Executive function and functional and structural brain differences in middle ‐age adults with autism spectrum disorder
There is a rapidly growing group of aging adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who may have unique needs, yet cognitive and brain function in older adults with ASD is understudied. We combined functional and structural neuroimaging and neuropsychological tests to examine differences between middle‐aged men with ASD and matched neurotypical (NT) men. Participants (ASD, n = 16; NT, n = 17) aged 40–64 years were well‐matched according to age, IQ (range: 83–131), and education (range: 9–20 years). Middle‐age adults with ASD made more errors on an executive function task (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test) b...
Source: Autism Research - September 21, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Authors: B. Blair Braden, Christopher J. Smith, Amiee Thompson, Tyler K. Glaspy, Emily Wood, Divya Vatsa, Angela E. Abbott, Samuel C. McGee, Leslie C. Baxter Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
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Autism Research,Volume 11, Issue 2, Page 258-269, February 2018. (Source: Autism Research)
Source: Autism Research - September 18, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Scientific Summaries for Families with ASD
(Source: Autism Research)
Source: Autism Research - September 18, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: SCIENTIFIC SUMMARIES FOR FAMILIES WITH ASD Source Type: research
Issue Information
(Source: Autism Research)
Source: Autism Research - September 18, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: ISSUE INFORMATION Source Type: research
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Autism Research,Volume 11, Issue 2, Page 245-257, February 2018. (Source: Autism Research)
Source: Autism Research - September 12, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Neurexin gene family variants as risk factors for autism spectrum disorder
In conclusion, this study supports the importance of two genetic variants in the neurexin gene family in ASD susceptibility in China. Autism Res 2017. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lay SummaryAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is highly heritable, and studies have found a number of candidate genes that might contribute to ASD. Neurexins are presynaptic cell‐adhesion molecules that affect the function of synapses and mediate the conduction of nerve signals, and they play an important role in normal brain development and become candidate genes f...
Source: Autism Research - September 1, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Jia Wang, Jianhua Gong, Li Li, Yanlin Chen, Lingfei Liu, HuaiTing Gu, Xiu Luo, Fang Hou, Jiajia Zhang, Ranran Song Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Comparing the effects of age, pubertal development, and symptom profile on cortisol rhythm in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder
Previous studies in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have shown elevated evening cortisol; however, few studies have examined diurnal rhythm in adolescents with ASD. Adolescence is a time of significant physical and psychological change, and dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis may put adolescents with ASD at increased risk for internalizing disorders, such as anxiety and depression. The extent to which cortisol levels are associated with age, puberty and symptom profile was examined in 113 youth (ages 7–17) with ASD and typical development. Salivary samples were collected over 3 days ...
Source: Autism Research - September 1, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Rachael A. Muscatello, Blythe A. Corbett Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Genetic background effects in Neuroligin ‐3 mutant mice: Minimal behavioral abnormalities on C57 background
In this study, however, the same mutation in mice on a different genetic background did not reproduce our previous findings. Our results suggest that genetic background influences behavioral symptoms of this autism‐associated mutation. (Source: Autism Research)
Source: Autism Research - September 1, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Thomas C. Jaramillo, Christine Ochoa Escamilla, Shunan Liu, Lauren Peca, Shari G. Birnbaum, Craig M. Powell Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Psychiatric comorbidities and use of psychotropic medications in people with autism spectrum disorder in the United States
This study investigated psychotropic medication usage in two large, cohorts of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) throughout the calendar year 2014. The cohorts referred to individuals with commercial (employer‐sponsored) and Medicaid insurance in the United States. We aimed to understand prescribing patterns of such medications across a wide age‐range and in the presence/absence of other clinical and non‐clinical characteristics, including psychiatric comorbidities. We described the prevalence and length of prescriptions by age, psychiatric comorbidity and overall. We also fitted multivariable logistic regre...
