Autism is More than Malfunctioning of Brain and Body

A new study's findings pointed us to the discovery of unique differences in the visual systems of infants who later developed autism.

Brain differences in the visual brain systems of infants who later are diagnosed with autism are associated with inherited genetic factors, as suggested by a new study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Brain Changes is Associated With the Severity of Autism Traits

This is the first research to observe that infants with older siblings who have autism and who themselves later develop autism as toddlers have specific biological differences in visual processing regions of the brain and that these brain characteristics precede the appearance of autistic symptoms.

The presence of those visual processing differences is related to how pronounced the autism traits are in the older siblings.

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Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder typically characterized by impaired social and communication skills combined with repetitive movements.

‘Brain changes in the size, white matter integrity, and functional connectivity of the visual processing systems of six-month-olds are evident well before they show symptoms of autism as toddlers.’

“We’re beginning to parse differences in infant brain development that might be related to genetic factors,” said Girault, who is also a member of the Carolina Institute of Developmental Disabilities (CIDD).

Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), they studied selected structures of the brain, the functional relationship between key brain regions, and the microstructure of white matter connections between those brain regions.

Behind Baby’s Eyes

When parents and babies bond, when they lock eyes and experience their world together day after day, it’s not just cute; it’s how babies learn to interpret subtle cues about their environment.

It’s the way babies learn to relate a caregiver’s behaviors to their own. This visual rhythm through the first years of life is crucial to cognitive, emotional, and social development.

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In babies who go on to develop autism, this research suggests that something goes awry in the brain’s visual system that impacts this visual interplay.

In recent years, research has shown that younger infant siblings were much more likely to develop autism if their older autistic siblings had higher levels of autistic traits. This current study takes our work a step forward.

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More research is needed, but this study points in the direction of behavioral interventions aimed at the visual and related brain systems in the first year of life in infants with a higher likelihood of developing autism based on inherited risk factors. Such interventions would aim to decrease the likelihood of children developing certain, more severe autism traits.

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Autistic individuals should also receive equal access to healthcare and support in their choices in their personal lives, to enjoy fulfilling lives and good mental health.

Source-Medindia