PURPOSE: In this investigation, we studied differences in chemical metabolites in certain brain regions between autistic patients and normal control subjects. METHODS: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) was used to evaluate functional activity in these regions. Specific regions studied were right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(DLPFC) and the anterior cingulated cortex(ACC). RESULTS: In the ACC, the N-acetylaspartate(NAA)/creatine/phosphocreatine(Cr) ratio in autistic patients (n=31) was significantly lower than that in control subjects (n=28). The decrease in the NAA/Cr ratio for the ACC was much greater in the group with worst social ability. NAA/Cr for the left DLPFC and social ability of autistic patients also correlated well. Furthermore, NAA/Cr for the left DLPFC in the group with intelligence quotient (IQ) below 50 was significantly less than in controls. NAA/Cr for the right DLPFC in autistic patients was not decreased compared to controls, and did not correlate with IQ or social ability. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest neuronal dysfunction in the ACC and left DLPFC in autism, and also a relationship between social disability and metabolic dysfunction in these regions. Dysfunction in the ACC and the left DLPFC may contribute to the pathogenesis of autism.
PURPOSE: In this investigation, we studied differences in chemical metabolites in certain brain regions between autisticpatients and normal control subjects. METHODS: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) was used to evaluate functional activity in these regions. Specific regions studied were right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(DLPFC) and the anterior cingulated cortex(ACC). RESULTS: In the ACC, the N-acetylaspartate(NAA)/creatine/phosphocreatine(Cr) ratio in autisticpatients (n=31) was significantly lower than that in control subjects (n=28). The decrease in the NAA/Cr ratio for the ACC was much greater in the group with worst social ability. NAA/Cr for the left DLPFC and social ability of autisticpatients also correlated well. Furthermore, NAA/Cr for the left DLPFC in the group with intelligence quotient (IQ) below 50 was significantly less than in controls. NAA/Cr for the right DLPFC in autisticpatients was not decreased compared to controls, and did not correlate with IQ or social ability. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest neuronal dysfunction in the ACC and left DLPFC in autism, and also a relationship between social disability and metabolic dysfunction in these regions. Dysfunction in the ACC and the left DLPFC may contribute to the pathogenesis of autism.
Authors: L Tebartz van Elst; S Maier; T Fangmeier; D Endres; G T Mueller; K Nickel; D Ebert; T Lange; J Hennig; M Biscaldi; A Riedel; E Perlov Journal: Mol Psychiatry Date: 2014-07-22 Impact factor: 15.992
Authors: Lauren E Libero; Thomas P DeRamus; Adrienne C Lahti; Gopikrishna Deshpande; Rajesh K Kana Journal: Cortex Date: 2015-03-03 Impact factor: 4.027
Authors: Anthony Bejjani; Joseph O'Neill; John A Kim; Andrew J Frew; Victor W Yee; Ronald Ly; Christina Kitchen; Noriko Salamon; James T McCracken; Arthur W Toga; Jeffry R Alger; Jennifer G Levitt Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-07-27 Impact factor: 3.240