For decades, scientists and social researchers have told us that the autistic brain is simply wired differently, and now, recent scientific research is backing up this claim. A new comprehensive study compared the brain scans of over 11,000 children who do not have autism to 142 children with diagnosed autism.
What they discovered is intriguing.
According to the reports, the researchers discovered that individuals who have been diagnosed with autism regularly show reduced activity in the brain regions that are responsible for learning, reasoning, and memory-related tasks. Other regions of the brain, however, had increased neural activity. The areas with greater activity were typically associated with emotions.
In an effort to be as succinct as possible, researchers also compared the autistic brain scans with brain scans of children diagnosed with similar conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and other neurodiverse diagnoses. The increased neural activity in the amygdala was specific to autism.
Researchers made sure to note that autistic individuals often have to cope with the symptoms of their original diagnosis alongside the impacts of conditions like anxiety, ADHD, depression, and other neurodiverse conditions.
These important findings about the unique cell structures and operating dynamics of an autistic brain should help neuroscientists in creating more dynamic therapeutic treatment options and diagnosis tools.
Scientists on this study used brain imaging data from the largest long-term study of brain development and child health. This data collection research began in 2015 and includes over 21 national data collection sites. One of the senior authors of the study explained that utilizing this long-term research is allowing researchers to follow children into early adulthood. What they’re learning is revolutionizing what we know about typical and neurodiverse brain development.
Does Your Autistic Loved One Need a Little Extra Support?
Do you think that your loved one might be autistic? Autism is a spectrum, which means every case is unique. Your child may not display “typical” autistic traits, but they may need additional support due to having limited functioning in specific areas.
Here at The Nevada Autism Center, our staff have been specifically trained to observe, identify, and evaluate autistic traits in children. If you suspect that your loved one might be on the spectrum, then we can initiate a screening and evaluation. We’ll conduct a parent interview to determine the child’s needs. From there, we will schedule a direct assessment where we can pinpoint your child’s needs, behaviors, and current skill level.
If we feel treatment is in your child’s best interest, then we will help you develop a plan that addresses the unique needs of your child and the desires of your family. This treatment plan will be designed with you and your child at the forefront.
The goal of our program is to help your child become more independent while learning replacement techniques for maladaptive behaviors.
Learn more about our assessment process or give our agents a call now at (702) 660-2005 to learn more about our facility, treatment options, and services.
