The role of executive functions in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder: A short narrative review.

Atypical executive functions (EFs) are well-documented in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) across all ages. However, most research focuses on EFs impairments in school-aged children and older, with less attention to preschool children. Understanding EF deficits in this age group is challenging and underexplored due to limited studies and measurement difficulties.

Nonverbal Skills Evolution in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder One Year Post-Diagnosis.

: Gestural production, a crucial aspect of nonverbal communication, plays a key role in the development of verbal and socio-communicative skills. Delays in gestural development often impede verbal acquisition and social interaction in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Although various interventions for ASD focus on improving socio-communicative abilities, they consistently highlight the importance of integrating gestures to support overall communication development.

Dysregulation Profile in Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Italian Multi-Center Perspective.

: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication impairments and repetitive behaviors. Recent reports show that one in thirty-six 8-year-old children are autistic, signifying a considerable public health concern. According to previous studies, emotional dysregulation (ED) affects 50-60% of individuals with ASD and includes symptoms such as poor emotional control, heightened reactivity, and a low frustration tolerance.

Stratification of Gut Microbiota Profiling Based on Autism Neuropsychological Assessments.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Investigations of gut microbiota (GM) play an important role in deciphering disease severity and symptoms. Overall, we stratified 70 ASD patients by neuropsychological assessment, based on Calibrated Severity Scores (CSSs) of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second edition (ADOS-2), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and intelligent quotient/developmental quotient (IQ/DQ) parameters.

Correction of Batch Effect in Gut Microbiota Profiling of ASD Cohorts from Different Geographical Origins.

Background: To date, there have been numerous metataxonomic studies on gut microbiota (GM) profiling based on the analyses of data from public repositories. However, differences in study population and wet and dry pipelines have produced discordant results. Herein, we propose a biostatistical approach to remove these batch effects for the GM characterization in the case of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

Characterization of sleep difficulties in maltreated children and adolescents.

Numerous studies have identified connections between child maltreatment and sleep-related issues. However, poor is known on potential links between sleep patterns and day-to-day functioning, along with psychopathology in maltreated youths. Additionally, existing research on the relationship between sleep difficulties and maltreatment often lacks investigation into specific sleep difficulty profiles across different age ranges.

Autism Spectrum Disorder and Early Psychosis: a narrative review from a neurodevelopmental perspective.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), characterized by socio-communicative abnormalities and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped behaviors, is part of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs), a diagnostic category distinctly in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, (DSM-5), clearly separated from Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder (SSD) (schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, schizotypal personality disorder). Over the last four decades, this clear distinction is gradually being replaced, describing ASD and SSD as two heterogeneous conditions but with neurodevelopmental origins and overlaps. Referring to the proposal of a neurodevelopmental continuum model, the current research's aim is to provide an update of the knowledge to date on the course of clinical symptoms and their overlaps among ASD and SSD.

What Factors Predict Adaptive Functioning in Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder? A Longitudinal Study.

Adaptive functioning constitutes a fundamental aspect of the phenotype associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in preschool-aged children, exerting a significant influence on both the child and the family's overall quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of the adaptive functioning domains in preschool-age children with ASD at two time points, providing a snapshot of this fundamental developmental step. Ninety-five children with ASD ( = 3.

Characterizing individual differences in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: a descriptive study.

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a higher prevalence in male than in female participants. Recent studies have hypothesized the presence of different phenotypes in male and female participants with ASD. The present study aims to assess possible sex differences in cognitive and adaptive functioning, symptomatology of ASD, and psychopathological comorbidities in a large sample of children and adolescents with ASD.

Assessing cortical features in early stage ASD children.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is defined as a neurodevelopmental disorder largely investigated in the neurologic field. Recently, neuroimaging studies have been conducted in order to investigate cerebral morphologic alterations in ASD patients, demonstrating an atypical brain development before the clinical manifestations of the disorder. Cortical Thickness (CT) and Local Gyrification Index (LGI) distribution for ASD children were investigated in this study, with the aim to evaluate possible relationship between brain measures and individual characteristics (i.

Gut microbiota functional profiling in autism spectrum disorders: bacterial VOCs and related metabolic pathways acting as disease biomarkers and predictors.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder. Major interplays between the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the central nervous system (CNS) seem to be driven by gut microbiota (GM). Herein, we provide a GM functional characterization, based on GM metabolomics, mapping of bacterial biochemical pathways, and anamnestic, clinical, and nutritional patient metadata.

