Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders最新文献

{"title":"Comparison of the oral microbiota of children with autism spectrum disorder in primary dentition with neurotypical controls","authors":"Gülsevim Oda ,&nbsp;Deniz Ece Kaya ,&nbsp;Tuba Bilbay Kaynar ,&nbsp;Emine Nursen Topcuoğlu ,&nbsp;Murat Coşkun ,&nbsp;Gamze Aren","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102480","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102480","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The number of studies suggesting differences in oral microbiota in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is increasing. However, the relationship between oral microbiota and ASD has not been determined. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the oral microbiota of children with ASD compared with neurotypical controls.</p></div><div><h3>Method</h3><p>Nine boys with a diagnosis of ASD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, Fifth Edition who were aged 36 to 60 months (44 ± 6.34), and nine neurotypical age-matched boys were included in the study. After detailed clinical examinations, saliva samples were collected. DNA from the samples was investigated by high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale was used to assess the severity of ASD in the case group.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>An analysis of alpha and beta diversity indexes and principal coordinate analysis revealed no significant differences between ASD and neurotypical controls nor were there significant differences in the relative abundance of the phyla and genera between the two groups. However, the distribution of operational taxonomic units (with a relative abundance&gt; 1 %) for Bacillales, <em>Granulicatella elegans</em>, Micrococcaceae, Micrococcales, <em>Neisseria zalophi</em>, <em>S. anginosus SK52 = DSM 2563</em>, <em>S. cristatus AS 1.389</em>, <em>S. mitis</em>, <em>S. oralis</em> subsp. <em>dentisani</em> and <em>S. pneumoniae</em> were significantly higher in the ASD group (p &lt; 0.05).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Differences in the relative abundance of some taxa in the saliva of children with ASD compared with neurotypical controls were found. Further studies are needed to understand the relationship between oral microbiota and ASD.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 102480"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142238632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sensory responsivity and its relation to alexithymia, social processing and restricted interests and repetitive behaviour in autistic children","authors":"Madeleine Diepman,&nbsp;Nuala Brady","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102470","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102470","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Although noted in the earliest descriptions of autism, differences in sensory processing, including hyper-responsivity, hypo-responsivity and sensory seeking, have only been included as a diagnostic criterion more recently. Understanding how these unique features of sensory processing are related to the emotional and social aspects of autism is an ongoing question. Here we ask whether differences in sensory processing are associated with <em>alexithymia</em>, a trait characterised by an inability to identify and describe one’s feelings, which has a high incidence in autism.</p></div><div><h3>Method</h3><p>Parents of autistic children (n = 38) and parents of non-autistic children (n = 35) completed four standardized scales, the Short Sensory Profile-2, Social Responsiveness Scale-2, Social Communication Questionnaire, and the Children’s Alexithymia Measure.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Across all four scales the autistic children showed higher scores than the non-autistic children, with large effect sizes. Using the subscales of the SSP-2 we show that, for the autistic children but not for the non-autistic children, sensory hyper-responsivity is predictive of alexithymia, of core social features of autism and of restricted interests and repetitive behaviour (RIRB), after controlling for hypo-responsivity and sensory seeking.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>These results add to a small but growing literature on the relationship between sensory processing and social and emotional behaviours in autistic children, and are discussed with reference to predictive coding and ‘sensory first’ accounts of autism. As sensory differences in autism impact children’s daily functioning and educational opportunities, understanding how these differences relate to social and emotional behaviour is important.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 102470"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1750946724001454/pdfft?md5=2ff12568ad36158bb42e6fc9bbc4cea3&pid=1-s2.0-S1750946724001454-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142169248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Atypical dynamic trust learning in individuals with high autistic traits in a multi-round trust game with multiple trustworthiness cues","authors":"Xudong Zhao ,&nbsp;Wenrui Li ,&nbsp;Aijia Xu ,&nbsp;Xintong Li ,&nbsp;Wendian Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102481","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102481","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Understanding the trust-building process, especially in contexts requiring the integration of multiple trustworthiness cues, is a fundamental aspect of social interactions among individuals with high autistic traits (ATs). It can offer valuable insights into the social functioning of these individuals.</p></div><div><h3>Method</h3><p>Participants with high and low ATs (N = 120; 30 in each group for two experiments) completed a 10-round trust game that embedded various trustworthiness cues, including reputation, advice (Experiment 1 = direct advice; Experiment 2 = social-emotional advice), and reciprocity. Linear mixed-effects models with investment rates as the dependent variable were used to analyze the data.