As researchers from Flinders University and the University of South Australia discovered, analysis of eye retinas can reveal clear signals for both attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Read from the eyes of neurodevelopmental disorders
Published June 21, 2022 14:46
Thinkstock/GettyImages
In their work using an electroretinogram (ERG) - measuring the electrical activity of the retina in response to a light stimulus, researchers found that children with ADHD showed higher overall ERG energy, while children with ASD showed less ERG energy.
Dr. Paul Constable, optician and researcher at Flinders University, says initial findings show promising results for better diagnosis and treatment in the future.
“ASD and ADHD are the most common neurodevelopmental disorders diagnosed in childhood. But because they often have similar characteristics, diagnosing both conditions can be long and complicated, ”says Dr. Constable.
"Our research is to improve this. By examining how signals in the retina respond to light stimuli, we hope to develop more accurate diagnostic methods to detect various neurodevelopmental disorders earlier. "
"This study provides preliminary evidence of neurophysiological changes that not only distinguish ADHD and ASD from typically developing children, but also evidence that they can be distinguished on the basis of ERG characteristics."
According to the World Health Organization, one in 100 children has ASD, and ADHD is diagnosed in 5-8 percent of children.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by overactivity, difficulty maintaining attention, and difficulty controlling impulsive behavior. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is also a neurodevelopmental condition in which children behave, communicate, interact and learn in ways that are different from most other people.
University of South Australia co-researcher Dr. Fernando Marmolejo-Ramos says the research has the potential to target other neurological conditions:
"While more research is needed to determine the abnormalities in retinal signals that are specific to these and other neurodevelopmental disorders, what we have seen so far shows that we are facing amazing opportunities."
This study was conducted in collaboration with McGill University, University College London, and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.
Source: ScienceDaily
