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Updated: Sep 28, 2026
Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
[Thalamic spectroscopy using magnetic resonance in autism]
J Perich-Alsina1, M Aduna de Paz, A Valls
1Servicio de Resonancia Magnética CRC, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
Insights
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed reduced thalamic N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) in autistic children over 7 years old. This indicates potential delays in neuronal maturity, impacting brain development in autism.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric Medicine
Context:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition.
- Cerebral metabolic changes may offer insights into ASD pathophysiology.
- Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a non-invasive tool for assessing brain metabolites.
Purpose:
- To investigate cerebral metabolic differences in pediatric patients with and without autism using proton MRS.
- To evaluate age-related changes in brain metabolites, specifically N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), and creatinine (Cr), in autistic and control groups.
Summary:
- No significant morphological brain changes or increased minor metabolites were observed in either group.
- Significant differences in NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr ratios were found only in the oldest subgroup (8-13 years), with reduced thalamic NAA in autistic patients.
- Spectroscopic findings were similar between autistic and control groups up to age 7, but diverged in older children.
Impact:
- Findings suggest a potential interruption or regression in neuronal maturation processes in older autistic children.
- Reduced thalamic NAA may serve as a biomarker for neurodevelopmental alterations in autism.
- This study contributes to understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of autism spectrum disorder.
Objective:
To evaluate the cerebral metabolic changes in paediatric patients using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Patients And Methods:
We studied 31 patients diagnosed as having autism (autistic group) using cerebral magnetic resonance and hydrogen spectroscopy, together with 15 patients without autism (control group). The groups were sub divided according to age: 0-3 years, 4-7 years and 8-13 years. The morphology of the brain was studied using magnetic resonance and hydrogen spectroscopy of the thalamus. In each case we evaluated the presence of morphological changes in the brain and the concentrations of the cerebral metabolites N acetyl aspartate(NAA), choline (Cho) and creatinine (Cr) by measuring the coefficients NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho and Cho/Cr coefficients, and also any anomalous concentrations of other metabolites.
Results:
No morphological changes were seen in the brains studied. There was no significant increase in minor metabolites in any of the groups studied. Significant differences in the NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr coefficients between the control and autistic groups were only seen in the oldest subgroup (8-13 years), but in the other groups the differences were not significant. The results in the sub group of older autistic children are similar to those of the younger subgroups in both autistic and control groups.
Conclusion:
The spectroscopic findings showed similar recordings in the control group and in the autistic group up to the age of 7 years with reduced thalamic NAA in autistic patients older than this. This suggests interruption and regression in the process of neuronal maturity, in which the thalamus also plays a part.
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