A new study in Scientific Reports suggests that children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have distinct connectivity patterns in the white matter pathways of their brain.
This discovery was made after researchers used diffusion weighted MRI scans to compare brain connectivity patterns between individuals with ASD and those with developmental coordination disorder (DCD)—a condition that affects motor control and frequently co-occurs with ASD. Experts involved in the research noted that previous studies have linked white matter differences to the social–communication symptoms of ASD when the alterations might have actually been attributable to DCD [1].
“[O]ur team found that many prior research findings are probably not actually reflecting autism’s core symptoms but are more likely a reflection of co-occurring DCD,” senior author Lisa Aziz-Zadeh of the University of Southern California and colleagues explained.
The authors added that it is important to differentiate between the two because it could potentially alter the way symptoms are managed in those affected by one or both conditions.
For the study, 60 children between the ages of 8 and 17 were divided into three groups—those with ASD, those with probable DCD and a group of typically developing (TD) individuals. Each child underwent diffusion weighted MRI in addition to completing social and behavioral assessments.
The team found that many of the connectivity patterns observed in ASD also overlap with DCD, but they did identify signatures specific to ASD alone. They highlighted three specific white matter pathways unique to ASD: the longitudinal fibers and u-fibers of the mid-cingulum, the corpus callosum forceps minor/anterior commissure and the left middle cerebellar peduncle. In comparison, the DCD group exhibited different white matter patterns in the left cortico-spinal and cortico-pontine tracts.
The findings in the ASD group were also found to be associated with the severity of their symptoms.
“These results show that we can use advanced imaging to distinguish between autism’s hallmark social symptoms and other motor-related symptoms at the level of brain anatomy,” the authors wrote.
The researchers emphasized that ASD is a spectrum of symptoms for which anatomy alone cannot account. However, they suggested, their findings offer further clarity in understanding the biological basis of ASD.
The full study is available for free here.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She joined Innovate Healthcare in 2021 and has since put her unique expertise to use in her editorial role with Health Imaging.