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. 2024 Jun;54(6):2198-2210.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-023-05980-1. Epub 2023 Apr 20.

An Investigation of Age-related Neuropathophysiology in Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Fixel-based Analysis of Corpus Callosum White Matter Micro- and Macrostructure

Melissa Kirkovski  1   2 , Mervyn Singh  3 , Thijs Dhollander  4 , Ian Fuelscher  3 , Christian Hyde  3 , Natalia Albein-Urios  3 , Peter H Donaldson  3 , Peter G Enticott  3
Affiliations

An Investigation of Age-related Neuropathophysiology in Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Fixel-based Analysis of Corpus Callosum White Matter Micro- and Macrostructure

Melissa Kirkovski et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

Fixel-based analysis was used to probe age-related changes in white matter micro- and macrostructure of the corpus callosum between participants with (N = 54) and without (N = 50) autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Data were obtained from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange-II (ABIDE-II). Compared to age-matched controls, young adolescents with ASD (11.19 ± 7.54 years) showed reduced macroscopic fiber cross-section (logFC) and combined fiber-density and cross-section (FDC). Reduced fiber-density (FD) and FDC was noted in a marginally older (13.87 ± 3.15 years) ASD cohort. Among the oldest ASD cohort (17.07 ± 3.56 years), a non-significant trend indicative of reduced FD was noted. White matter aberration appears greatest and most widespread among younger ASD cohorts. This supports the suggestion that some early neuropathophysiological indicators in ASD may dissipate with age.

Keywords: Autism; Corpus callosum; Diffusion MRI; Macrostructure; Microstructure; White matter.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Younger adolescents (NYU site). Graphical representation of streamlines for fixels showing a trend-level reduction in (A) FD, and statistically significant (pFWE < 0.05) reductions in (B) logFC, and (C) FDC in the ASD group compared to NT controls. Trend level streamlines are represented in yellow, while significant streamlines are red
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Older adolescents (SDSU site). Graphical representation of streamlines for fixels showing statistically significant (pFWE < 0.05) reductions in (A) FD, and (B) FDC in the ASD group compared to NT controls
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Older adolescents/young adults (TCD site). Graphical representation of streamlines for fixels showing a non-significant trend (pFWE = 0.08) toward reductions in FD among the ASD group compared to NT controls. Trend level streamlines are represented in yellow
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Younger adolescents (NYU site). Scatterplot depicting the relationship between age and mean FD, mean logFC and mean FDC of the CC, stratified by diagnosis
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Older adolescents (SDSU site). Scatterplot depicting the relationship between age and mean FD and mean FDC of the CC, stratified by diagnosis
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Older adolescents /young adults (TCD site). Scatterplot depicting the relationship between age and mean FD of the CC, stratified by diagnosis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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