Source: Autism Research - September 1, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Richard Houghton, Rose C. Ong, Federico Bolognani Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Everyday executive function predicts adaptive and internalizing behavior among children with and without autism spectrum disorder
We examined whether parents' ratings of their children's flexibility and ability to monitor their behavior predicted adaptive skills (e.g., ability to complete day‐to‐day personal tasks, communicate, and socialize) and symptoms of anxiety and depression among children with and without autism spectrum disorder. For both groups, children's abilities to manage and monitor their behavior were strongly related to adaptive skills. Children's flexibility and ability to inhibit inappropriate behavior and control their emotions was associated with depression symptoms for both groups. (Source: Autism Research)
Source: Autism Research - September 1, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Emily Gardiner, Grace Iarocci Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
The association between theory of mind, executive function, and the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder
It has been strongly argued that atypical cognitive processes in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) contribute to the expression of behavioural symptoms. Comprehensive investigation of these claims has been limited by small and unrepresentative sample sizes and the absence of wide‐ranging task batteries. The current study investigated the cognitive abilities of 100 adolescents with ASD (mean age = 15 years 6 months), using 10 tasks to measure the domains of theory of mind (ToM) and executive function (EF). We used structural equation modelling as a statistically robust way of exploring the associations between cognition ...
Source: Autism Research - September 1, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Catherine R. G. Jones, Emily Simonoff, Gillian Baird, Andrew Pickles, Anita J. S. Marsden, Jenifer Tregay, Francesca Happ é, Tony Charman Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Adaptive behavior in autism: Minimal clinically important differences on the Vineland ‐II
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is associated with persistent impairments in adaptive abilities across multiple domains. These social, personal, and communicative impairments become increasingly pronounced with development, and are present regardless of IQ. The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition (Vineland‐II) is the most commonly used instrument for quantifying these impairments, but minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) on Vineland‐II scores have not been rigorously established in ASD. We pooled data from several consortia/registries (EU‐AIMS LEAP study, ABIDE‐I, ABIDE‐II, INFOR, Simons ...
Source: Autism Research - September 1, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Authors: C. H. Chatham, K. I. Taylor, T. Charman, X. Liogier D'ardhuy, E. Eule, A. Fedele, A. Y. Hardan, E. Loth, L. Murtagh, M. del Valle Rubido, A. San Jose Caceres, J. Sevigny, L. Sikich, L. Snyder, J. E. Tillmann, P. E. Ventola, K. L. Walton ‐Bowen, P. P. Wa Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale: Factor structure and psychometric properties in older adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder
Despite the high frequency of anxiety and depression symptoms in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and a significant impact of these comorbidities on both individuals with ASD and their families, research on the validity of anxiety and depression measures in the ASD population is currently lacking. The aim of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS; Zigmond & Snaith, ] in a sample of older adolescents and young adults with ASD. One hundred and fifty one participants (UK Transition longitudinal study: N = 106; 75 males, Mage = 16.04 y...
Source: Autism Research - September 1, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Mirko Uljarevi ć, Amanda L. Richdale, Helen McConachie, Darren Hedley, Ru Ying Cai, Hannah Merrick, Jeremy R. Parr, Ann Le Couteur Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Pivotal response treatment for preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder: Defining a predictor profile
Behavioral characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who respond positively to Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) have been described previously, based on single‐subject design research. The present study examined several such characteristics, as well as positive affect, as predictors of expressive language (EL) gains in a representative sample of preschoolers with ASD (n = 57) enrolled in a PRT‐based community early intervention program. Children's cognitive ability, positive affect, and levels of appropriate toy contact measured at the start of intervention each contributed significantly to th...
Source: Autism Research - August 31, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Kristin ‐Lee Fossum, Loriann Williams, Nancy Garon, Susan E. Bryson, Isabel M. Smith Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Gastrointestinal symptoms in autism spectrum disorder: A review of the literature on ascertainment and prevalence
The objectives of this study were to (a) describe the range of GI symptom ascertainment approaches in studies of ASD, (b) describe the range of prevalence estimates across studies, and (c) assess associations between ascertainment approach and prevalence estimates. Studies published from 1/1/1980 to 1/31/2017 were collected via PubMed. Eligibility included studies with at least ten individuals with ASD that measured GI symptoms or conditions. We excluded review and hypothesis papers. We extracted information on study design, GI symptom ascertainment method, demographics, and ASD diagnostic criteria. From a subset of studie...
Source: Autism Research - August 30, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Calliope Holingue, Carol Newill, Li ‐Ching Lee, Pankaj J. Pasricha, M. Daniele Fallin Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