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Methodologically, the experimental results elucidated the fundamental characteristics of dynamic trust formation within the context of multidimensional trust information. Furthermore, High-AT individuals showed assigned less weight to reciprocity but relied heavily on reputation, and exhibited maladaptive advice-taking. Unlike low-AT individuals, high-AT individuals did not adaptively reduce reputational effect over rounds.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Our findings highlight the unique challenges faced by individuals with high ATs when navigating complex social interactions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 102481"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142169249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biological determinants of the origin and development of the opposite psychological and behavioral traits associated with autism spectrum disorders and Williams syndrome","authors":"Klara Vernerova,&nbsp;Roman Solc","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102479","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102479","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Williams syndrome is a genetical disorder caused by microdeletion on chromosome 7, specifically of 7q11.23 region. Its phenotype is characterized by typical facial features, mild mental retardation, cardiovascular problems (patients often suffer from supravalvular aortic stenosis), gastrointestinal problems and endocrine abnormalities. However, Williams syndrome is best known for its unique behavioural-cognitive profile which leads to friendly, hypersocial and talkative personality. This specific neuropsychological profile is repeatedly considered to be the right opposite of the psychological profile, which is characteristic for people with autism spectrum disorder. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder often have severe impairments in social interaction, communication and they suffer from social anxieties. This contrasting cognitive-behavioural phenotype inspired many studies to examine possible biological causes, which might determine given personality features. Several results from these studies suggest that small genetical TFII-I family, which lies in the critical Williams syndrome region, could have a significant impact on the extent of personality qualities such as sociality and communication.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 102479"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142169127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring social cognition and romantic self-efficacy in autistic young adults: Better social awareness is associated with lower confidence","authors":"Isabella Schichter ,&nbsp;Nicole Nadwodny ,&nbsp;Brooke H. Kohn ,&nbsp;Dhruval Thakkar ,&nbsp;David W. Pantalone ,&nbsp;Susan Faja","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102466","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102466","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Despite misconceptions, autistic young adults are interested in romantic relationships (<span><span>Fernandes et al., 2016</span></span>, <span><span>Hancock, Stokes, &amp; Mesibov, 2019</span></span>, <span><span>Mehzabin and Stokes, 2011</span></span>). Research is needed to better understand how the social characteristics of autism impact romantic relationship experiences, knowledge of sexual health, and confidence in one’s own abilities. Social cognition skills are linked to functioning in interpersonal relationships and are important for understanding the mental states of others. The present research aims to explore the intersections among social cognition skills, romantic self-efficacy, perceived knowledge, and dating outcomes. We hypothesize that social cognition level, self-efficacy, perceived knowledge, and romantic relationship outcomes will be positively related.</p></div><div><h3>Method</h3><p>Verbal autistic young adults (<em>N</em> = 31) aged 18–26 years participated in a study aimed at investigating the romantic experiences of young autistic adults. Participants completed questionnaires on self-efficacy and perceived knowledge, as well as a battery of social cognition tasks, including assessments of spontaneous and non-spontaneous social cognition.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Spontaneous social cognition was negatively correlated with both relationship self-efficacy and perceived knowledge. Perceived knowledge, actual knowledge, and self-efficacy were positively correlated with each other.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This exploratory study was the first of which we are aware to demonstrate that autistic adults with stronger spontaneous social awareness are less confident of their sexual knowledge and abilities in romantic relationships than autistic adults with weaker spontaneous awareness. These findings suggest social cognitive tasks could be useful in assessing the specific sexual and romantic health-education needs of young autistic adults.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 102466"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142162316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential brain biomarkers in patients with Autism spectrum syndrome","authors":"Davood Ghavi ,&nbsp;Amir Ebrahimi ,&nbsp;Zahra Forouzandeh ,&nbsp;Mahmoud Shekari Khaniani ,&nbsp;Sima Mansoori Derakhshan","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102467","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102467","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is referred as a cluster of neurodevelopmental disorders with relatively high incidence. ASD is believed to be a multifactorial condition, and genetics is one of the most important factors in its formation. Therefore, profiling gene expression in ASD patients can lead to the identification of new molecular insights. To evaluate gene expression patterns, we have utilized NCBI GEO microarray data. The dataset of ASD patients (GSE28475, GSE28521, GSE38322 and GSE113834) were defined as two meta-data, Total brain meta-data and Lobe specified meta-data. Meta-analysis and batch effect removal was conducted by the SVA package. Microarray data analysis was performed using the LIMMA package under R 4.2.1 software. Total Meta-Analysis (TMA) identified 525 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ASD patient’s brain. The temporal and frontal lobes of ASD patients showed 96 and 23 DEGs respectively. Among the mentioned DEGs, there were 11 common DEGs between the temporal and frontal lobes that were also dysregulated in TMA except for UTP4 which was only dysregulated in the temporal and frontal lobes. However, the occipital and cerebellum lobes did not show any significant DEGs. Enrichment analysis pointed out the vital roles of identified DEGs in transmembrane transportation, ATP production, and cellular respiration. According to our findings, gene expression profile in the temporal and frontal lobes of ASD patients are significantly different than a control group. This aberrant gene expression potentially leads to crucial complications in nerve signal transmission and defects energy production in neurons. Therefore, potential therapeutic targets may be suggested based on these findings.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 102467"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142129219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in mothers of autistic children and mothers of children with fragile X syndrome","authors":"Carly Moser ,&nbsp;Laura Friedman,&nbsp;Katherine Bangert ,&nbsp;Alexandra Hickey ,&nbsp;Jennifer Sun,&nbsp;Jessica Klusek","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102465","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102465","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the mental health of American mothers and mothers of children with disabilities may have been disproportionately impacted. The present study characterized psychological well-being, social support, and caregiving responsibilities during the pandemic across mothers of children with autism, fragile X syndrome (FXS), and neurotypical children.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>Participants were 54 mothers of children with FXS, 46 mothers of autistic children, and a control group of 80 mothers of neurotypical children. Mothers completed questionnaires on depressive and anxiety symptoms, perceived decline in psychological well-being due to the pandemic, pandemic-related changes in caregiving responsibilities, and levels of social support.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Over half of the mothers of children with autism and over one-third of the mothers of children with FXS reported clinically significant symptoms of depression and anxiety, with rates significantly higher than the control mothers. Though all mothers reported a surge in caregiving responsibilities, mothers of children with FXS experienced greater increases in caregiving responsibilities and social support was lower in both disability groups. Caregiving responsibilities and social support were associated with psychological well-being due to the pandemic across all groups.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Findings highlight the harsh impact of the pandemic on the mental health of mothers of children with FXS and autism. The staggering rate of clinical depressive and anxiety symptoms reported by these groups underscores the urgent need for improved access to psychological services and family-centered supports, with increased caregiving responsibilities and inadequate social support representing important risk factors for mental health problems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"117 ","pages":"Article 102465"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142089039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An examination of sleep problems and parental well-being, comparing families with and without autistic children","authors":"Arlene Mannion,&nbsp;Sally Whelan,&nbsp;Geraldine Leader","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102462","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102462","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Sleep problems are a common comorbidity in autistic children and adolescents. Little is known about the role of sleep problems in parental well-being in the context of autism.</p></div><div><h3>Method</h3><p>The current study utilised actigraphy and questionnaire-based measures in mothers of autistic children and adolescents (n = 11), and mothers of typically developing (TD) children and adolescents (n = 11). Actigraphy is an objective, non-intrusive method for examining sleep. It involves wearing a wristwatch-like microcomputer that records motion. Measures included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Autoimmune Disease in Family Members Questionnaire, Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, World Health Organization Quality of Life Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Mothers of autistic children had significantly greater difficulties with subjective sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and daytime dysfunction, than mothers of TD children. In mothers of autistic children, parental use of sleep medication on the PSQI was positively associated with objective sleep onset latency using actigraphy, with a large effect size. Families with an autistic child had significantly more family members with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis than did families of TD children. Families of autistic children had significantly more autistic family members than did families of TD children.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Mothers of autistic children had significantly higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and lower levels of quality of life and perceived social support, than parents of TD children. Sleep problems identified via actigraphy were associated with parental stress, anxiety and depression, and quality of life.