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Abnormal Cerebellar Development in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Meike E van der Heijden^1,2, Jason S Gill^2,3, Roy V Sillitoe^1,2,4,5,6

¹Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.

Developmental Neuroscience

|April 6, 2021

Summary

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is linked to cerebellar development issues, especially in premature infants. Abnormal cerebellar development may be a primary risk factor for ASD, impacting social and cognitive functions.

Keywords:

Autism spectrum disorders Cerebellum Cognition Connectivity Morphogenesis Social behavior

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Area of Science:

Neurodevelopmental disorders
Genetics and neurobiology
Pediatric neurology

Background:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition with genetic links, but known causes explain only a fraction of cases.
Cerebellar hemorrhages and lesions in infants, particularly premature ones, are increasingly associated with ASD diagnoses.
The cerebellum undergoes significant development in early infancy, a critical period for its growth and circuit formation.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the role of cerebellar development in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
To understand how interrupted cerebellar development may lead to ASD symptoms.
To investigate whether the cerebellum is crucial for social/cognitive brain development or part of it.

Main Methods:

Review of existing studies on ASD genetics and cerebellar development.
Analysis of the incidence of ASD in infants with cerebellar hemorrhages.
Discussion of cerebellar development processes and their disruption.

Main Results:

While genetics play a role in ASD, a significant percentage of cases remain unexplained.
Up to 40% of infants with cerebellar hemorrhages are diagnosed with ASD.
Cerebellar hemorrhages are more common in premature infants during a key developmental window.

Conclusions:

Abnormal cerebellar development, particularly following early hemorrhages, is a potential primary risk factor for ASD.
Understanding the link between cerebellar function and ASD-related neurological deficits is crucial.
The cerebellum's role in the "social and cognitive brain" requires further investigation.