Biomarkers and Autism

Kumbier E, Dudley E, Thome J; Biomarkers and Autism. Mind & Brain, the Journal of Psychiatry, August  2010; 1(2):  37-42

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Ekkehardt Kumbier ^1, Ed Dudley^2,3 and Johannes Thome³

Affiliations : ¹Department of Psychiatry, University of Rostock, Germany and ²Institute of Mass Spectrometry, School of Medicine, Swansea University, United
Kingdom and ³Academic Unit of Psychiatry, Institute of Life Science, School of Medicine, Swansea University, United Kingdom

ABSTRACT

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are pervasive development disorders of high heritability and have a potentially complex range of presentations within the core impaired domains of social communication, reciprocal social interaction, imaginary thought, and restricted and repetitive behaviors. ASD (including autism, Asperger syndrome, and high-functioning autism) are characterized by a common pattern of marked impairments in social interactions. Deficits have been described in face processing, facial emotion recognition, social attribution (“theory of mind”), and general speaking in social cognition. We review the historical recognition of ASD and the development of diagnostic criteria for these disorders before discussing current advances in the biomarker research for ASD.

Keywords: ASD, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Biomarker, Diagnosis
Correspondence: Johannes Thome MD PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, Academic Unit of Psychiatry, Institute of Life Science, Medical School,
Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, United Kingdom. e-mail: J.Thome@swansea.ac.uk