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Increased Extra-axial Cerebrospinal Fluid in High-Risk Infants Who Later Develop Autism
Mark D Shen1, Sun Hyung Kim2, Robert C McKinstry3
1Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California.
Biological Psychiatry
|April 11, 2017
Summary
Increased extra-axial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in infants at 6 months predicts autism spectrum disorder (ASD) development. This early indicator of ASD is linked to symptom severity and can be detected in high-risk infants.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Background:
- Previous research indicated elevated extra-axial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in infants who later developed autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- This study aimed to validate and expand upon these initial findings in a larger, independent cohort.
Purpose of the Study:
- To confirm and extend the finding of increased extra-axial CSF in infants who develop ASD.
- To investigate the relationship between extra-axial CSF volume and ASD symptom severity.
- To assess the predictive value of early extra-axial CSF volume for ASD diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal neuroimaging study involving 343 infants (221 high-risk, 122 low-risk) was conducted.
- Infants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 6, 12, and 24 months.
- Infants diagnosed with ASD at 24 months were compared to control groups.
Main Results:
- Infants who developed ASD showed significantly greater extra-axial CSF volume at 6 months (18% increase) compared to controls.
- This elevated extra-axial CSF volume persisted through 24 months.
- Higher ASD symptom severity correlated with greater extra-axial CSF volume from 6 to 24 months.
- Extra-axial CSF volume at 6 months accurately predicted ASD diagnosis at 24 months (69% accuracy).
Conclusions:
- Increased extra-axial CSF is a detectable anomaly at 6 months in infants who develop ASD, confirming prior research.
- This finding suggests extra-axial CSF may serve as an early risk marker for ASD.
- Further research is needed to determine if this anomaly contributes to ASD etiology.
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