An-Yi Zhang1, Xing-Ming Jin, Jun Ma. 1. Shanghai Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China. majun@shsmu.edu.cn.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and type of abnormal brain structure in preschool and school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: A total of 74 252 preschool and school-aged children aged 3-12 years in Shanghai were enrolled as subjects. A questionnaire survey was performed to collect basic information, and their parents and teachers completed the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) based on the children's conditions. ASD was diagnosed by specialist physicians according to the DSM-5 criteria. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed according to their parents' desires. RESULTS: The overall prevalence rate of ASD was 2.59‰ (192/74 252) in the preschool and school-aged children. Brain MRI data were collected from 73 children with ASD and 185 healthy children. Among the 73 children with ASD, 40 (55%) had abnormal brain structure, and the most common types were unilateral or bilateral ventriculomegaly in 32 children (80%) and unilateral or bilateral deep frontotemporal sulci in 12 children (30%). Children with ASD showed lower white matter signal in bilateral ventricular and unilateral or bilateral deep frontotemporal sulci, compared to their normal peers (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence rate of abnormal brain structure in preschool and school-aged children with ASD, with major types of unilateral or bilateral ventriculomegaly and unilateral or bilateral deep frontotemporal sulci. It is speculated that abnormal brain structure might be associated with the pathogenesis of ASD, and further studies are needed to clarify the association between abnormal brain structure and symptoms in children with ASD.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and type of abnormal brain structure in preschool and school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: A total of 74 252 preschool and school-aged children aged 3-12 years in Shanghai were enrolled as subjects. A questionnaire survey was performed to collect basic information, and their parents and teachers completed the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) based on the children's conditions. ASD was diagnosed by specialist physicians according to the DSM-5 criteria. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed according to their parents' desires. RESULTS: The overall prevalence rate of ASD was 2.59‰ (192/74 252) in the preschool and school-aged children. Brain MRI data were collected from 73 children with ASD and 185 healthy children. Among the 73 children with ASD, 40 (55%) had abnormal brain structure, and the most common types were unilateral or bilateral ventriculomegaly in 32 children (80%) and unilateral or bilateral deep frontotemporal sulci in 12 children (30%). Children with ASD showed lower white matter signal in bilateral ventricular and unilateral or bilateral deep frontotemporal sulci, compared to their normal peers (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence rate of abnormal brain structure in preschool and school-aged children with ASD, with major types of unilateral or bilateral ventriculomegaly and unilateral or bilateral deep frontotemporal sulci. It is speculated that abnormal brain structure might be associated with the pathogenesis of ASD, and further studies are needed to clarify the association between abnormal brain structure and symptoms in children with ASD.
Authors: Merina Varghese; Neha Keshav; Sarah Jacot-Descombes; Tahia Warda; Bridget Wicinski; Dara L Dickstein; Hala Harony-Nicolas; Silvia De Rubeis; Elodie Drapeau; Joseph D Buxbaum; Patrick R Hof Journal: Acta Neuropathol Date: 2017-06-05 Impact factor: 17.088
Authors: Laura M E Blanken; Ryan L Muetzel; Vincent W V Jaddoe; Frank C Verhulst; Aad van der Lugt; Henning Tiemeier; Tonya White Journal: Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging Date: 2017-03-28 Impact factor: 2.376