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Brain Changes in Autism
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People with autism have difficulty communicating, learning, and socializing. New research suggests these problems may be linked to shrinkage of a key part of the brain. The amygdala, which is vital in processing emotions and facial expressions, has been found to be smaller in young men with autism, as reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Autism is a lifelong brain disorder that affects how people communicate and relate to others. Despite years of research, its cause is still unknown. Once thought to be rare, it is now recognized as the most common neurological disorder affecting children and one of the most common developmental disabilities. It affects 0.6% of Americans of all racial, social, and ethnic groups. It is four times more likely to affect males than females. Researchers conducted two studies to measure the volume of the amygdala and the relationship between its size to social behaviours and the severity of symptoms. Fifty-four males ages 8-25 with autism diagnosed according to standard testing guidelines, and 26 healthy males were studied. Amygdala size was determined by high-resolution MRI.
The autistic males were found to have a significantly smaller amygdala than healthy males. In addition, autistic children with a small amygdala were much slower to distinguish emotional and facial expressions, had poorer eye fixation and were the most socially impaired. It is thought that early hyperactivity of the amygdala creates an overload that causes it to shrink.
While the connection between autism and structural changes in the brain isn’t new, these findings add a new piece to the puzzle and may one day lead to a treatment for this condition.
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