Page 40 - MEGIN Book Of Abstracts - 2023

Biomarkers for autism spectrum disorder: IDD subpopulations who share a common disease
opportunities for magnetoencephalography (MEG) pathway, and thus identify individuals with IDD who
(2021) might ultimately benefit from specific treatments.
After briefly demonstrating the need and potential for
Roberts, Timothy P L; Kuschner, Emily S; Edgar, J scope, examples from studies examining brain func-
Christopher tion and structure in children with autism spectrum
disorder (ASD) illustrate how measures of brain neuro-
Dept. of Radiology, Lurie Family Foundations MEG Imaging nal function (from magnetoencephalography, MEG),
Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center brain structure (from magnetic resonance imaging,
Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. [email protected] MRI, especially diffusion MRI), and brain chemistry
(MR spectroscopy) can help us better understand the
ABSTRACT This paper reviews a candidate biomarker heterogeneity in ASD and form the basis of multivariate
for ASD, the M50 auditory evoked response compo- biological markers (biomarkers) useable to define clini-
nent, detected by magnetoencephalography (MEG) cal subpopulations. Similar approaches can be applied
and presents a position on the roles and opportunities to understand brain dysfunction in neurodevelopmen-
for such a biomarker, as well as converging evidence tal disorders (NDD) in general. In large part, this paper
from allied imaging techniques (magnetic resonance represents our endeavors as part of the CHOP/Penn
imaging, MRI and spectroscopy, MRS). Data is pre- NICHD-funded intellectual and developmental disabili-
sented on prolonged M50 latencies in ASD as well as ties research center (IDDRC) over the past decade.
extension to include children with ASD with significant
language and cognitive impairments in whom M50 Journal of neurodevelopmental disorders (2021), Vol. 13,
latency delays are exacerbated. Modeling of the M50 No. 1 (34525943) (0 citations)
latency by consideration of the properties of auditory
pathway white matter is shown to be successful in typi-
cal development but challenged by heterogeneity in Atypical development of emotional face processing
ASD; this, however, is capitalized upon to identify a dis- networks in autism spectrum disorder from
tinct subpopulation of children with ASD whose M50 childhood through to adulthood (2021)
latencies lie well outside the range of values predict-
able from the typically developing model. Interestingly, Safar, Kristina; Vandewouw, Marlee M; Taylor, Margot J
this subpopulation is characterized by low levels of
the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. Following from Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto,
this, we discuss a potential use of the M50 latency in Canada; Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, Re-
indicating "target engagement" acutely with adminis- search Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
tration of a GABA-B agonist, potentially distinguishing Electronic address: [email protected]; Diagnostic
"responders" from "non-responders" with the implica- Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Neu-
tion of optimizing inclusion for clinical trials of such rosciences and Mental Health Program, Research Institute,
agents. Implications for future application, including Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Autism Research
potential evaluation of infants with genetic risk factors, Center, Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview
are discussed. As such, the broad scope of potential of Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Canada; Institute
a representative candidate biological marker, the M50 of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto,
latency, is introduced along with potential future appli- Canada; Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children,
cations.This paper outlines a strategy for understand- Toronto, Canada; Neurosciences and Mental Health Pro-
ing brain dysfunction in individuals with intellectual gram, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto,
and developmental disabilities (IDD). It is proposed that Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto,
a multimodal approach (collection of brain structure, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medical Imaging, University
chemistry, and neuronal functional data) will identify of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

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