gaolang Gong, Qingjiu Cao, Jing Liu
Summary: The study revealed atypical white matter patterns in ASD, ADHD, and other NDDs. Shared microstructural abnormalities in the splenium of the CC were possibly present in ASD and ADHD. No consistent abnormalities were detected in specific learning disorder, motor disorder, or communication disorder.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Review
Ergonomics
Kate Wilmut, Catherine Purcell
Summary: Pedestrians with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, may face elevated risks on the roadside due to deficits in attention, social communication, motor control, and executive function. Existing literature shows a need for further research to understand the specific risks and behaviors of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders while crossing roads.
ACCIDENT ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Yuwen Hung, Nina T. Dallenbach, Allison Green, Schuyler Gaillard, James Capella, Barbara Hoskova, Chloe Hutt Vater, Ellese Cooper, Nicole Rudberg, Atsushi Takahashi, John D. E. Gabrieli, Gagan Joshi
Summary: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is highly comorbid with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but it is unclear whether there are overlapping or distinct neural correlates between individuals with both ADHD and ASD compared to those with ADHD only. This knowledge is critical for understanding treatment outcomes for comorbid ADHD symptoms.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lisa Pavinato, Andrea Delle Vedove, Diana Carli, Marta Ferrero, Silvia Carestiato, Jennifer L. Howe, Emanuele Agolini, Domenico A. Coviello, Ingrid van de Laar, Ping Yee Billie Au, Eleonora Di Gregorio, Alessandra Fabbiani, Susanna Croci, Maria Antonietta Mencarelli, Lucia P. Bruno, Alessandra Renieri, Danai Veltra, Christalena Sofocleous, Laurence Faivre, Benoit Mazel, Hana Safraou, Anne-Sophie Denomme-Pichon, Marjon A. van Slegtenhorst, Noor Giesbertz, Richard H. van Jaarsveld, Anna Childers, R. Curtis Rogers, Antonio Novelli, Silvia De Rubeis, Joseph D. Buxbaum, Stephen W. Scherer, Giovanni Battista Ferrero, Brunhilde Wirth, Alfredo Brusco
Summary: Pavinato et al. describe a novel autosomal dominant neurodevelopmental disorder associated with loss of CAPRIN1, a regulator of the transport/translation of neuronal mRNAs critical for synaptic plasticity. The disorder is characterized by language impairment/speech delay, intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. They demonstrate morphological and functional alterations associated with this disorder in human neuronal models.
Article
Psychiatry
Amy Shakeshaft, Rachel Blakey, Alex S. F. Kwong, Lucy Riglin, George Davey Smith, Evie Stergiakouli, Kate Tilling, Anita Thapar
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the mental health of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A study using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children examined the effects of the pandemic on anxiety, depression, and mental wellbeing in adults with NDDs. The study found that individuals with ADHD and ASD had higher rates of depression, anxiety, and poor mental wellbeing compared to those without these disorders. The pandemic had a greater impact on anxiety levels in individuals with ADHD and ASD, while depressive symptoms decreased, particularly in females with ASD. Overall, mental wellbeing decreased for all participants, but to a lesser extent in those with ADHD and females with ASD.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Kate Stephens, Rachel O'Loughlin, Jessica L. Green, Vicki Anderson, Nicole Rinehart, Jan M. Nicholson, Philip Hazell, Timothy J. Silk, Daryl Efron, Emma Sciberras
Summary: This study found that in children with ADHD, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors were associated with emotional and conduct problems, as well as poorer quality of life, while reciprocal social interaction deficits were associated with peer problems.
JOURNAL OF ATTENTION DISORDERS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Giulia Crisci, Sara Caviola, Ramona Cardillo, Irene C. Mammarella
Summary: The study found that all children in the clinical samples showed impairments in executive function measures, with a more specific pattern emerging in the updating tasks. Children with SLD had significant impairment in verbal updating, while those with ADHD, and those with SLD in comorbidity with ADHD, performed worst in visuospatial updating.
FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Frances St George-Hyslop, Toomas Kivisild, Frederick J. Livesey
Summary: The CNTNAP2 gene is associated with multiple neurodevelopmental disorders and plays a crucial role in neuronal development and synapse formation. There are differential use and evidence for its role in human brain evolution. More research is needed to clarify the precise mechanisms of CNTNAP2.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Lorena Frances, Antoni Ruiz, C. Virginia Soler, Joan Frances, Jessica Caules, Amaia Hervas, Carolina Carretero, Barbara Cardona, Elizabeth Quezada, Alberto Fernandez, Javier Quintero
Summary: The study found a high prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders among 6-year-old children, with higher rates in boys than in girls. A significant proportion of cases had not been previously diagnosed, highlighting the importance of early detection programs and policies to support disadvantaged populations.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Hanxiao Chen, Lang Qin, Rui Gao, Xiaolei Jin, Kemin Cheng, Sirui Zhang, Xiao Hu, Wenming Xu, Hongjing Wang
Summary: In this study, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to investigate the impact of maternal folic acid supplementation on postnatal neurodevelopmental outcomes. The findings suggest that prenatal folic acid supplementation has positive effects on offspring's neurodevelopment, including improved intellectual development and reduced risk of autism traits, ADHD, behavioral, and language problems. However, excessive folic acid supplementation may not improve offspring's brain development and may even have negative impacts on neurodevelopmental outcomes.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Ebba Du Rietz, Erik Pettersson, Isabell Brikell, Laura Ghirardi, Qi Chen, Catharina Hartman, Paul Lichtenstein, Henrik Larsson, Ralf Kuja-Halkola
Summary: ADHD shows strong genetic associations with neurodevelopmental disorders, and its comorbidity is largely explained by genetically influenced general psychopathology. The link between ADHD and externalising or internalising disorders is weaker and influenced by non-shared environmental effects.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Lara Fernandez, Alex Burmester, Juan Dominguez Duque, Timothy J. Silk, Christian E. Hyde, Melissa Kirkovski, Peter G. Enticott, Karen Caeyenberghs
Summary: Changes in cerebellar morphology have been found in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and developmental coordination disorder (DCD), but it is uncertain if common cerebellar regions are affected in all neurodevelopmental disorders and if the changes reflect a generic developmental vulnerability or disorder-specific characteristic.
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Michelle T. Siu, Sarah J. Goodman, Isaac Yellan, Darci T. Butcher, Maryam Jangjoo, Daria Grafodatskaya, Rageen Rajendram, Youliang Lou, Rujun Zhang, Chunhua Zhao, Rob Nicolson, Stelios Georgiades, Peter Szatmari, Stephen W. Scherer, Wendy Roberts, Evdokia Anagnostou, Rosanna Weksberg
Summary: Research showed that patients with autism spectrum (ASD) and attention deficit and hyperactivity (ADHD) disorders exhibit sex-specific DNA methylation differences in the OXTR gene, and individuals with extreme DNAm values had lower IQ and more social problems.
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
(2021)
Article
Education, Special
Paula Morales-Hidalgo, Nuria Voltas-Moreso, Carmen Hernandez-Martinez, Josefa Canals-Sans
Summary: Children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) are at risk of developing emotional problems. This study assessed preschoolers and school-aged children in Spain and found that emotional problems were more common and severe in participants with NDD, especially those with ASD and ADHD. Early detection and intervention targeting emotional problems can improve the prognosis of children with NDD.
RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Raquel Flores-Buils, Clara Andres-Roqueta
Summary: This study analyzed the resilience of parents of children with different NDDs (ASD, DLD, and ADHD) and the effects of structural language and social cognition. The results showed that the age of the children and the type of social support predicted parental resilience.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Melanie Palmer, Joanne Tarver, Virginia Carter Leno, Juan Paris Perez, Margot Frayne, Vicky Slonims, Andrew Pickles, Stephen Scott, Tony Charman, Emily Simonoff
Summary: Emotional and behavioral problems are common in young autistic children. There are discrepancies between parents and teachers in reporting these problems. Parenting stress and verbal ability are associated with more parent-reported problems. Autistic children with minimal verbal ability display more challenging behaviors.
