Age-related temporal and parietal cortical thinning in autism spectrum disorders
Age-related temporal and parietal cortical thinning in autism spectrum disorders
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DOI：
10.1093/brain/awq279
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发表时间：
2010-12-01
期刊：
影响因子：
14.5
通讯作者：
Martin, Alex
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Wallace, Gregory L.;Dankner, Nathan;Martin, Alex
对自闭症谱系障碍患者头部大小和脑容量的研究表明，早期皮质过度生长可能会导致过早的生长停滞。然而，定量皮质厚度的少数研究产生了不一致的结果，可能是由于不同的年龄和/或样本量小。我们评估了高功能青少年和年轻成年男性自闭症谱系障碍（n = 41）和匹配的典型发育男性（n = 40）之间的皮质厚度差异。我们假设自闭症谱系障碍患者的大脑皮层，特别是额叶、顶叶和颞叶区域，与正常发育的对照组相比更薄。此外，我们期望发现年龄x诊断的相互作用：随着年龄的增长，在自闭症谱系障碍中观察到的皮质变薄比典型的发育参与者更明显。从患有自闭症谱系障碍的高功能男性和年龄（范围12-24岁）、智商（>= 85）和利手性分组匹配的典型发育男性获得T-1加权磁化准备的快速梯度回波3 T磁共振成像扫描。脑回水平和基于顶点的分析均显示，自闭症谱系障碍组的皮质明显较薄，主要位于左侧颞叶和顶叶区域（即上级颞沟、颞下、中央后/上级顶叶和缘上回）。在控制了智商、精神药物使用和共病精神病理学后，这些结果基本保持不变。此外，在左梭状/下颞叶皮质中发现了一个显着的年龄x诊断相互作用：自闭症谱系障碍的参与者在这个区域随着年龄的增长，皮质变薄的程度比典型的发展参与者要大。组内随访比较显示，自闭症谱系障碍组中与年龄相关的显着变薄，但在典型发育组中没有。青少年和青年期的颞叶和顶叶皮质变薄，以及自闭症谱系障碍中与年龄相关的皮质变薄的加速，都表明第二阶段的异常皮质生长（即更大程度的变薄）可能是这些疾病的特征。
Studies of head size and brain volume in autism spectrum disorders have suggested that early cortical overgrowth may be followed by prematurely arrested growth. However, the few investigations quantifying cortical thickness have yielded inconsistent results, probably due to variable ages and/or small sample sizes. We assessed differences in cortical thickness between high-functioning adolescent and young adult males with autism spectrum disorders (n = 41) and matched typically developing males (n = 40). We hypothesized thinner cortex, particularly in frontal, parietal and temporal regions, for individuals with autism spectrum disorders in comparison with typically developing controls. Furthermore, we expected to find an age x diagnosis interaction: with increasing age, more pronounced cortical thinning would be observed in autism spectrum disorders than typically developing participants. T-1-weighted magnetization prepared rapid gradient echo 3 T magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired from high-functioning males with autism spectrum disorders and from typically developing males matched group-wise on age (range 12-24 years), intelligence quotient (>= 85) and handedness. Both gyral-level and vertex-based analyses revealed significantly thinner cortex in the autism spectrum disorders group that was located predominantly in left temporal and parietal regions (i.e. the superior temporal sulcus, inferior temporal, postcentral/superior parietal and supramarginal gyri). These findings remained largely unchanged after controlling for intelligence quotient and after accounting for psychotropic medication usage and comorbid psychopathology. Furthermore, a significant age x diagnosis interaction was found in the left fusiform/inferior temporal cortex: participants with autism spectrum disorders had thinner cortex in this region with increasing age to a greater degree than did typically developing participants. Follow-up within group comparisons revealed significant age-related thinning in the autism spectrum disorders group but not in the typically developing group. Both thinner temporal and parietal cortices during adolescence and young adulthood and discrepantly accelerated age-related cortical thinning in autism spectrum disorders suggest that a second period of abnormal cortical growth (i.e. greater thinning) may be characteristic of these disorders.