Very Early Identification of Autistic Spectrum (ASD) and Related Disorders
A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Developmental Neuroscience".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 20
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
ASD is typically diagnosed between the ages of 4 and 5 years. Careful follow up could lower that to 18 months of age. This type of follow up is not practical for the whole population; therefore, screening procedures are needed. Presently, screening is carried out by monitoring behavioral symptoms which are related to the signs and symptoms seen in ASD, but these behaviors first emerge at age 9 months or later in neurotypicality. This has created a situation in which screening, at best, is functional no earlier than 9 months, and diagnosis follows several months later, even in optimal situations.
Brain development is exuberant during the first two years of life (as well as prenatally). By the time of diagnosis, the brain is largely formed, and “reshaping” the brain is very difficult. There is an urgent need for biomarkers including behavioral, genetic, electrophysiologic, scanning, and others to be identified in the first 9 months of life and prenatally. We are interested in research papers, reviews or hypotheses which would contribute to lowering the age of identification or intervention into ASD or related disorders. Human and preclinical research is welcome.
Dr. Eric Bart London
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- autism
- screening
- prenatal
- perinatal
- early identification
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