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
(2023)
Review
Psychology, Developmental
Gonzalo Salazar de Pablo, Carolina Pastor Jorda, Julio Vaquerizo-Serrano, Carmen Moreno, Anna Cabras, Celso Arango, Patricia Hernandez, Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, Emily Simonoff, Paolo Fusar-Poli, Paramala Santosh, Samuele Cortese, Mara Parellada
Summary: This meta-analysis found that antipsychotics and medications used to treat ADHD were significantly better than placebo in improving emotional dysregulation and irritability in individuals with ASD. Specifically, risperidone and aripiprazole showed efficacy in short-term treatment. However, other drug classes did not show evidence of efficacy. Lower efficacy was associated with comorbid epilepsy.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
S. Hampton, C. Allison, S. Baron-Cohen, R. Holt
Summary: There are sensory and communication related barriers to childbirth and postnatal healthcare for autistic people, with a need for adjustments and greater mental health support.
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Anna C. Morris, Zina Ibrahim, Margaret Heslin, Omer S. Moghraby, Argyris Stringaris, Ian M. Grant, Lukasz Zalewski, Megan Pritchard, Robert Stewart, Matthew Hotopf, Andrew Pickles, Richard J. B. Dobson, Emily Simonoff, Johnny Downs
Summary: This study assesses the potential of the MHE system in improving the completion of PROMs. The results indicate that the use of MHE significantly increases the completion rates of questionnaires compared to paper-based methods. Caregivers express satisfaction with the MHE system and highlight its numerous benefits.
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Sarah Hampton, Joyce Man, Carrie Allison, Ezra Aydin, Simon Baron-Cohen, Rosemary Holt
Summary: Pregnant autistic women may experience heightened sensory and physical symptoms during pregnancy, and may hesitate to disclose their diagnosis to healthcare professionals due to perceived lack of knowledge. They require detailed information and time to process verbal information, and also emphasize the need for sensory adjustments in healthcare settings.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Gordon Forbes, Rachel Kent, Tony Charman, Gillian Baird, Andrew Pickles, Emily Simonoff
Summary: This study examines the outcomes of social, mental health, and quality of life in early adulthood for autistic individuals and identifies childhood predictors for these outcomes. The findings suggest that young autistic adults face challenges in various areas of life, but may fare relatively well in terms of mental health or quality of life.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Aline Lefebvre, Julian Tillmann, Freddy Cliquet, Frederique Amsellem, Anna Maruani, Claire Leblond, Anita Beggiato, David Germanaud, Anouck Amestoy, Myriam Ly-Le Moal, Daniel Umbricht, Christopher Chatham, Lorraine Murtagh, Manuel Bouvard, Marion Leboyer, Tony Charman, Thomas Bourgeron, Richard Delorme, Guillaume Dumas
Summary: This study aimed to characterize hypo/hyper-sensory profiles among autistic individuals and explore their association with deleterious mutations. The results showed significant differences in profiles between autistic individuals and controls, with relatives exhibiting an intermediate profile. Genetic analysis suggested an association between hyposensitivity and mutations in the GABAergic pathway.
