Autism is a condition that affects people in different ways. Understanding it fully has been difficult. However, a new study by international researchers has identified two types of autism by examining brain patterns in both humans and mice.
These findings could lead to better therapies for autism, moving away from treating everyone in the same way. For years, scientists have seen that autism can appear differently in people, but it was hard to show the biological differences. Researcher Alessandro Gozzi explained that they discovered specific genetic and immune factors linked to autism by using brain scans.
The team studied brain scans from mice with autism-like traits, and also from children and young adults with autism, and those without it. They found two groups of brain patterns. One group, called hypoconnectivity, showed reduced brain connections. The other, called hyperconnectivity, had increased connections and was connected to immune system genes.
The results, observable in both humans and mice, suggest these are real subtypes of autism. However, only about one in four human brains studied fit these groups. More types might exist.
This study is important for developing therapies targeted to these specific autism types. Previous research also looked for autism types using different methods. As research continues, larger datasets and better techniques should help identify more subtypes in the future. The researchers have shared their findings to help other scientists build on this work.
