Neuroplasticity in autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review.

UNLABELLED

The brain's ability to adapt in response to stimuli is called neuroplasticity.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates neuroplasticity in autistic individuals, focusing on neurobiological aspects, clinical correlations, and therapeutic interventions.

METHODS

This systematic review, registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews-PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024522425) and guided by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-PRISMA (2020) criteria, searched databases like Web of Science, Scopus, United States National Library of Medicine/ Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (PubMed/Medline), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) for original articles published in 2018-2023.

RESULTS

Of the 2,316 studies found, 11 were selected, involving 1,943 autistic individuals, both children and adults. Most studies were classified as high/moderate quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa and Jadad scales. Observations included variations in SHANK2 gene expression, lower concentrations of α-synuclein, higher β-synuclein in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), correlations between NCAM1 expression and motor skills, and higher brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration compared to non-autistic children.

CONCLUSIONS

Alterations in SHANK2, α-synuclein, β-synuclein, NCAM1, and BDNF in ASD suggest biomarkers and therapeutic targets for more effective interventions, improving care for autistic individuals.