Hidden Cause Of Autism Revealed
A recent study suggests that there may be a connection between severe forms of autism and an excessive growth of the brain’s outer layer during fetal development. Published in the journal Molecular Autism, the research indicates that toddlers diagnosed with autism often exhibit cerebral cortexes, commonly known as “gray matter,” that are approximately 40% larger than those of children without the disorder. Furthermore, the study found that the extent of gray matter enlargement in toddlers correlates with the severity of their social and language symptoms later in life.
Lead researcher Alysson Muotri, who serves as the director of the stem cell program at the University of California, San Diego, cautioned against assuming that a larger brain size is always advantageous. Muotri emphasized that in toddlers with profound autism, an increased brain size may be accompanied by an excess of cells and neurons, which may not necessarily benefit the individual.
The study aimed to investigate the variability in symptoms observed among children with autism, ranging from severe developmental delays to milder symptoms that improve over time. To delve into this issue, researchers utilized blood stem cells from 10 toddlers diagnosed with autism and six toddlers without the disorder to generate brain cortical organoids in laboratory cell cultures.
The results revealed that cortical organoids derived from children with autism exhibited a growth rate approximately three times faster than those from children without the disorder. Additionally, organoids from children with more severe autism cases displayed accelerated neuron formation, sometimes leading to excessive neuron development.
The size of the cortical organoids in the laboratory corresponded with larger brain structures observed in MRI scans of the toddlers. Moreover, toddlers with significantly enlarged organoids demonstrated greater volume in brain regions associated with social, language, and sensory functions compared to children without autism.
This groundbreaking study provides valuable insights into the early neurobiological mechanisms underlying autism symptoms and underscores the importance of understanding the origins of these challenges. Moving forward, the researchers aim to unravel the underlying causes of brain overgrowth in autism, with the ultimate goal of identifying potential therapeutic interventions to alleviate symptoms.
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