Repository logo
 

A normative modelling approach reveals age-atypical cortical thickness in a subgroup of males with autism spectrum disorder

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

Bethlehem, Richard A. I.  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0714-0685
Seidlitz, Jakob 
Romero-Garcia, Rafael 

Abstract

Abstract: Understanding heterogeneity is an important goal on the path to precision medicine for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We examined how cortical thickness (CT) in ASD can be parameterized as an individualized metric of atypicality relative to typically-developing (TD) age-related norms. Across a large sample (n = 870 per group) and wide age range (5–40 years), we applied normative modelling resulting in individualized whole-brain maps of age-related CT atypicality in ASD and isolating a small subgroup with highly age-atypical CT. Age-normed CT scores also highlights on-average differentiation, and associations with behavioural symptomatology that is separate from insights gleaned from traditional case-control approaches. This work showcases an individualized approach for understanding ASD heterogeneity that could potentially further prioritize work on a subset of individuals with cortical pathophysiology represented in age-related CT atypicality. Only a small subset of ASD individuals are actually highly atypical relative to age-norms. driving small on-average case-control differences.

Description

Keywords

Article, /692/698, /631/378/2649, /631/378/116, /631/378/2571/1696, /692/53, /59/57, article

Journal Title

Communications Biology

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2399-3642

Volume Title

3

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group UK