Pubmed du 22/05/22
1. Kaneko A, Ohshima R, Noda H, Matsumaru T, Iwanaga R, Ide M. Sensory and Social Subtypes of Japanese Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord;2022 (May 21)
Studies have proposed that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be divided into several subtypes depending on their sensory features. However, consideration of social communication features is also crucial for configuring ASD subtypes, because social and sensory features are tightly interrelated. In this study, we asked Japanese individuals with ASD to answer the Short Sensory Profile (SSP) and the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2), which measure sensory and social aspects, respectively. Consequent latent profile analysis demonstrated that the participants could be divided into five subgroups: two groups exhibited opposite or inconsistent patterns between the SSP and SRS-2 scores, while the other groups exhibited consistent patterns. Our findings indicate the existence of diverse phenotypes in individuals with ASD.
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2. Masi A, Moni MA, Azim SI, Choi B, Heussler H, Lin PI, Diaz AM, Eapen V. Clinical and behavioral attributes leading to sleep disorders in children on the autism spectrum. Autism Res;2022 (May 21)
Sleep disorders are a common comorbid condition in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (« autism »). However, the relationship between the clinical features of autism and sleep disorders remains unclear. A better understanding of the inherent autism-related characteristics linked to comorbid sleep disorders would improve comprehensive assessment and management. This study examined the relationship between sociodemographics, autism symptoms, sleep problems, cognitive status, behavioral attributes, and sensory profiles. Using data from 1268 participants who took part in the Australian Autism Biobank, sleep-related measurements using the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) were compared between autistic children aged 2 to 17 (N = 969), their siblings (N = 188), and unrelated children without an autism diagnosis (N = 111). The known relationship between sleep problems and autism was further explored by including scores from the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2, Mullen Scales of Early Learning, Vineland Adaptive Behavioral Scale-II and the Short Sensory Profile-2; which were included in analyses for autistic participants who had a completed CSHQ. Multiple regression models were used to identify clinical/behavioral variables associated with CSHQ subscales. The autism group had a significantly higher total CSHQ score than the sibling and comparison groups (p < 0.001), indicating worse sleep quality. Within the autism group, lower adaptive behaviors (i.e., VABS-II) and sensory issues (i.e., SSP-2 subclass scores) were positively associated with the severity of sleep problems (i.e., the CSHQ subclass scores) (p < 0.001). The significant functional impact of poor sleep on autistic children warrants an assessment of sleep as a critical part of a holistic approach to supporting autistic children and their families. LAY SUMMARY: Autistic children generally have co-occurring conditions. Sleep disorders impact approximately 50%-80% of autistic children. The impact on the quality of life for both the children and their families can be significant. This study compares sleep problems in autistic children and adolescents with their siblings and children without a diagnosis of autism, and investigates the relationship between specific autistic traits, daily life behaviors and sleep problems. The findings highlight the importance of a holistic assessment for autistic children and matching appropriate sleep intervention and supports where indicated.
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3. Rhodus EK, Barber J, Kryscio RJ, Abner EL, Bahrani AA, Lewis KES, Carey B, Nelson PT, Van Eldik LJ, Jicha GA. Frontotemporal neurofibrillary tangles and cerebrovascular lesions are associated with autism spectrum behaviors in late-life dementia. J Neurol;2022 (May 21)
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The pathologic substrates or neuroanatomic regions responsible for similarities in behavioral features seen in autism spectrum disorder and late-life dementia remain unknown. The present study examined the neuropathologic features of late-life dementia in research volunteers with and without antemortem behaviors characteristic of autism spectrum disorders. METHODS: Antemortem cross-sectional assessment of autistic spectrum behaviors proximal to death in persons with diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia was completed using the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale, 2nd edition (GARS-2), followed by postmortem quantitative and semiquantitative neuropathologic assessment. All individuals who completed the GARS-2 prior to autopsy were included (n = 56) and we note that no participants had known diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. The GARS-2 was used as an antemortem screening tool to stratify participants into two groups: « Autism Possible/Very Likely » or « Autism Unlikely. » Data were analyzed using nonparametric statistics comparing location and scale to evaluate between-group differences in pathologic features. RESULTS: Neurofibrillary tangles (NFT; p = 0.028) density and tau burden (p = 0.032) in the frontal region, the NFT density (p = 0.048) and neuritic plaque burden (p = 0.042), and the tau burden (p = 0.032) of the temporal region, were significantly different in scale between groups. For measures with significant group differences, the medians of the Autism Possible/Very Likely group were roughly equal to the 75th percentile of the Autism Unlikely group (i.e., the distributions were shifted to the right). DISCUSSION: This study links behaviors characteristic of autism to increased pathologic tau burden in the frontal and temporal lobes in persons with late-life dementia. Additional studies are needed to determine causal factors and treatment options for behaviors characteristic of autism behaviors in late-life dementias.
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4. Rollins PR, De Froy AM. Reexamining Pathways Early Autism Intervention in Children Before and After the Third Birthday: A Randomized Control Trial. J Autism Dev Disord;2022 (May 21):1-13.
We reexamined the efficacy of Pathways early autism intervention using generalized measures of social communication and language skills administered by an unfamiliar adult in a novel environment. Generalized measures improve on sources of measurement bias. Sixty-seven autistic children blocked on age (under versus over 3 years) were randomly assigned to 15 weeks of Pathways or services-as-usual. Age moderated the effects of Pathways for social communication. Specifically, Pathways had a significantly large effect for children under 3 and a small effect that approached significance for children over 3. Pathways also had a small effect on expressive speech/language skills. Results replicate previous findings of the efficacy of Pathways on proximal and distal skills and support the importance of early intervention.
