Opioids and autism spectrum disorder: liaisons dangereuses?

Laszlo Vutskits1

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Intensive Care, and Emergency Medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Geneva Neuroscience Center, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.

Insights

Neonatal mice exposed to fentanyl showed autism-like behaviors linked to gene changes. However, this animal study does not confirm if early-life opioid exposure causes autism spectrum disorder in humans.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Opioid exposure during early development is a growing concern.
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition.
  • Animal models are crucial for understanding the biological mechanisms of human disorders.

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