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Atypical developmental patterns of brain chemistry in children with autism spectrum disorder

Neva M Corrigan, Dennis W W Shaw, Annette M Estes

    JAMA Psychiatry
    |August 2, 2013
    PubMed

    Insights

    Brain chemical changes in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) differ from those with developmental delay (DD). Early reductions in brain chemicals in ASD normalize, unlike the persistent changes seen in DD.

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Developmental Pediatrics
    • Biochemistry

    Background:

    • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition with unclear pathophysiology.
    • Early childhood onset of ASD symptoms necessitates understanding early brain changes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate longitudinal brain chemical concentration patterns in children with ASD and developmental delay (DD) across three age groups.
    • To compare these patterns with typically developing (TD) children.

    Main Methods:

    • Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging was used to measure brain chemical concentrations (NAA, Cho, Cr, mI, Glx) in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM).
    • Data were collected longitudinally for ASD and DD groups and cross-sectionally for TD groups at ages 3-4, 6-7, and 9-10 years.
    • Rates of chemical change between ages 3 and 10 were calculated.

    Main Results:

    • At 3-4 years, children with ASD showed lower NAA, Cho, and Cr in GM and WM compared to TD children; these differences diminished by 9-10 years.
    • Children with DD exhibited reduced GM and WM NAA at 3-4 years, with persistent GM NAA reduction at 9-10 years.
    • Distinct differences in the rates of change for GM NAA, Cho, and Cr were observed between ASD and DD groups.

    Conclusions:

    • Gray matter chemical alterations between ages 3 and 10 years differentiate children with ASD from those with DD.
    • A dynamic reversal of reduced GM NAA was observed in children with ASD.
    • Persistent GM NAA reductions in DD suggest a different, more static developmental process.
    Abstract

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