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Related Concept Videos

Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
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Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is pathologically identified by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. AD pharmacotherapy aims to manage cognitive symptoms, delay disease progression, and treat behavioral symptoms. The treatment is primarily symptomatic and palliative, with no definitive disease-modifying therapy available. Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne), are...
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Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
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Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
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Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
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Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function.
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Memantine for autism spectrum disorder.

Amanda Brignell1,2,3,4, Catherine Marraffa4,5,6, Katrina Williams1,2,4,5

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

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This summary is machine-generated.

This study found no clear evidence that memantine effectively treats core symptoms of autism in children. More research is needed to understand memantine

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1-2% of children, characterized by social communication deficits and repetitive behaviors.
  • Memantine, a dementia drug, is being investigated for its potential to alleviate core ASD symptoms and associated issues like hyperactivity and language difficulties.
  • Evidence for memantine's efficacy in treating autism core symptoms requires thorough review.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of memantine in treating the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, including social communication and stereotypical behaviors.
  • To assess the impact of memantine on secondary outcomes such as language, intelligence, memory, adaptive behavior, hyperactivity, and irritability.
  • To review adverse effects associated with memantine use in individuals with ASD.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing memantine with placebo in autistic individuals.
  • Searched multiple databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase) and trials registers up to February 2022.
  • Included three RCTs with 204 participants (children and adolescents), assessing short-term effects and adverse events using GRADE criteria.

Main Results:

  • Three RCTs (2 double-blind, 1 single-blind) involving 204 children/adolescents were included, with high risk of bias.
  • No clear evidence of memantine's effectiveness on core autism symptoms (SMD -0.74, very low-certainty evidence).
  • Low-certainty evidence suggests no significant difference in adverse effects, language, memory, adaptive behavior, hyperactivity, or irritability between memantine and placebo groups.

Conclusions:

  • Current evidence is insufficient to determine if memantine is an effective treatment for autistic children.
  • No trials reported on memantine's effectiveness in adults with ASD.
  • Further rigorous RCTs with larger samples and longer follow-up are necessary to establish memantine's role in autism treatment.