title: Brief report: biochemical correlates of clinical impairment in high functioning autism and Asperger's disorder.
abstract: Amygdala dysfunction has been proposed as a critical contributor to social impairment in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The current study investigated biochemical abnormalities in the amygdala in 20 high functioning adults with autistic disorder or Asperger's disorder and 19 typically developing adults matched on age and IQ. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to measure N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), creatine/phosphocreatine (Cre), choline/choline containing compounds (Cho), and Myoinositol (mI) in the right and left amygdala. There were no significant between-group differences in any of the metabolites. However, NAA and Cre levels were significantly correlated to clinical ratings on the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised. This suggests that altered metabolite levels in the amygdala may be associated with a more severe early developmental course in ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Box 357115, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. nkleinha@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Natalia M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Kleinhans
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Kurt E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aylward
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000378:metabolism*; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism*; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007294:Inositol / Q000378:metabolism*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010725:Phosphocreatine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D007294:Inositol; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline