Biomarker Development in the Early Identification of Autism Spectrum 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 32
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a very heterogeneous disorder that is characterized by various phenotypical and biological presentations. Its prevalence is four-fold greater than that in girls. This sex difference in prevalence could be related to biological underpinnings, but could it also be due, in part, to a lack of screening and diagnostic tools that are tailored to girls with ASD? It is possible that women with ASD show different phenotypical presentation and distinctive biological features in comparison to men with ASD. Indeed, among clinicians, it is reported frequently that girls with ASD are often misdiagnosed or diagnosed later in life (even in adulthood). Therefore, identifying behavioral and biological differences between boys and girls with ASD, and uncovering early screeners and diagnostic tools that are tailored to girls with ASD are critical endeavors that could contribute to an increase in early detection and a reduction in the sex ratio differences in prevalence.
In this Special Issue, we aim to cover manuscripts related to (1) differences in behavioral traits of core symptoms and comorbidity, and in biological characteristics between boys and girls with ASD and between girls/women with ASD and controls across the life span; (2) the strengths and limitations of the currently available early screeners and diagnostic tools with regards to the early detection of ASD in girls; (3) the development of new tools that are tailored to detection of ASD in girls; (4) the uncovering of relevant biomarkers (brain function, brain structure, eye-tracking, etc.) beyond behavioral traits that help in identifying ASD in boys and girls across the spectrum early on in life.
These topics will help assess the progress that has been achieved so far on the early identification of ASD, as well as identify the current need to diagnose ASD earlier on and more accurately across the spectrum.
Dr. Elissar Andari
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- autism deep phenotyping
- social and affective neuroscience
- biomarkers
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