Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex neurobiological disorders of development characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, together with restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped interests/behavior. There has been a dramatic increase in the reported rates of ASD over the last 40 years which has risen in USA from 1 in 5000 in the mid-1970s to 1 in 88 in 2012. However, little is known about the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and there is currently a lack of reliable biological markers to help in the diagnosis or monitoring of the changes in clinical definitions over time or in response to therapies. Currently, there are few effective treatments for ASD with most medication and behavioral therapies aimed at minimizing the symptomology. Although the knowledge base of ASD is rapidly growing as research examines more and varied aspects of these disorders, their complex nature makes it difficult to determine the causation or catalysts. There is probably no singular unique cause for these neurobehavioral disorders but a combination of genetic and environmental factors may be responsible for pathological changes in brain and immune, metabolic, and endocrine systems.
ASD: Biochemical Mechanisms behind Behavioral Disorders
VALACCHI, Giuseppe;
2014
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex neurobiological disorders of development characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, together with restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped interests/behavior. There has been a dramatic increase in the reported rates of ASD over the last 40 years which has risen in USA from 1 in 5000 in the mid-1970s to 1 in 88 in 2012. However, little is known about the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and there is currently a lack of reliable biological markers to help in the diagnosis or monitoring of the changes in clinical definitions over time or in response to therapies. Currently, there are few effective treatments for ASD with most medication and behavioral therapies aimed at minimizing the symptomology. Although the knowledge base of ASD is rapidly growing as research examines more and varied aspects of these disorders, their complex nature makes it difficult to determine the causation or catalysts. There is probably no singular unique cause for these neurobehavioral disorders but a combination of genetic and environmental factors may be responsible for pathological changes in brain and immune, metabolic, and endocrine systems.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
