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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
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Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
Reduced glymphatic function in autism revealed by the diffusion tensor analysis along the perivascular space index
Laust Vind Knudsen1, Manouchehr Seyedi Vafaee2, Abigail Jane Sheldrick-Michel2
1Psychiatric Research unit, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. lvk@sdu.dk.
Journal of Neural Transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996)
|August 7, 2026
Summary
Glymphatic system dysfunction, measured by the ALPS index, is more pronounced in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This glymphatic impairment may worsen with age and is linked to depressive symptoms in autistic adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Radiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- The glymphatic system is crucial for brain homeostasis, clearing waste via perivascular pathways.
- Dysfunctional glymphatic system is implicated in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
- The role of glymphatic function in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate glymphatic system function in individuals with ASD.
- To explore the relationship between glymphatic function, age, and clinical symptoms in ASD.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) project were analyzed.
- Glymphatic function was quantified using the analysis along the perivascular space (ALPS) index.
- Statistical analyses included two-way ANOVA and correlation analyses.
Main Results:
- Individuals with ASD showed significantly lower ALPS-indices compared to neurotypical (NT) individuals.
- This difference was particularly evident in adults (≥18 years), not in younger participants.
- Lower ALPS-indices in autistic adults correlated with increased depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Glymphatic dysfunction may follow a developmental trajectory in ASD, becoming more apparent in adulthood.
- This dysfunction could contribute to an increased risk of neurodegenerative conditions in autistic adults.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms and implications of glymphatic dysfunction in ASD.
