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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with atypical brain development. However, the phenotype of regionally specific increased cortical thickness observed in ASD may be driven by several independent biological processes that influence the gray/white matter boundary, such as synaptic pruning, myelination, or atypical migration. Here, we propose to use the boundary sharpness coefficient (BSC), a proxy for alterations in microstructure at the cortical gray/white matter boundary, to investigate brain differences in individuals with ASD, including factors that may influence ASD-related heterogeneity (age, sex, and intelligence quotient). Using a vertex-based meta-analysis and a large multicenter structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) dataset, with a total of 1136 individuals, 415 with ASD (112 female; 303 male), and 721 controls (283 female; 438 male), we observed that individuals with ASD had significantly greater BSC in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus and left inferior frontal gyrus indicating an abrupt transition (high contrast) between white matter and cortical intensities. Individuals with ASD under 18 had significantly greater BSC in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus and right postcentral gyrus; individuals with ASD over 18 had significantly increased BSC in the bilateral precuneus and superior temporal gyrus. Increases were observed in different brain regions in males and females, with larger effect sizes in females. BSC correlated with ADOS-2 Calibrated Severity Score in individuals with ASD in the right medial temporal pole. Importantly, there was a significant spatial overlap between maps of the effect of diagnosis on BSC when compared with cortical thickness. These results invite studies to use BSC as a possible new measure of cortical development in ASD and to further examine the microstructural underpinnings of BSC-related differences and their impact on measures of cortical morphology.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhab015 | DOI Listing |
Int Dent J
September 2025
Center of Excellence in Precision Medicine and Digital Health, Geriatric Dentistry and Special Patients Care International Program, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Clinic of General - Special Care and Geriatric Dentistry, Center for Dental
Background: Emerging evidence suggests a link between the oral microbiome and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by social and behavioural impairments. The vast microbial reservoirs in the gut complement those of the oral cavity, suggesting a potential oral-gut-brain axis that may influence ASD and perhaps other neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. For the first time, this systematic review synthesises the current knowledge of oral microbiome composition, diversity, and functionality in ASD and its potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpine (Phila Pa 1976)
October 2025
Niigata Spine Surgery Center, Kameda Daiichi Hospital, Niigata, Japan.
Study Design: Prospective cohort study.
Objective: To investigate longitudinal changes in physical functional status after long corrective fusion in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD) during 2 years of follow-up.
Background: In ASD surgery, reports assessing physical functional status in long-term observations for more than a year are lacking.
Background: Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience identity confusion, social difficulties, and internalizing symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Physical activity offers opportunities for peer interaction and teamwork, which may help alleviate negative emotions. This study aims to investigate the pathways through which physical activity influences internalizing problems in adolescents with ASD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJMIR Res Protoc
September 2025
Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and social communication disorder (SCD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by deficits in social communication that hinder social adaptation, with limited pharmacological options for therapy owing to the absence of identified biomarkers. Individuals with ASD or SCD require lifelong interventions tailored to their development stages. However, most existing interventions primarily focus on early childhood, leaving adolescents relatively underserved.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeuroimage Clin
September 2025
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Objectives: To examine associations between low cognitive-performance and regional-and network-level brain changes at ages 9-10 in very-preterm, moderately-preterm, and full-term children, and explore whether these alterations predict ASD/ADHD symptoms at age 12.
Methods: This longitudinal population-based study included 9-10-year-old U.S.