Chronic oxytocin administration stimulates the oxytocinergic system in children with autism

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Jan. 2, 2024

Abstract Clinical efficacy of intranasal administration oxytocin is increasingly explored in autism spectrum disorder, but to date, the biological effects chronic regimes on endogenous oxytocinergic function are largely unknown. Here exploratory assessments from a completed randomized, placebo-controlled trial showed that children with (n = 79, 16 females) receiving for four weeks (12 IU, twice daily) displayed significantly higher salivary levels 24 hours after last nasal spray administration, no longer at four-week follow up session. Regarding receptor gene ( OXTR) epigenetics (DNA-methylation), oxytocin-induced reductions OXTR DNA-methylation were observed, suggesting facilitation expression compared placebo group. Notably, heightened post-treatment associated reduced and improved feelings secure attachment. These findings indicate stimulated system autism.

Language: Английский

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Anti-ableism and scientific accuracy in autism research: a false dichotomy

Frontiers in Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14

Published: Sept. 8, 2023

It was recently argued that autism researchers committed to rejecting ableist frameworks in their research may sacrifice "scientifically accurate" conceptualizations of autism. In this perspective piece, we argue that: (a) anti-ableism vs. scientific accuracy is a false dichotomy, (b) there no ideology-free science has claim accuracy, and (c) history leads part because unexamined ideologies undergird researcher framings interpretations evidence. To illustrate our claims, discuss several avenues were promoted as advances, but eventually debunked or shown have much less explanatory value than initially proposed. These programs involved claims about etiology, the nature autistic characteristics, intervention. Common these been assumptions inform perspectives. Negative impacts work mitigated some areas research, perspectives continue exert influence on lives people, including availability services, discourses autism, sociocultural people. Examining help current better understand how ableism negatively inquiry. We close with positive argument promoting can be done tandem increasing accuracy.

Language: Английский

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Oral microbiota in autistic children: diagnosis-related differences and associations with clinical characteristics

Brain Behavior & Immunity - Health, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 38, P. 100801 - 100801

Published: May 29, 2024

Similar to the gut microbiome, oral microbiome compositions have been suggested play an important role in etiology of autism. However, empirical research on how variations relate clinical-behavioral difficulties associated with autism remains sparse. Furthermore, it is largely unknown potentially confounding lifestyle variables, such as health and nutrition, may impact these associations. To fill this gap, current study examined diagnosis-related differences composition between 80 school-aged autistic children (8-12 years; 64 boys, 16 girls) versus 40 age-matched typically developing peers (32 8 girls). In addition, associations individual social functioning (SRS-2), repetitive behavior (RBS-R) anxiety (SCARED) were explored, well several variables regarding nutrition health. Results provide indications that bacterial genera

Language: Английский

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At the Head and Heart of Oxytocin’s Stress-Regulatory Neural and Cardiac Effects: A Chronic Administration RCT in Children with Autism

Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 92(5), P. 315 - 328

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Introduction: Intranasal administration of oxytocin presents a promising new approach to reduce disability associated with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Previous investigations have emphasized the amygdala as neural foundation for oxytocin’s acute effects. However, fully understand therapeutic potential, it is crucial gain insight into neuroplastic changes in circuitry induced from chronic administrations, particularly pediatric populations. Objective: We aimed examine impact 4-week course intranasal on functional connectivity children autism, compared placebo. Additionally, we investigated whether improves cardiac autonomic arousal, indexed by high-frequency heart rate variability. Methods: Fifty-seven aged 8–12 years (45 boys, 12 girls) participated double-blind, randomized pharmaco-neuroimaging trial involving twice-daily administrations or Resting-state fMRI scans and simultaneous, in-scanner recordings were obtained before, immediately after, 4 weeks after nasal spray period. Results: Significant reductions intrinsic amygdala-orbitofrontal observed, at follow-up session. These correlated improved social symptoms lower arousal. Further, effects modulated epigenetic modifications receptor gene. The more pronounced reduced methylation, signifying heightened expression receptor. Conclusion: findings underscore that decreases balance. Epigenetic modulators may explain inter-individual variation responses oxytocin.

Language: Английский

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Distribution of Intranasally Administered rIL‐10 Along the Olfactory Nerve and Perivascular Space After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 31(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

The utilization of anti-inflammatory therapy for treating brain diseases holds promise; however, research on intranasal administration drug compounds remains limited. Quantitative data, particularly pharmacokinetics, are scant, and direct evidence the distribution intranasally administered recombinant interleukin 10 (rIL-10) within is lacking. Employing fluorescent labeling, in vivo imaging, confocal microscopy, we meticulously monitored delivery pathways rIL-10 brain. Our findings demonstrate that can permeate blood-brain barrier reach perihematomal area striatum mice with intracerebral hemorrhage. Intranasally primarily targets cerebral cortex, striatum, thalamus, traversing olfactory nerve pathway perivascular space to access these regions. This mode effectively mitigated secondary injury after study contributes research, offering compelling support cytokines or alternative candidates diseases.

Language: Английский

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Chronic oxytocin improves neural decoupling at rest in children with autism: an exploratory RCT

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 65(10), P. 1311 - 1326

Published: Feb. 23, 2024

Background Shifts in peak frequencies of oscillatory neural rhythms are put forward as a principal mechanism by which cross‐frequency coupling/decoupling is implemented the brain. During active processing, functional integration facilitated through transitory formations “harmonic” couplings, whereas “nonharmonic” decoupling among postulated to characterize resting, default state brain, minimizing occurrence spurious, noisy, background couplings. Methods Within this exploratory, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial, we assessed whether transient nonharmonic and harmonic relationships between peak‐frequencies alpha (8–14 Hz) theta (4–8 bands impacted intranasal administration oxytocin, neuromodulator implicated improving homeostasis reducing stress/anxiety. To do so, resting‐state electroencephalography was acquired before after 4 weeks oxytocin (12 IU twice‐daily) children with autism spectrum disorder (8–12 years, n = 33 oxytocin; 34 placebo). At baseline, assessments were compared those matched cohort without ( 40). Results Compared nonautistic peers, autistic displayed lower incidence alpha‐theta decoupling, indicating higher spurious “noisy” coupling their resting brain p .001). Dimensionally, increased associated more social difficulties .002) activity parasympathetic “rest & digest” branch autonomic nervous system .018), indexed high‐frequency heart‐rate‐variability. Notably, administration, formation configurations < .001), beneficial effect on cross‐frequency‐interactions. Furthermore, parallel epigenetics changes receptor gene indicated that effects likely mediated endogenous oxytocinergic signaling .006). Conclusions Chronic induced important homeostatic intrinsic frequency architecture, reflective reduced noisy couplings improved signal‐to‐noise properties.

Language: Английский

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Is the efficacy of oxytocin for autism diminished at higher dosages or repeated doses?: Potential mechanisms and candidate solutions

Peptides, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 171, P. 171133 - 171133

Published: Dec. 9, 2023

Language: Английский

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Emerging therapeutic landscape on delivery of oxytocin to brain for treating neurological disorders

Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 92, P. 105370 - 105370

Published: Jan. 12, 2024

Language: Английский

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Intranasal Oxytocin for Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of Preclinical and Clinical Studies

Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 10, 2024

Language: Английский

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Editorial: Salutogenic mental health science—A phoenix rising from the pathogenic ashes of psychiatry?

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 64(11), P. 1529 - 1531

Published: Oct. 6, 2023

As highlighted by several of the papers featured in this current issue Journal , psychiatric research and practice is dominated a pathogenic focus on understanding origins mental ill‐health developing interventions to prevent or treat psychopathology. The World Health Organization has called for paradigm shift move away from almost exclusive absence illness towards promotion mental, physical social well‐being among those with at risk disorders. Adoption salutogenic approach, which focuses factors that promote positive health improve quality life, been heralded as transformation psychiatry requires achieve ambitious aim. Looking forward, science should harness power longitudinal data analytical techniques, centre lived experience expertise, take heed cautionary tales its predecessor.

Language: Английский

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