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"117 ","pages":"Article 102462"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142048165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Facing Your Fears in autistic youth with co-occurring psychiatric conditions: Reductions in symptoms of anxiety and depression","authors":"C.A. McMorris ,&nbsp;K. Turner ,&nbsp;K. Johnston ,&nbsp;C.A. Clark ,&nbsp;S.J. Howe ,&nbsp;M. McConnell ,&nbsp;K. McFee","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102463","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102463","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Autistic youth often experience psychiatric complexity, with up to 70 % of youth experiencing at least one mental health issue, and as many as 41 % experiencing two or more issues simultaneously, or complex psychiatric comorbidity. Adapted cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for anxiety is effective in reducing anxiety symptoms in autistic youth who have multiple anxiety conditions, as well as other psychiatric conditions (e.g., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; ADHD). However, few studies have examined the secondary impact of CBT for anxiety on depressive symptoms, despite the high prevalence of depression in autistic youth. Additionally, it is unknown how psychiatric complexity may impact, or moderate, autistic youth’s response to treatment. Fifty-one autistic youth (8–13 years old) participated in an adapted CBT intervention for anxiety (Facing Your Fears). Participants were categorized into one of three groups of increasing psychiatric complexity (Anxiety only; Anxiety + ADHD; and Anxiety + other mental health conditions). Paired sample t-tests and linear mixed models highlighted that autistic youth generally benefitted from CBT for anxiety, as seen in reductions of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Caregivers of youth in all diagnostic groups reported a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms and depression at post-treatment; however, only youth in the Anxiety only group, or those with less psychiatric complexity, reported a reduction in anxiety. Autistic youth did not report any changes in depressive symptoms, regardless of psychiatric complexity. Further study is needed to determine if symptom reductions continue overtime, and whether participating in adapted CBT for anxiety is associated with reductions in other mental health symptoms.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"117 ","pages":"Article 102463"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1750946724001387/pdfft?md5=0b4b431c38e617b2a06bbba1de9f18dc&pid=1-s2.0-S1750946724001387-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142041337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis: A biochemical investigation into the diagnostic utility of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) levels and the SAM/SAH ratio","authors":"Tuğba Polat ,&nbsp;Zafer Yönden ,&nbsp;Amin Daemi ,&nbsp;Yusuf Döğüş ,&nbsp;Hülya Binokay ,&nbsp;Perihan Çam Ray ,&nbsp;Çağlar Charles Daniel Jaicks","doi":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102464","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102464","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;The balance between SAM and SAH ratios is critical for cellular methylation capacity such that a decrease in this ratio signals decrease the methylation potential, impacting cellular functions. In Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), impaired methylation processes are prominent, disrupting essential methyl group transfers crucial for DNA methylation, neurotransmitter synthesis, and detoxification. This disturbance affects gene expression and neural function, contributing to ASD development. This paper aims to explore ASD's pathogenesis by investigating biochemical parameters linked to the methylation cycle. For this purpose, some laboratory parameters are employed to aid in the understanding of potential laboratory abnormalities in ASD in children aged 2 to 8 years.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Materials and Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;This study included a cohort of 43 children aged 2 to 8 years diagnosed ASD, alongside a control group of 43 age-and gender-matched healthy subjects. The serum of blood samples taken was used to measure biochemical factors. Specimens were processed using ELISA instrumentation and hemogram auto analyzers. The study conducted a statistical comparison between the ASD-diagnosed subjects and healthy controls, focusing on levels of S-adenosyl methionine (SAM), S-adenosyl homocysteine (SAH), Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT), and platelet counts.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;RESULTS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;The levels of SAH and platelets were significantly higher in the case group compared to the control group. Conversely, levels of SAM, as well as the SAM/SAH ratio, were found to be significantly lower in the case group than in the control group (p &lt; 0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the levels of GNMT when compared (p &gt; 0.05). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that the diagnostic performance for SAM had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.876, with a cut-off point determined at 286.9 ng/mL, yielding a sensitivity of 85 % and a specificity of 75 %. For SAH, the AUC was calculated to be 0.671, with a cut-off point set at 0.49 ng/mL, resulting in a sensitivity and specificity of 64 %. The SAM/SAH ratio demonstrated an AUC of 0.806, with the cut-off point established at 576.3, leading to a sensitivity and specificity of 72 %. A significant negative correlation was detected between the scores of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) and both SAM levels and the SAM/SAH ratio. The analysis indicated that an increase of one unit (1 ng/mL) in SAM levels is associated with a decreased autism risk by a factor of 1/0.914 = 1.1 %, whereas an increase of one unit (1 × 10&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;/µL) in platelet count is associated with an increased autism risk by a factor of 1.019 %. Regarding glycine N-methyltransferase, no significant difference was observed between the two groups.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Follow-up studies with larger samples will be needed to better understand the poten","PeriodicalId":48255,"journal":{"name":"Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"117 ","pages":"Article 102464"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141998484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}