A recent scientific study has revealed the existence of four subtypes of autism spectrum disorder, each with a unique genetic signature. This may pave the way for the development of more precise and targeted treatments.
The study was conducted by researchers at the Flatiron Center for Computational Biology in collaboration with other research institutions and was based on data from the SPARK project, the largest study ever conducted on autism.
The study included phenotypic and genetic data from more than 5,000 children and adolescents with autism, aged 4 to 18.
According to the study published in the journal Nature Genetics, the researchers succeeded in identifying four subgroups whose members share similar traits. Each group was linked to specific biological processes resulting from distinct genetic variants. These subgroups include behavioral challenges, autism with developmental delay, mild challenges, and the broadly affected type.
The results showed that each subtype is characterized by unique clinical, behavioral, and psychological characteristics, along with distinct patterns of genetic variation, not only in the type of gene mutations but also in the timing of their activation.
The study followed a person-centered approach, focusing on the full spectrum of individual traits, rather than focusing on a single trait such as IQ. This enabled the researchers to arrive at a more accurate and clinically relevant classification.
The researchers concluded that the findings support the hypothesis that autism is not a single, homogeneous disorder, but rather a cluster of conditions with multiple biological causes, enhancing the opportunities for developing therapeutic interventions tailored to each autism subtype.
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