Article
Neurosciences
Iva Ilioska, Marianne Oldehinkel, Alberto Llera, Sidhant Chopra, Tristan Looden, Roselyne Chauvin, Daan Van Rooij, Dorothea L. Floris, Julian Tillmann, Carolin Moessnang, Tobias Banaschewski, Rosemary J. Holt, Eva Loth, Tony Charman, Declan G. M. Murphy, Christine Ecker, Maarten Mennes, Christian F. Beckmann, Alex Fornito, Jan K. Buitelaar
Summary: This study found a brainwide pattern of hypo- and hyperconnectivity in individuals with autism, primarily affecting sensory and higher-order attention networks, as well as the default mode network and subcortex. These connectivity alterations were stable and trait-like features of autism, independent of age and sex, and correlated with social difficulties, restrictive and repetitive behaviors, and alterations in sensory processing.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Sarah Baumeister, Carolin Moessnang, Nico Bast, Sarah Hohmann, Pascal Aggensteiner, Anna Kaiser, Julian Tillmann, David Goyard, Tony Charman, Sara Ambrosino, Simon Baron-Cohen, Christian Beckmann, Sven Bolte, Thomas Bourgeron, Annika Rausch, Daisy Crawley, Flavio Dell'Acqua, Guillaume Dumas, Sarah Durston, Christine Ecker, Dorothea L. Floris, Vincent Frouin, Hannah Hayward, Rosemary Holt, Mark H. Johnson, Emily J. H. Jones, Meng-Chuan Lai, Michael Lombardo, Luke Mason, Bethany Oakley, Marianne Oldehinkel, Antonio M. Persico, Antonia San Jose Caceres, Thomas Wolfers, Eva Loth, Declan G. M. Murphy, Jan K. Buitelaar, Heike Tost, Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, Tobias Banaschewski, Daniel Brandeis
Summary: This study aimed to assess reward processing in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in response to social and monetary rewards. The results showed that individuals with ASD exhibited hypoactivation in the right ventral striatum during reward anticipation compared to typically developing participants. However, there was no significant hyperactivation during the delivery of rewards. These findings do not support current theories linking atypical social interaction in ASD to specific alterations in social reward processing.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Charlotte Pretzsch, Dorothea Floris, Tim V. Schaefer, Anke H. Bletsch, Caroline Gurr, Michael Lombardo, Chris Chatham, Julian Tillmann, Tony Charman, Martina Arenella, Emily Jones, Sara Ambrosino, Thomas S. Bourgeron, Guillaume Dumas, Freddy Cliquet, Claire K. Leblond, Eva Loth, Bethany F. Oakley, Jan M. Buitelaar, Simon Baron-Cohen, Christian Beckmann, Antonio M. Persico, Tobias Banaschewski, Sarah Durston, Christine Freitag, Declan G. M. Murphy, Christine Ecker
Summary: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder show significant variation in clinical outcomes, which is crucial to understand for developing precision-medicine approaches. This study found that distinct neuroanatomical and genetic profiles are associated with different adaptive behavior changes in autistic individuals, suggesting potential targets for interventions.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Siofra Heraty, Alexandra Lautarescu, David Belton, Alison Boyle, Pietro Cirrincione, Mary Doherty, Sarah Douglas, Jan Roderik Derk Plas, Katrien Van Den Bosch, Pierre Violland, Jerneja Tercon, Amber Ruigrok, Declan G. M. Murphy, Thomas Bourgeron, Christopher Chatham, Eva Loth, Bethany Oakley, Grainne M. Mcalonan, Tony Charman, Nicolaas Puts, Louise Gallagher, Emily J. H. Jones
Summary: A change in research culture is needed to improve the relationship between autistic people and the biomedical research community. Through participatory research, we can reject negative perceptions of autism and work towards a shared vision that embraces neurodiversity.
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Yonat Rum, Ofer Golan, Carrie Allison, Paula Smith, Simon R. White, Simon Baron-Cohen
Summary: This study examined the impact of having siblings on empathy in individuals with autism. The results showed that autistic children without siblings scored higher on empathy measures compared to those with siblings. For autistic adults, the presence of siblings did not have a significant impact on empathy performance, but there was an interaction effect between sex and group specifically on the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test.
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Michela Tinelli, Aine Roddy, Martin Knapp, Celso Arango, Maria Andreina Mendez, James Cusack, Declan Murphy, Roberto Canitano, Bethany Oakley, Vinciane Quoidbach
Summary: This study used simulation modeling to analyze the long-term cost-effectiveness of the Preschool Autism Communication Trial (PACT). The results showed that PACT is cost-saving over time from a societal perspective, particularly after 6 years, as it reduces the costs of unpaid care provided by parents.
EUROPEAN PSYCHIATRY
(2023)