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2025: Progress in the therapy of autism disorders - use of calcium channel blockers
Stanford University scientists have made significant progress in the therapy of autism spectrum disorders by applying the experimental drug Z944 from the class of calcium channel blockers. Single administration of the drug significantly reduced autism symptoms in laboratory mice, including hypersensitivity to external stimuli and social disorders. A research team led by neuroscience professor John Hugenard published the results in August 2025.
According to Science Advances, the key discovery was the identification of the role of the reticular nucleus of the thalamus in the development of autistic manifestations. This brain structure serves as a sensory information filter, preventing the nervous system from overloading with excess stimuli from the external environment.
In mice with simulated autism symptoms, the researchers found abnormally high activity in the reticular nucleus of the thalamus. Hyperactivity in this area was directly correlated with characteristic behavioral disorders, including increased sensitivity to light and sound, repetitive movements, and decreased social interaction.
An experimental causal test showed that an artificial increase in the activity of the reticular thalamus nucleus in healthy mice caused the appearance of autistic symptoms. This confirmed the hypothesis of the central role of this brain structure in the pathogenesis of the disorder.
The drug Z944 was originally developed for the treatment of epilepsy and belongs to the class of calcium channel T-type blockers. These channels play a critical role in the transmission of nerve impulses between neurons, and their excessive activity leads to overexcitation of neural networks.
The mechanism of action of the Z944 is based on the selective suppression of hyperactivity of calcium channels, which allows you to normalize the work of the reticular nucleus of the thalamus and restore its filtering function. The result is improved processing of sensory information and reduced severity of behavioral symptoms.[1]
2023
Device for diagnosing autism at an early stage presented
In early August 2023, the American company EarliTec Dx announced the EarliPoint system for the early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Read more here.
The blood test of a pregnant woman can now assess the risks of autism in a child
In mid-April 2023, scientists from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health developed a technology in which a pregnant woman's blood test can assess the risks of autism in a child.
In the study, researchers found impaired levels of molecular compounds in maternal blood and cord blood associated with later diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Identifying these compounds sheds light on the biological processes that lead to ASD and could pave the way for early diagnosis and treatment.
The researchers analyzed levels of 1,208 different chemical compounds in plasma samples taken from 408 mothers mid-pregnancy (17-21 weeks) and in cord blood taken from 418 babies at birth as part of the Norwegian Autistic Birth Cohort (ABC). These compounds were analyzed to see if they were associated with a clinical diagnosis of autism at 3-5 years of age. To measure the levels of chemical compounds, scientists used metabolomics based on chromatography/mass spectrometry. They used machine learning to assess the predictive value of compounds as biomarkers of autism.
Machine learning analysis has shown the potential utility of these compounds as biomarkers, especially those in cord blood, for early detection of children at risk of autism. The study found several differences in biomarker levels between boys and girls, including an imbalance of lipid chemical clusters in maternal blood associated with autism in girls rather than boys. This finding may provide insight into the higher incidence of cognitive impairment in girls than in boys with ASD.
The study builds on the findings of a scientific paper published by the same group of scientists in 2022, which showed that autism risk is associated with groups of molecules associated with inflammation.
This study was funded by the National Institute of Health, the Jane Botsford Johnson Foundation, the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Science and the Norwegian Research Council. The authors claim no competing interests.[2]
2022: Rising autism rates among U.S. children to record high
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded a record level of prevalence of autism spectrum disorders among American children in 2022. According to data released on April 18, 2025, one child out of 31 in the United States was diagnosed with the condition, the highest rate on record.
The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders among 8-year-olds in 2022 was 32.2 cases per 1,000 people. This figure exceeds the 2020 data, when the ratio was 27.6 cases per 1000 children or one case per 36 people.
The study demonstrated significant geographic differences in the rate of diagnosis of disorders. Rates ranged from 9.7 cases per 1,000 children in Laredo, Texas, to 53.1 cases per 1,000 patients in California. A significant gender disparity was also noted: the incidence of autism spectrum disorders in boys was 3.4 times higher than in girls - 49.2 cases versus 14.3 cases per 1000 people, respectively.
The analysis showed higher prevalence rates among Asian and Pacific, Native American, African American and Latino children compared to white children. Experts also recorded an increase in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders among 4-year-old children born in 2018, compared with a similar cohort born in 2014.
To conduct the study, data from 16 centers of the Autism and Developmental Disorders Monitoring Network (ADDM) operating in various regions of the United States were analyzed. The study covered eight-year-olds and four-year-olds. Demographic indicators, the presence of cardiovascular and other concomitant conditions, as well as the history of seeking medical care were taken into account.[3]
Notes
- ↑ Reticular thalamic hyperexcitability drives autism spectrum disorder behaviors in the Cntnap2 model of autism
- ↑ Molecular Signatures in Maternal and Cord Blood Linked to Autism Risk
- ↑ Prevalence and Early Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 4 and 8 Years — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 16 Sites, United States, 2022
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