A scoping review of physiological biomarkers in autism

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by pervasive deficits in social interaction, communication impairments, and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors. This complex disorder is a significant public health concern due to its escalating incidence and detrimental impact on quality of life. Currently, extensive investigations are underway to identify prospective susceptibility or predictive biomarkers, employing a physiological biomarker-based framework. However, knowledge regarding physiological biomarkers in relation to Autism is sparse. We performed a scoping review to explore putative changes in physiological activities associated with behaviors in individuals with Autism. We identified studies published between January 2000 and June 2023 from online databases, and searched keywords included electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG), electrodermal activity markers (EDA), eye-tracking markers. We specifically detected social-related symptoms such as impaired social communication in ASD patients. Our results indicated that the EEG/ERP N170 signal has undergone the most rigorous testing as a potential biomarker, showing promise in identifying subgroups within ASD and displaying potential as an indicator of treatment response. By gathering current data from various physiological biomarkers, we can obtain a comprehensive understanding of the physiological profiles of individuals with ASD, offering potential for subgrouping and targeted intervention strategies.

Hepatic Alterations in a BTBR T + Itpr3tf/J Mouse Model of Autism and Improvement Using Melatonin via Mitigation Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Ferroptosis

“…Moreover, we show that oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in the liver pathogenesis of ASD in BTBR mice. A major finding in our study is that ferroptosis, a type of programmed cell death, occurs in the livers of this autistic mouse model, which is similar to defects in the neurological development of ASD [2,40]. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the antioxidant melatonin ameliorates morphological and biochemical alterations in the liver of BTBR mice.…”

“…Based on these findings, we propose that there are defects in liver organogenesis in BTBR mice since these mice have large amounts of MD and BD hepatocytes that were inhibited in the formation of MT hepatocytes, as was found in CTR animals at the same age. We consider this defect in the livers of these mice comparable to those observed in hippocampal neurogenesis in various animal ASD models and ASD patients [2,18,26,[44][45][46][47].…”

“…Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous, disabling neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social interactions, limits interests and induces stereotype behavior [1][2][3]. The prevalence of ASD is increasing and creates a social burden.…”

“…The etiology of ASD is not well understood [2,5], but it is likely that both biological and environmental factors are involved [6]. Biologically, genetic and nongenetic factors play a role, such as immunological and mitochondrial malfunction associated with oxidative stress, neurotrophic dysregulation and inflammation [7][8][9][10].…”

Unraveling the immunogenetic landscape of autism spectrum disorder: a comprehensive bioinformatics approach

“…Although the diagnosis of ASD has posed challenges for an extended period, the existing biomarkers are insufficient to provide personalized gene-level treatment ( 4 , 5 ). However, molecular subtypes could aid in identifying the heterogeneity among ASD patients and facilitating the discovery of targeted therapies for ASD ( 6 ).…”