December 11, 2023
- A Belgian research team has recently studied how intranasal administration of oxytocin affects amygdala functional connectivity and cardiac autonomic arousal in children with autism. The researchers conducted a double-blind, randomized pharmaco-neuroimaging trial of 57 children with autism aged 8 to 12 years. The results revealed that oxytocin reduced intrinsic amygdala-orbitofrontal connectivity, especially after the 4-week follow-up session, improved social symptoms, and lowered cardiac autonomic arousal. Epigenetic modifications of the oxytocin receptor gene also influenced these effects. These findings suggest that oxytocin has therapeutic potential in reducing disability associated with autism spectrum disorder.
- The November 20th issue of Pediatrics included a clinical report on fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating Clostridiodes difficile infection (CDI). The report pointed out that while there are no controlled trials of FMT in pediatric patients, studies have shown that FMT is effective in curing CDI in adults. The paper suggests that FMT should be performed in a center with experience in the procedure due to a lack of regulatory standards for fecal preparations for FMT. It also mentions that the long-term effects of FMT are unknown, and it is not recommended for clinical treatment of any other medical conditions at this time. Additionally, the authors state that at-home FMT is not recommended for children for safety reasons. They also indicated that the field of microbial therapies is anticipated to quickly advance and potentially bring commercial products for the treatment of CDI.
- Researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have used a combination of artificial intelligence and molecular techniques to map the microscopic world of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The team focused on proteins manufactured by over 100 mutated genes connected to ASD and mapped how they interact with each other. The combination of new technologies, including stem cells, CRISPR-based genetic tools, AlphaFold2, and Google AI that predicts the behavior of proteins, allowed the team to create comprehensive maps of the interactions between proteins, opening up potential treatment targets for ASD. This new study could lead to new drugs for patients in the future.
- Join the Autism Research Institute on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at 1 p.m. EST for their new webinar “From Special to H.A.P.P.Y.” H.A.P.P.Y. is a new psycho-education program focussing on happiness and well-being in for those on the spectrum. It is an individualized well-being plan for children or adults with autism that utilizes ten evidence-based well-being strategies.
