The ground-breaking research that could change how we treat autism.
This article is an addendum to my book, Invisible Parents: Hidden Secrets of Special Needs Parents: A Book of Hope, and my intention is to keep special needs parents updated on the most current research.
In 2022, doctors diagnosed one in every 100 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (Zeidan J. et al., 2022). This year, the CDC reported that one in 36 children is now diagnosed with autism (Maenner M., et al., 2023).
When your child is first diagnosed with autism, it can be an isolating time for parents and a time of confusion and even denial. One of the most powerful things special needs parents can do is stay current with the latest autism research. Doing so not only keeps you in the know about medical and alternative treatments, but it makes you part of a large autism community.
The most current research for 2023 includes some ground-breaking discoveries involving ASD. In this article, I’ve compiled four of the most remarkable studies to keep special needs parents well-informed on their autism journey.
1. New Insights on the Autistic Brain
Citation: Trinity College Dublin. “Autism brain states hold the key to unlocking childhood memories, findings show.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 9 November 2023. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/11/231108164117.htm
Neuroscientists at Trinity College Dublin uncovered a remarkable connection between early life memories, retention, and brain development associated with autism.
The scientists explored connections to infantile amnesia forms of autism. Infantile amnesia is a term used to describe the inability to recall memories from before the age of two (most of us we don’t recall autobiographical memories formed in early life).
Maternal Infections
Maternal infections during pregnancy contribute to the cause of autism in both humans and mice. Researchers discovered that this altered brain state stops memory loss during infancy. In addition, researchers found that triggering specific neural pathways with light can permanently restore memories that were previously “erased” if the proper memory cells activate.
Restored Memories
This revolutionary study showed that early memories remain stored in the adult brain but normally remain dormant through recall memory. The connection between the retention of early childhood memories and the maternal immune responses associated with autism is a milestone in developmental memory research.
2. Unlocking the Gut-Brain Connection: New Hope for Autism
Citation: Coley-O’Rourke, Elena J., and Elaine Y. Hsiao. “Microbiome Alterations in Autism Spectrum Disorder.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 17 Aug. 2023, www.nature.com/articles/s41564-023-01455-2#citeas
In a life-changing study, scientists discovered an important association between gut (microbiome) bacteria and autism spectrum disorder.
For decades, scientists grappled with understanding the link between the gut and autism spectrum disorder. Now, recent technological advancements in microbiome research offer a glimmer of hope. In a landmark study outlined in the Nature Neuroscience Journal, researchers claim to have discovered a crucial connection between alterations in the gut microbiome and observable traits in individuals with ASD. Several previous studies found an association between GI disturbances and the behavioral traits of ASD.
The potential link between autism and the microbiome appeared in the 1990s when parents noticed changes in their autistic children’s behavior after taking antibiotics — medication that affects gut bacteria.
The gut microbiome refers to the community of microorganisms, including ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria, living in our digestive tract. Maintaining a healthy balance of these bacteria is essential for digestion, metabolism, immune function, and overall well-being.
Key Findings: A Definitive Association
Scientists used an innovative algorithm to examine years of research, establishing a clear link between temporal changes in the gut microbiome and the characteristics of ASD. Several studies, for example, demonstrated that the gut microbiota affects the development of the nervous system. Since the brain connects to the nervous system, altering gut microbiome might embolden future treatment.
The study not only sheds light on the intricate relationship between the gut and ASD, but also offers hope for therapies and treatments. Understanding these connections could create more effective interventions and improve the quality of life for individuals on the autism spectrum.
3. Uncovering Autism’s Origins
Citation: Jourdon, Alexandre, et al. “Modeling Idiopathic Autism in Forebrain Organoids Reveals an Imbalance of Excitatory Cortical Neuron Subtypes during Early Neurogenesis.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 10 Aug. 2023, www.nature.com/articles/s41593-023-01399-0#citeas
A recent Yale-led study uncovered key insights into the early stages of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). By examining brain organoids (miniature 3D replicas of developing brains) created from stem cells of boys diagnosed with autism, researchers found two distinct abnormalities in neurodevelopment.
Early Clues to Autism
The study revealed that these neurodevelopmental abnormalities emerge just weeks after the start of brain development. More surprisingly, the specific abnormalities appear to be linked to the size of the child’s brain.
Researchers discovered that autistic children with the same symptoms may exhibit two forms of altered neural networks not seen in other brains. Brain size also helps determine the behavior abnormalities.
Brain Size Matters
The size of the child’s brain plays a crucial role in determining these specific abnormalities. Scientists took stem cells from 13 boys diagnosed with autism, including those with an enlarged head condition known as macrocephaly, and “grew” brain organoids in the lab.
They then compared the brain development of the children to that of their fathers.
We know approximately 20% of autism cases involve macrocephaly, where a child’s head is larger than the 90th percentile at birth. In this study, autistic children with macrocephaly displayed excelled growth of excitatory neurons compared to their fathers, while other autistic children showed a deficit in the identical neurons. Understanding this might one day aid doctors in diagnosing and creating specific treatments for autism in the future.
The Future of Diagnosis and Treatment
The implications of this fascinating study are myriad. Tracking the growth of specific neurons is a quantum leap for diagnosing autism. Because symptoms commonly surface between 18 to 24 months after birth, early identification is prudent.
The study also predicts strategic treatments, possibly with existing drugs. Treating excessive excitatory neuron activity disorders could potentially help certain autism cases.
4. Decoding Brain Inflammation
Citation: University of Maryland School of Medicine. “How brain inflammation in children may cause neurological disorders.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 October 2023. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231012161729.htm
For the first time, researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) revealed how inflammation in the brain during childhood might lead to neurological disorders like autism and schizophrenia.
Inflammation’s Influence on Brain Cells
In this study, scientists discovered that inflammation alters the growth of delicate brain cells, creating potential links to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. It’s common knowledge that severe inflammation in early childhood is a risk factor in developing autism and schizophrenia.
RNA Sequencing Sheds Light on Brain Changes
Led by scientists from UMSOM’s Institute for Genome Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, the study used innovative single nucleus RNA sequencing technology. By examining gene expression changes at the cellular level, researchers delved into the brains (specifically the cerebellum) of children who died from inflammatory conditions such as asthma, bacterial, or viral infections. The inflammation in these cases prevented specific neurons in the cerebellum from maturing fully.
The cerebellum negates motor control and cognitive operations, and it plays a vital role in social skills, language, and emotional control. The study found that two specific, yet rare types of cerebellar neurons were most susceptible to brain inflammation — the Golgi and Purkinje neurons. From a single-cell level, these two kinds of neurons showed early interruption of growth.
Since genetics, the environment, and inflammation are likely to increase the risk of developing autism and other brain disorders, it’s crucial to understand the roles of specific cells and how they interact with genes to change brain function.
The Future of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
The study is one of the first to explain gene expression alterations during brain inflammation that possibly sets later cellular dysfunction in motion. Understanding these specific mechanisms at a cellular level during brain development may one day improve treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.
As research on ASD constantly emerges, these four unique developments give hope to the autism community. One of the most powerful things special needs parents can do is stay updated on autism research. For a comprehensive book on autism and tips on how to navigate the service system, see my book here. All proceeds go to autism research.
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