Autistic adults show more dopamine receptors, brain-imaging study finds
How does autism manifest in the brain? Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital investigated this question in a new study involving 60 adults.
A recent brain-imaging study conducted by researchers from the University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital has revealed insights into the biological mechanisms associated with autism. This is the first study to simultaneously examine dopamine levels, brain energy use, and communication between brain regions in autistic adults.
The findings, published in the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, suggest that autistic individuals have more dopamine D2 receptors and higher glucose metabolism in deep brain regions compared to neurotypical individuals. The study's lead author, Laust Vind Knudsen, notes that these differences in the dopamine system may play a more fundamental role in autism than previously thought.
The researchers also discovered that the dopamine system influences communication between brain regions differently in autistic participants compared to neurotypical individuals. While the study does not provide a diagnosis or explain the cause of autism, it offers new knowledge about the biological variation and mechanisms linked to the condition.
The findings also highlight the potential connection between dopamine system-related mechanisms and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which is prevalent among autistic individuals. Further research is needed to confirm these results in larger cohorts.
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