Autism is a brain condition that affects how people think, feel, and interact with others. It’s different for everyone, and understanding it fully is tricky.
In the US, about 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with autism. Right now, there’s no straightforward test for it, like a blood test.
Instead, specialists observe and evaluate behavior to diagnose it. But some scientists from Brazil might be onto a game-changing way to spot it by studying the brain.
Brain Scans and Machine Learning
The research team, led by Francisco Rodrigues from the University of São Paulo, used two key tools: brain scans and machine learning (a type of computer programming).
They examined the brains of 500 people; half of them had autism. By using detailed brain scans (fMRI and EEG), they created maps that show how different parts of the brain talk to each other.
When they compared these brain maps of people with and without autism, they found differences. They then trained a computer program to recognize these differences.
The exciting thing? This computer program could tell if someone had autism with over 95% accuracy.
Why This Research is Different
Many scientists have tried to use computer programs for diagnosing autism. But what’s special about this study is the focus on brain networks.
Think of the brain like a city with roads and intersections. If a main road is blocked, traffic will change. Similarly, if some connections in the brain aren’t working properly, it can lead to conditions like autism.
Studying these connections gives a fresh perspective on how the brain works and might malfunction.
The team noticed changes in brain areas linked to thinking, feeling, and memory. Brains of people with autism had certain characteristics like fewer connections and less info sharing between regions.
More Than Just Autism
This method of checking brain connections isn’t just for autism. The same team has used it to study other conditions like schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s.
By understanding how different brain conditions might be linked, we might find new treatments.
Rodrigues pointed out that if we see similarities between conditions like schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s, treatments for one might be adapted for the other.
Despite the excitement, there’s still a lot of work ahead. Big hurdles include gathering more data and refining the process.
But the researchers are optimistic. They believe that understanding the brain better can lead to better treatments and policies.
The team behind this study isn’t just made up of brain experts. It’s a mix of professionals, including doctors, neuroscientists, statisticians, and even physicists from different countries.
They all brought their expertise together to try and unlock the mysteries of the brain.
In the end, this study is a step forward in the long journey of understanding autism and other brain conditions. The hope is that as we get to know the brain better, we can offer more effective help to those who need it.
If you care about autism, please read studies about a new cause of autism, and vitamin D could help lower the risk of autoimmune diseases.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about common signs and symptoms of autism, and gut health plays a role in autism.
The study was published in Scientific Reports.
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