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Effects of age and symptomatology on cortical thickness in autism spectrum disorders
Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Krissy A.R. Doyle-Thomas, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
  • Emma G. Duerden, Hospital for Sick Children University of Toronto
  • Margot J. Taylor, Hospital for Sick Children University of Toronto
  • Jason P. Lerch, Hospital for Sick Children University of Toronto
  • Latha V. Soorya, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  • A. Ting Wang, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  • Jin Fan, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  • Eric Hollander, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
  • Evdokia Anagnostou, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2013
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1016/j.rasd.2012.08.004
Disciplines
Abstract

Several brain regions show structural and functional abnormalities in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), but the developmental trajectory of abnormalities in these structures and how they may relate to social and communicative impairments are still unclear. We assessed the effects of age on cortical thickness in individuals with ASD, between the ages of 7 and 39 years in comparison to typically developing controls. Additionally, we examined differences in cortical thickness in relation to symptomatology in the ASD group, and their association with age. Analyses were conducted using a general linear model, controlling for sex. Social and communication scores from the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) were correlated with the thickness of regions implicated in those functions. Controls showed widespread cortical thinning relative to the ASD group. Within regions-of-interest, increased thickness in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex was associated with poorer social scores. Additionally, a significant interaction between age and social impairment was found in the orbitofrontal cortex, with more impaired younger children having decreased thickness in this region. These results suggest that differential neurodevelopmental trajectories are present in individuals with ASD and some differences are associated with diagnostic behaviours. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Citation Information
Krissy A.R. Doyle-Thomas, Emma G. Duerden, Margot J. Taylor, Jason P. Lerch, et al.. "Effects of age and symptomatology on cortical thickness in autism spectrum disorders" Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders Vol. 7 Iss. 1 (2013) p. 141 - 150
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/emma-duerden/16/