Study Finds 2 Autism Subtypes in 41% of Cases by Brain Connectivity
Updated
Updated · New Scientist · Jun 17
Study Finds 2 Autism Subtypes in 41% of Cases by Brain Connectivity
3 articles · Updated · New Scientist · Jun 17
Summary
fMRI data from 940 autistic people identified two dominant connectivity patterns: 24% showed hypoconnectivity and 17% showed hyperconnectivity versus 1,036 matched controls.
20 mouse strains carrying autism-linked gene mutations helped explain the split: 11 showed mostly weak brain links and nine showed mostly strong links.
Protein mapping tied the hypoconnected group to synapse-related pathways, while the hyperconnected group was linked to gene-regulation and immune-system proteins.
59% of autistic participants fit neither subtype, and outside researchers said mouse models and selected genes capture only part of autism's biological diversity.