Early and stable difficulties of everyday executive functions predict autism symptoms and emotional/behavioral problems in preschool age children with autism: a 2-year longitudinal study.

Introduction: Longitudinal studies of autistic children show that autism symptoms and emotional/behavioral problems vary and change over time. However, the factors that affect this variability remain far from certain and very little is known about what take place in the preschool period and the role of executive functions (EF).

Methods: Here, we test the influence of stable difficulties in everyday executive functioning (EEF) during early childhood across 2 years on autistic symptoms and emotional and behavioral problems.

Autism spectrum disorder, very-early onset schizophrenia, and child disintegrative disorder: the challenge of diagnosis. A case-report study.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) contains several disorders previously present as distinct diagnoses in the DSM Revised Fourth Edition (DSM-IV-TR). These include child disintegrative disorder (CDD). The latter presents typical features, such as a late regression of developmental acquisitions.

Psychiatric Comorbidities in Children and Adolescents with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Study on Prevalence, Distribution and Clinical Features in an Italian Sample.

This study investigated the prevalence and distribution of psychiatric comorbidities in a group of 472 children and adolescents with ASD aged 3-18 years. We examined differences in age, sex, IQ, adaptive skills, and ASD symptom severity by comparing participants with ASD (ASD group) with participants with ASD and a psychiatric disorder (ASD/PSY group). Overall, 32.

Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Clinical Characteristics and the Role of the Family.

Background: Anxiety Disorder (AD) is among the most common psychiatric comorbidity in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Likewise, parental psychological distress (PPD) was linked to anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents with ASD. The aim of this study was to characterise, in a sample of children and adolescents with ASD, anxiety symptoms, the functional impairment associated and the presence of PPD.

Later onset of Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD): a case report.

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD) is a rare condition characterized by regression of developmental and behavioral functioning after a period of apparently normal development, with an age of onset around 4 years. CDD is not included within the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. We present a case report of an 11-year-old male who achieved normal development for up to 7 years followed by a deterioration of previously acquired linguistic, intellectual, and social skills.

Gut Microbiota Ecology and Inferred Functions in Children With ASD Compared to Neurotypical Subjects.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder. The communication between the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the central nervous system seems driven by gut microbiota (GM). Herein, we provide GM profiling, considering GI functional symptoms, neurological impairment, and dietary habits.

Clinical and individual features associated with maternal stress in young adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

Parents of people with autism spectrum disorder experience both negative stressful and positive events. Several clinical and socio-demographic features of children on the autism spectrum have been associated with parenting stress in their families. However, there have been few studies that focus on adolescents and the role of cognitive impairment has rarely been addressed.

Cross-sectional investigation of insulin resistance in youths with autism spectrum disorder. Any role for reduced brain glucose metabolism?

The autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an etiologically heterogeneous disorder. Dysfunctions of the intermediate metabolism have been described in some patients. We speculate these metabolic abnormalities are associated with brain insulin resistance (IR), i.

Sex Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Investigation on Core Symptoms and Psychiatric Comorbidity in Preschoolers.

Findings regarding sex differences in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as far as core symptoms and psychiatric comorbidities (PC) are concerned, are inconsistent, inconclusive, or conflicting among studies. The lower prevalence of ASD in females than in males and the age and intelligence quotient (IQ) heterogeneity among samples made it difficult to investigate these differences. This case-control study tries to deepen the impact of sex differences on core symptoms of autism and PC in 214 preschoolers with ASD (mean age, 45.

Proteomics and Metabolomics Approaches towards a Functional Insight onto AUTISM Spectrum Disorders: Phenotype Stratification and Biomarker Discovery.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by behavioral alterations and currently affect about 1% of children. Significant genetic factors and mechanisms underline the causation of ASD. Indeed, many affected individuals are diagnosed with chromosomal abnormalities, submicroscopic deletions or duplications, single-gene disorders or variants.

Characterization of Clinical Manifestations in the Co-occurring Phenotype of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Comorbidity between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a frequently reported condition. However, the clinical overlaps between the two disorders are not well characterized. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) is a well-documented measure of emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents.

Assessment of Psychopathological Comorbidities in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder Using the Child Behavior Checklist.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by psychiatric and behavioral comorbidities. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) provides valid and well-established measures of emotional, behavioral, and social problems in children and adolescents. The aim of the present study was to verify whether emotional, behavioral, and social problems were modulated by ASD symptom severity, cognitive development, gender, and age by analyzing the CBCL in a large group of children and adolescents with ASD.