Enlarged Area of the Brain Linked to Autism

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of North Carolina has found that toddlers with autism are more likely to have an enlarged amygdala than children without the disability. The amygdala is a region of the brain associated with emotions and facial recognition, as well as other functions. The research team, led by Dr. Joseph Piven, found that this enlargement of the amygdala is linked to a person’s ability to share attention and experiences with other people. For the study, Piven and his team performed MRI scans on 50 children with autism and 33 children without the condition. At 2 and 4 years of age, the children involved in the study had brain scans and researchers tested certain behavioral components of autism. Piven and his team found that at 2 years old, autistic children were more likely to have an enlarged amygdala. When the researchers followed up with the children at 4 years of age, they found that this brain abnormality was stable over the period of time since they were last evaluated.

Researchers also found an enlarged amygdala was associated with joint attention, an ability where a child would be able to take cues from an adult, such as following a gaze or pointing gestures, to observe an object or event. A child’s development of joint attention occurs between 9 and 15 months of age, with most autistic children never developing this ability, resulting in a dysfunctional in social behavior and language problems. Researchers found no link between the size of a child’s amygdala and other social behaviors, including social gestures and repetitive behavior. The findings of the study, which were published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, may allow for earlier detection and intervention of autism. If you believe your child's autism was caused by a doctor's negligence, call or e-mail the attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. Our Manhattan birth injury, Bronx birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury, Queens birth injury and Long Island birth injury attorneys will evaluate your case at no charge to you. Call or submit and instant inquiry today for your FREE consultation.

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