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International study identifies different biological profiles in Autism, expanding advances in brain health and precision medicine.
A new research is attracting the attention of the scientific community by presenting evidence that autism may not be a single condition. The study, conducted by researchers from the Italian Institute of Technology and the Child Mind Institute, identified deep biological differences between groups of patients who share the same diagnosis.
According to an article published by Brasil 247 on June 12, the discovery emerged after analyzing brain scans of nearly a thousand people and could accelerate the development of precision medicine, allowing for more personalized approaches. Moreover, the results expand the understanding of brain health and help explain why the spectrum presents such different manifestations among individuals.
Research on autism identifies two distinct biological profiles
For decades, doctors have observed that each person diagnosed with autism has unique characteristics. However, biological evidence was still lacking to justify this vast clinical diversity.
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The new investigation brought important answers. The researchers discovered that about a quarter of the patients analyzed could be grouped into two well-defined biological categories, each marked by a specific pattern of brain functioning.
According to the authors, this differentiation helps to understand why some people exhibit more intense symptoms while others develop quite distinct skills and needs.
Among the main findings are:
- One group showed brain hyperconnectivity, with excessive communication between brain regions.
- Another group demonstrated hypoconnectivity, characterized by a reduction in neural information exchange.
- Patients with higher connectivity recorded slightly higher scores on severity tests.
How nearly a thousand exams revealed new paths for neuroscience
To achieve the results, the scientists analyzed functional magnetic resonance imaging exams of nearly a thousand individuals with autism.
The data were compared with information from more than a thousand neurotypical people, allowing for the identification of consistent differences between the groups studied.
The team also used data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE), one of the largest international brain imaging databases related to the autism spectrum. The combination of this information strengthened the reliability of the results.
Additionally, the research involved centers of excellence located in Italy and the United States, broadening the validation of the findings in different populations.
Brain health helps explain differences within the spectrum
One of the most important points of the discovery is related to how different regions of the brain communicate.
Functional connectivity is responsible for coordinating essential activities of the organism, including learning, perception, behavior, and information processing.
In the group identified with hypoconnectivity, researchers observed reduced communication between certain neural networks. This characteristic can directly influence the way information is processed by the brain.
Meanwhile, the group with hyperconnectivity showed exactly the opposite: excessively active connections between different brain regions.
These results reinforce the importance of brain health in understanding the biological mechanisms involved in neurological development.
What do genes and the immune system have to do with autism?
In addition to the differences observed in brain images, the scientists were able to relate the patterns found to specific biological mechanisms.
The group with lower connectivity showed a strong association with genes linked to the functioning of synapses, structures responsible for communication between neurons.
On the other hand, the hyperconnectivity pattern showed a connection with processes associated with the immune system.
This discovery caught the researchers’ attention because it suggests that genetic and immunological factors may influence different forms of autism.
The results pointed to three important conclusions:
- Synaptic genes seem to be related to the low connectivity pattern.
- Immunological processes were associated with the high connectivity pattern.
- Different biological mechanisms may coexist within the spectrum.
Research on autism used 20 animal models to validate results
The scientific team also resorted to experiments with animals to better understand the mechanisms identified in human exams.
Twenty different mouse models were analyzed, allowing the observation of molecular changes that would be more difficult to initially detect in humans.
These tests functioned as a kind of biological translation of the results found in patients.
The most relevant aspect was the strong correspondence between the changes observed in animals and the patterns identified in human brain images. This convergence significantly increased the researchers’ confidence in the results obtained.
Precision medicine can transform diagnoses and treatments
The discovery opens new possibilities for the application of precision medicine in the care of people with autism.
Currently, diagnoses rely mainly on behavioral observation. Although this method is fundamental, it does not allow for identifying the biological differences existing between patients.
With the advancement of neuroimaging technologies and genetic analysis, experts believe it will be possible to develop more individualized therapeutic strategies.
Precision medicine aims precisely to adapt interventions to the biological characteristics of each person. In the future, this could result in more effective treatments, more detailed evaluations, and more targeted clinical follow-up.
A new phase for the science of neurological development
The study’s authors emphasize that the two identified subtypes represent only a part of the complexity existing within the spectrum.
As global data banks grow and analysis tools become more sophisticated, new biological patterns may be discovered.
The current autism research shows that science is getting closer to a more detailed understanding of brain function and the differences that exist among individuals diagnosed with the condition.
By expanding knowledge about brain health and strengthening the advancement of precision medicine, the discovery may contribute to more accurate diagnoses, more effective interventions, and a better quality of life for millions of people around the world.
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