Hormone Linked to Social Difficulties With Autism, Early Study Finds
Hormone Linked to Social Difficulties With Autism, Early Study Finds
Levels of vasopressin associated with 'theory of mind' tasks in children with ASD
The levels of vasopressin varied from low to high across all three groups. The only time the levels seemed to matter were on theory of mind scores among children with autism. In kids without autism, vasopressin levels didn't seem to affect their performance on theory of mind tests.
Dr. Glen Elliott, chief psychiatrist and medical director of Children's Health Council in Palo Alto, Calif., said this research is very preliminary.
"This really is a study that prepares the way for further research, first by showing that a blood measure gives a reasonable, though far from perfect, estimate of what is going on in the brain," he said. "Second, it demonstrates a statistically significant correlation between blood concentrations of vasopressin and one aspect of social interaction, theory of mind."
Though he found the results intriguing, Elliott pointed out that the vasopressin levels were linked only with a single facet of social functioning, not simply the existence of autism. "It is essential to keep in mind that the data are preliminary and a long way from offering a treatment even for one symptom of autism, let alone the disorder itself," he said.
The next step is to look at whether giving vasopressin to children with autism with low levels of the hormone makes a difference in their social skills or theory of mind tests, Parker said. She and her colleagues are working on a study like that now.
"Animal studies have shown that variation in vasopressin biology is associated with variation in social abilities," Parker said. "Moreover, when scientists experimentally diminish vasopressin levels in the brain, animals show social impairments."
Yet in humans, the study revealed no effect from lower vasopressin levels in children who did not have autism.
"We may not have seen this association in typically developing kids because individual differences in blood vasopressin levels may only begin to negatively impact social abilities at the low end of the functional range," Parker said. "That may be why this relationship is only evident in people with autism."
Much more research needs to occur, however, before researchers learn whether adjusting vasopressin levels makes any difference for children with autism, suggested Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York in New Hyde Park.
"Though these findings are interesting and may prove helpful to researchers going forward, they do not provide parents of children with autism spectrum disorders any immediate clinical benefit from either a diagnostic or a therapeutic standpoint," Adesman said.
Hormone Linked to Social Difficulties With Autism
Levels of vasopressin associated with 'theory of mind' tasks in children with ASD
The levels of vasopressin varied from low to high across all three groups. The only time the levels seemed to matter were on theory of mind scores among children with autism. In kids without autism, vasopressin levels didn't seem to affect their performance on theory of mind tests.
Dr. Glen Elliott, chief psychiatrist and medical director of Children's Health Council in Palo Alto, Calif., said this research is very preliminary.
"This really is a study that prepares the way for further research, first by showing that a blood measure gives a reasonable, though far from perfect, estimate of what is going on in the brain," he said. "Second, it demonstrates a statistically significant correlation between blood concentrations of vasopressin and one aspect of social interaction, theory of mind."
Though he found the results intriguing, Elliott pointed out that the vasopressin levels were linked only with a single facet of social functioning, not simply the existence of autism. "It is essential to keep in mind that the data are preliminary and a long way from offering a treatment even for one symptom of autism, let alone the disorder itself," he said.
The next step is to look at whether giving vasopressin to children with autism with low levels of the hormone makes a difference in their social skills or theory of mind tests, Parker said. She and her colleagues are working on a study like that now.
"Animal studies have shown that variation in vasopressin biology is associated with variation in social abilities," Parker said. "Moreover, when scientists experimentally diminish vasopressin levels in the brain, animals show social impairments."
Yet in humans, the study revealed no effect from lower vasopressin levels in children who did not have autism.
"We may not have seen this association in typically developing kids because individual differences in blood vasopressin levels may only begin to negatively impact social abilities at the low end of the functional range," Parker said. "That may be why this relationship is only evident in people with autism."
Much more research needs to occur, however, before researchers learn whether adjusting vasopressin levels makes any difference for children with autism, suggested Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York in New Hyde Park.
"Though these findings are interesting and may prove helpful to researchers going forward, they do not provide parents of children with autism spectrum disorders any immediate clinical benefit from either a diagnostic or a therapeutic standpoint," Adesman said.