1. Christensen SS, Bentz M, Clemmensen L, Strandberg-Larsen K, Olsen EM. {{Disordered eating behaviours and autistic traits-Are there any associations in nonclinical populations? A systematic review}}. {European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association}. 2018.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to critically review existing literature concerning the possible association between autistic-like behaviours and problematic eating behaviours in nonclinical populations. METHOD: We performed a systematic literature search in three large databases. Studies were included if they assessed any association between a broad range of autistic-like behaviours and problematic eating behaviours in nonclinical samples. RESULTS: Sixteen eligible studies were found covering 3,595 participants in total, including five studies on children/adolescents (n = 685). All studies were cross-sectional, and thus, only concurrent associations could be evaluated. Several autistic-like behaviours were found to be associated with problematic eating behaviours, with the overall « autism spectrum quotient, » deficiencies in set-shifting, and theory of mind showing the strongest associations. CONCLUSIONS: The existing literature indicates concurrent associations between specific autistic-like behaviours and problematic eating behaviours in nonclinical samples across ages. Large prospective longitudinal studies are needed for insight into the temporal order of these associations.
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2. Crane L, Wilcock R, Maras KL, Chui W, Marti-Sanchez C, Henry LA. {{Mock Juror Perceptions of Child Witnesses on the Autism Spectrum: The Impact of Providing Diagnostic Labels and Information About Autism}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
Research suggests that autistic children can provide accurate and forensically useful eyewitness evidence. However, members of a jury also rely on non-verbal behaviours when judging the credibility of a witness, and this could determine the verdict of a case. We presented mock jurors with videos (from an experimental study) of one of two child witnesses on the autism spectrum being interviewed about a mock minor crime. Results demonstrated that providing jurors with generic information about autism and/or informing them of the child’s diagnostic label differentially affected credibility ratings, but not for both children. Implications for how to present information about child witnesses with autism to a jury-highlighting the need for approaches tailored to individual children-are discussed.
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3. Kang YS, Chang YJ. {{Using game technology to teach six elementary school children with autism to take a shower independently}}. {Dev Neurorehabil}. 2018: 1-9.
OBJECTIVE: This paper contributes to research investigating the effectiveness of video game intervention in shower training of children with autism spectrum disorders. Previous studies have supported the use of video games in special education. METHODS: We employed the Kinect sensor to gamify shower training. Specifically, a non-concurrent multiple baseline design was adopted to demonstrate the relation between game-based intervention and taking a shower independently. Six children in a special education class at a regular elementary school participated in the experiment. RESULTS: Data showed that the percentage of correct task steps significantly increased among all six participants; motivation to engage in training was enhanced as well, thus improving task performance during the intervention and maintenance phases. CONCLUSIONS: Although the game is a promising and highly accepted training tool for school-use, it currently remains error-prone, and the requested demand exceeds the support that can be provided by special education teachers. A more technically robust system, combined with additional attractive games, will likely result in higher participant motivation and superior task performance.
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4. Llanes E, Blacher J, Stavropoulos K, Eisenhower A. {{Parent and Teacher Reports of Comorbid Anxiety and ADHD Symptoms in Children with ASD}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
This study examined the prevalence of ADHD symptoms and anxiety as reported by parents and teachers for 180 preschool children (ages 4-5) and school-aged children (ages 6-7) with ASD using the Child Behavior Checklist-Parent and Teacher Report Forms (Achenbach and Rescorla, Manual for ASEBA school-age forms & profiles, Research Center for Children, Youth, and Families, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 2001). Parents reported elevated anxiety symptoms in 31% of preschool children and 50% of school-aged children, while teachers reported lower rates of 5 and 30%, respectively. Parents reported elevated ADHD symptoms in 22% of preschool children and 45% of school-aged children, while teachers reported elevations in 20 and 24%, respectively. There was low concordance between parents and teachers, with teachers reporting fewer problems overall. Specific behaviors endorsed by parents and teachers are also discussed.
