Research Roundup is a monthly newsletter from N of One’s UK-based science writer, Paul Whiteley, PhD. Each month we summarize a few research papers on a variety of topics in one simple, easy-to-read paragraph. It’s our hope that by skimming these each month, you will broaden your knowledge and perhaps find information helpful in your journey of navigating a complex autism landscape.
Is Autism Life-long? Non-persisting autism linked with lower rates of other developmental and psychiatric conditions
“Children with persistent ASD have higher rates of DPCs [Developmental and Psychiatric Conditions] than those with non-persistent ASD.” So said a recent paper from Boston Children’s Hospital following up other work from this group on the idea that autism, or at least reaching the diagnostic cut-off points for autism, may not be universally lifelong for everyone. Examination of their cohort of over 200 children initially diagnosed with autism, a proportion of which later did not meet diagnostic thresholds, this time turned to ‘what might remain’ as and when autism dissipates. Their findings, based on both parental and psychologists’ reports, suggested that children in the persisting autism group were more likely to report diagnoses such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than those in the non-persisting group. Around a third of the non-persisting autism group had one or more DPCs. Cumulatively, the data indicates that for some autism is not a lifelong issue (or at least not to a clinically significant level during some part of childhood). Mirroring other independent work looking at adults, the data indicate that for some, loss of autism diagnosis also means a reduction in other conditions that can have important effects on quality of life. Further longitudinal work is needed, also incorporating whether behavioral changes are accompanied by biological changes, and what this could potentially mean for intervention strategies for some.
Regression might not be a final state in some autism
“... of those with regression, 76% had regained lost skills upon completion of the study”. That was one of the findings from a cohort of over 600 preschool children with autism looking at the prevalence and experiences of behavioural regression as part of the clinical picture for some. US researchers continued an important study theme looking at the now widely-accepted idea that regression in skills is an important part of the clinical picture of autism for some. Based on various assessment data, they observed that a quarter of their child group underwent some kind of developmental regression in areas of language and/or social skills. Much of the regression occurred before the age of 2 years old in their cohort. The finding that quite a few of those who regressed also regained previously lost or regressed skills is important. It demonstrates the power of brain plasticity during the early childhood years and how autistic regression may not be an absolute phenomenon for everyone. Further studies on the biological correlates of behavioral regression in autism are required.
[Note From J. Rodakis: Sadly, there are many in the field who still deny that autistic regression exists – arguing that it was always there, but “the parents just didn’t know what to look for.”]
Higher rates of aggressive behaviors in autistic preschoolers
Preschool children diagnosed with autism are significantly more likely to show aggressive behaviors as reported by parents than non-autistic children according to new research out of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Surveying nearly 1200 parents, around 600 of whom had an autistic preschooler, researchers aimed to examine the prevalence of aggressive behaviors in this cohort of young children, alongside what sorts of issues might be important to the presentation of aggression. They observed that although rates of aggression were quite low across their total sample of autistic children, they did occur more frequently than in non-autistic children. They also determined that various factors seemed to be associated with aggression including a co-occurring diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a tendency towards emotional reactivity as judged by one of the questionnaires used in their study. Indeed, authors concluded that assessment and intervention for emotion dysregulation might be an important option in reducing the effects of aggression in this cohort.
Omega-3 fatty acids for autism? A meta-analysis of meta-analyses says "perhaps"
Researchers in Iran, looking at the collected literature on the use of omega-3 fatty acids in the context of autism, have given a thumbs up to their use for at least some core and peripheral aspects of childhood autism. Drawing on data from seven already gold-standard meta-analyses - where data is combined from various different studies to reach a particular conclusion - they noted that issues such as hyperactivity and ‘cluttering speech’ (fast and unclear conversational speech) seemed to be positively affected by administration of such fatty acid supplements. Such findings fit well with what is already known with regards to the use of omega-3 supplementation on conditions such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, a word of caution too, as the researcher found evidence that specific smaller dosages of such fatty acids actually seemed to increase levels of stereotypical behaviors in some autistic children. [See paper for full details]
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