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Abstract #0783

Atypical Axonal Integrity in Young Adults with High-Functioning Autism

Mariana Lazar1, Laura Miles1, Jeffrey Donaldson1

1Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States

Atypical white matter (WM) microstructure has been proposed as one of the mechanisms of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). However, the underlying pathophysiology remains poorly understood. In this study we used to Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging and a two-compartment WM diffusion model, which provides metrics that differentially relate to axonal density and myelination, to more precisely characterize WM pathology in a group of young adults with High-Functional ASD. Our data indicates decreased axonal density in the ASD compared to a control typically-developing group, but no significant differences in myelination. Future work will examine WM properties in younger populations.

Keywords

adulthood adults affected ages analyses anatomical anterior appear approaches atypical autism autistic axial axon axons bottom brain caliber cause characterize compartment compartments complex components composition consistent consistently control corpus corrected created date decreased deficits define density describing despite developing developmental diagnostic diffusion diffusivity dimensional disentangling disorder disorders distances distortions encoding etiology evaluate examine examined example exist extra field finally findings fraction fractional free full function functioning future generally goal handedness hypotheses hypothesis importantly include included increasing inferior inhomogeneities integrity intra knowledge known kurtosis lack larger laura longitudinal male maps matched measure measures medicine metrics miles model moreover motion neuron occipital older ones package parametric participants particular parts perhaps persist physiological poorly populations precisely processing radial radiology recent reduced reduction remains report reported reports scale school selective several significantly software space spatial spectrum statistic studies subject suggest suggested superior tailored threshold tort tracts typical typically underlying unknown volume water white young younger