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5. Mahapatra S, Khokhlovich E, Martinez S, Kannel B, Edelson SM, Vyshedskiy A. {{Longitudinal Epidemiological Study of Autism Subgroups Using Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) Score}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
Here we report the results of the subgroup analyses of an observational cohort of children whose parents completed the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) over the period of several years. A linear mixed effects model was used to evaluate longitudinal changes in ATEC scores within different patient subgroups. All groups decreased their mean ATEC score over time indicating improvement of symptoms, however there were significant differences between the groups. Younger children improved more than the older children. Children with milder ASD improved more than children with more severe ASD in the Communication subscale. There was no difference in improvement between females vs. males. One surprising finding was that children from developed English-speaking countries improved less than children from non-English-speaking countries.
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6. Roux S, Lohof A, Ben-Ari Y, Poulain B, Bossu JL. {{Maturation of GABAergic Transmission in Cerebellar Purkinje Cells Is Sex Dependent and Altered in the Valproate Model of Autism}}. {Frontiers in cellular neuroscience}. 2018; 12: 232.
Brain development is accompanied by a shift in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) response from depolarizing-excitatory to hyperpolarizing-inhibitory, due to a reduction of intracellular chloride concentration. This sequence is delayed in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). We now report a similar alteration of this shift in the cerebellum, a structure implicated in ASD. Using single GABAA receptor channel recordings in cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs), we found two conductance levels (18 and 10 pS), the former being dominant in newborns and the latter in young-adults. This conductance shift and the depolarizing/excitatory to hyperpolarizing/inhibitory GABA shift occurred 4 days later in females than males. Our data support a sex-dependent developmental shift of GABA conductance and chloride gradient, leading to different developmental timing in males and females. Because these developmental sequences are altered in ASD, this study further stresses the importance of developmental timing in pathological neurodevelopment.
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7. Sahin NT, Keshav NU, Salisbury JP, Vahabzadeh A. {{Safety and Lack of Negative Effects of Wearable Augmented-Reality Social Communication Aid for Children and Adults with Autism}}. {J Clin Med}. 2018; 7(8).
There is a growing interest in the use of augmented reality (AR) to assist children and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD); however, little investigation has been conducted into the safety of AR devices, such as smartglasses. The objective of this report was to assess the safety and potential negative effects of the Empowered Brain system, a novel AR smartglasses-based social communication aid for people with ASD. The version of the Empowered Brain in this report utilized Google Glass (Google, Mountain View, CA, USA) as its hardware platform. A sequential series of 18 children and adults, aged 4.4 to 21.5 years (mean 12.2 years), with clinically diagnosed ASD of varying severity used the system. Users and caregivers were interviewed about the perceived negative effects and design concerns. Most users were able to wear and use the Empowered Brain (n = 16/18, 89%), with most of them reporting no negative effects (n = 14/16, 87.5%). Caregivers observed no negative effects in users (n = 16/16, 100%). Most users (77.8%) and caregivers (88.9%) had no design concerns. This report found no major negative effects in using an AR smartglasses-based social communication aid across a wide age and severity range of people with ASD. Further research is needed to explore longer-term effects of using AR smartglasses in this population.
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8. Toscano CVA, Ferreira JP, Gaspar JM, Carvalho HM. {{Growth and weight status of Brazilian children with autism spectrum disorders: A mixed longitudinal study}}. {J Pediatr (Rio J)}. 2018.
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the growth status and physical development of Brazilian children with autism spectrum disorders from 4 to 15 years of age. Furthermore, it was examined whether variation in growth patterns and weight status was influenced by the use of psychotropic medications. METHODS: One-hundred and twenty children aged 3.6-12.1 years at baseline (average=7.2 years, SD=2.3 years) diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders were measured on three repeated occasions across a 4-year period. Stature, body mass, and body mass index were considered. Bayesian multilevel modeling was used to describe the individual growth patterns. RESULTS: Growth in stature was comparable to the age-specific 50th percentile for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reference data until approximately 8 years, but a substantial decrease in growth rate was observed thereafter, reaching the age-specific 5th percentile at 15 years of age. Both body mass and body mass index values were, on average, higher than both the Brazilian and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention age-specific 95th percentile reference until 8 years, but below the 50th specific-age percentile at the age of 15 years. CONCLUSIONS: Brazilian boys with autism spectrum disorders between 4 and 15 years appear to have impaired growth in stature after 8-9 years of age, likely impacting pubertal growth. A high prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed in early childhood, although a trend of substantial decrease in body mass and body mass index was apparent when children with autism spectrum disorders entered the years of pubertal development.
