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Rapid Detection of Neurodevelopmental Phenotypes in Human Neural Precursor Cells NPCs
Published on: March 2, 2018
From early markers to neuro-developmental mechanisms of autism
T Gliga1, E J H Jones1, R Bedford2
1Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, United Kingdom.
Insights
Studying infants with an older sibling with autism (infant sibs) helps identify early autism signs for timely diagnosis. These studies also validate neurodevelopmental autism models by examining sensory and attentional systems, not just social deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) research
- Infant sibling studies
Background:
- Autism is characterized by social and communication deficits.
- Early identification of autism is crucial for intervention.
- Infant sibling studies provide a unique window into early autism development.
Approach:
- Focus on infants with a high likelihood of developing autism (infant sibs).
- Investigate early emerging markers beyond social interaction.
- Examine atypical development in sensory and attentional systems.
Key Points:
- Early autism markers are not limited to social communication deficits.
- Atypical sensory and attentional development are significant early indicators.
- Findings challenge localized deficit models, suggesting broader brain involvement.
Conclusions:
- Infant sib studies are vital for validating neurodevelopmental autism models.
- Early identification of sensory and attentional atypicalities can inform interventions.
- Future research should consider brain-wide alterations in autism pathology.
Abstract:
A fast growing field, the study of infants at risk because of having an older sibling with autism (i.e. infant sibs) aims to identify the earliest signs of this disorder, which would allow for earlier diagnosis and intervention. More importantly, we argue, these studies offer the opportunity to validate existing neuro-developmental models of autism against experimental evidence. Although autism is mainly seen as a disorder of social interaction and communication, emerging early markers do not exclusively reflect impairments of the "social brain". Evidence for atypical development of sensory and attentional systems highlight the need to move away from localized deficits to models suggesting brain-wide involvement in autism pathology. We discuss the implications infant sibs findings have for future work into the biology of autism and the development of interventions.
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