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Brain morphometry volume in autistic spectrum disorder: a magnetic resonance imaging study of adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2008

B. Hallahan ,
E. M. Daly ,
G. McAlonan ,
E. Loth ,
F. Toal ,
F. O'Brien ,
D. Robertson ,
S. Hales ,
C. Murphy  and
K. C. Murphy
...Show all authors
B. Hallahan*
Affiliation:
Section of Brain Maturation, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
E. M. Daly
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
G. McAlonan
Affiliation:
Section of Brain Maturation, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
E. Loth
Affiliation:
Section of Brain Maturation, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
F. Toal
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
F. O'Brien
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
D. Robertson
Affiliation:
Section of Brain Maturation, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
S. Hales
Affiliation:
Section of Brain Maturation, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
C. Murphy
Affiliation:
Section of Brain Maturation, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
K. C. Murphy
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
D. G. M. Murphy
Affiliation:
Section of Brain Maturation, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr B. Hallahan, Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Shantalla, Galway, Republic of Ireland. (Email: brian.hallahan@nuigalway.ie)
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Abstract

Background

Several prior reports have found that some young children with autism spectrum disorder [ASD; including autism and Asperger's syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)] have a significant increase in head size and brain weight. However, the findings from older children and adults with ASD are inconsistent. This may reflect the relatively small sample sizes that were studied, clinical heterogeneity, or age-related brain differences.

Method

Hence, we measured head size (intracranial volume), and the bulk volume of ventricular and peripheral cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), lobar brain, and cerebellum in 114 people with ASD and 60 controls aged between 18 and 58 years. The ASD sample included 80 people with Asperger's syndrome, 28 with autism and six with PDD-NOS.

Results

There was no significant between-group difference in head and/or lobar brain matter volume. However, compared with controls, each ASD subgroup had a significantly smaller cerebellar volume, and a significantly larger volume of peripheral CSF.

Conclusions

Within ASD adults, the bulk volume of cerebellum is reduced irrespective of diagnostic subcategory. Also the significant increase in peripheral CSF may reflect differences in cortical maturation and/or ageing.

Keywords

Autism spectrum disorderAsperger's syndromemagnetic resonance imagingbrain
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 39 , Issue 2 , February 2009 , pp. 337 - 346
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press

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