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9. Vigli D, Cosentino L, Raggi C, Laviola G, Woolley-Roberts M, De Filippis B. {{Chronic treatment with the phytocannabinoid Cannabidivarin (CBDV) rescues behavioural alterations and brain atrophy in a mouse model of Rett syndrome}}. {Neuropharmacology}. 2018; 140: 121-9.
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by severe behavioural and physiological symptoms. RTT is caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene in about 95% of cases and to date no cure is available. The endocannabinoid system modulates several physiological processes and behavioural responses that are impaired in RTT and its deregulation has been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders which have symptoms in common with RTT. The present study evaluated the potential therapeutic efficacy for RTT of cannabidivarin (CBDV), a non-psychotropic phytocannabinoid from Cannabis sativa that presents antagonistic properties on the G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55), the most recently identified cannabinoid receptor. Present results demonstrate that systemic treatment with CBDV (2, 20, 100 mg/Kg ip for 14 days) rescues behavioural and brain alterations in MeCP2-308 male mice, a validated RTT model. The CBDV treatment restored the compromised general health status, the sociability and the brain weight in RTT mice. A partial restoration of motor coordination was also observed. Moreover, increased levels of GPR55 were found in RTT mouse hippocampus, suggesting this G protein-coupled receptor as new potential target for the treatment of this disorder. Present findings highlight for the first time for RTT the translational relevance of CBDV, an innovative therapeutic agent that is under active investigation in the clinical setting.
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10. Waddington F, Hartman C, de Bruijn Y, Lappenschaar M, Oerlemans A, Buitelaar J, Franke B, Rommelse N. {{Visual and auditory emotion recognition problems as familial cross-disorder phenomenon in ASD and ADHD}}. {Eur Neuropsychopharmacol}. 2018.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are frequently comorbid disorders. Emotion recognition problems are considered an important familial deficit in ASD, but this is unknown in ADHD. Very few studies have directly compared emotion recognition performance of youth with ASD and/or ADHD and of their unaffected siblings across age to quantify the contribution of emotion recognition problems to the ADHD phenotype. We therefore devised a study of 64 ASD+ADHD participants, 89 ASD-only participants, 111 ADHD-only participants, 122 unaffected ASD(+ADHD) siblings, 69 unaffected ADHD-only siblings and 220 controls aged 7-18 years, who had completed two tasks assessing auditory and visual emotion recognition. Factor analysis was used to detect underlying dimensions of emotion recognition capacity. Linear mixed models were used to compare performance across groups and to assess age effects. The factor-analysis revealed four factors separating speed and accuracy regarding visual and auditory emotion recognition. ASD+ADHD, ASD-only, and ADHD-only participants all performed worse than controls. ASD+ADHD, ASD-only, and ADHD-only participants did not differ in the severity of their emotion recognition problems. Both unaffected sibling groups performed intermediate between patients and controls. For ASD+ADHD and ADHD-only participants, group differences were more marked in adolescence than childhood, whereas in ASD participants this was not observed. We conclude that emotion recognition problems are a familial deficit in ADHD to a similar extent as in ASD. Emotion recognition problems specifically – and social cognition problems more generally – should be assessed in clinical practice for ADHD.
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11. Walsh RJ, Krabbendam L, Dewinter J, Begeer S. {{Brief Report: Gender Identity Differences in Autistic Adults: Associations with Perceptual and Socio-cognitive Profiles}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
Prior research has shown an elevation in autism traits and diagnoses in individuals seen for gender related consultation and in participants self-identifying as transgender. To investigate this relationship between autism and gender identity from a new angle, we compared the self-reported autism traits and sensory differences between participants with autism who did or did not identify with their assigned sex (i.e. cisgender or trans and non-binary, respectively). We found broad elevation of most cognitive autism traits in the trans and non-binary group (those who identified with a gender other than their assigned gender), and lower visual and auditory hypersensitivity. We contrast these data to existing hypotheses and propose a role for autistic resistance to social conditioning.
