Biography
Biography: Alok Sharma
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a group of neurodevelopmental disorders, is characterized by abnormal development of brain function and connectivity. Routine magnetic resonance imaging studies have shown some volumetric changes, but inconsistently. Functional neuroimaging modalities have suggested abnormal brain function. We studied the brain function, using [18F] 2 fluro 2 deoxy D glucose FDG Positron emission tomography – computed tomography scan, of 45 children diagnosed with ASD on the basis of DSM IV – TR criteria. It was found that children with ASD showed hypometabolism in specific regions of brain, such as, amygdala, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, caudate nucleus, cerebellum, mesial temporal lobe, thalamus, superior and middle temporal pole, and higher metabolic uptake in calcarine fissure and Heschl’s gyrus. The data obtained from them was compared to the previously published data of neurotypical children. The findings suggested that as compared to the control data, median SUVs in children with ASD decreased linearly as the age progressed. These findings suggest that selective, progressive hypometabolism in specific brain region could be a pathophysiological mechanism in ASD.