Utah researchers find abnormal brain activity in autistic patients

By Staff Writer

A recent study reveals that there is a lack of communication between regions of the brain in children who have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

According to the Salt Lake City Tribune, researchers in Utah compared brain scans of autistic males to scans of those who did not have an ASD. They found abnormal connectivity in the brains of autistic patients and deficiencies in the regions that control facial recognition, language and motor skills.

Researchers conducted the tests to see if there was a more diagnostic method to identify autism, as opposed to just asking questions and observing. During brain scan testing, patients do not have to perform a task but instead lay still for 10 minutes.

One researcher who worked on the study believes that using MRIs to diagnose autism is about five years away. New advances will allow doctors to identify the patient's disorder earlier, thus leaving more time for treatment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that an average of one in 110 children in the U.S. have an ASD.