Autism & Autism Spectrum Disorders

How Brain SPECT Imaging Can Help with Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Autism Spectrum Disorders are not single or simple disorders

• Help identify the specific brain system or system that are not working properly

• Help direct autism treatments

• See if the medications or alternative treatments are working correctly

• See if there are other co-occurring conditions that need to be treated, such as ADHD

• Help families see the biological nature of Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Show deficits often not seen by anatomical studies

• Help with special services or legal issues

Autism and related disorders are a dramatically increasing in our society. The incidence of autism spectrum disorders, including autism and a milder form called Asperger’s syndrome, autism statistics have gone from 1 in 10,000 children in 1990 to 1 in a 150 children in 2007. The Amen Clinics have been doing sophisticated brain imaging studies on this population for the past 16 years.

All children, teens and adults with autism spectrum disorders are individuals and have unique brain patterns. One size does not fit everyone with ASD. The Amen Clinic has extensive experience with autism spectrum disorders. Some people show toxic brains, some show brains that look like they have obsessive compulsive disorder. The brain SPECT imaging findings that are common in ASD include:

• Decreased posterior hemisphere, especially parietal and temporal lobes

• Smaller cerebellums

• Increased anterior cingulate and lateral PFC

• Ring of fire, ?? Inflammation

• Toxicity, scalloped pattern

Knowing the specific ASD pattern of individual patients helps us better target treatment. Here is an example.

Seth was 16 when his mother brought him to see us for violent outbursts, rigid and inflexible behavior, incessant worrying and poor social skills. His scan revealed a toxic appearance (lack of oxygen at birth) and increased anterior cingulate activity (causing his inflexible, rigid behavior). His treatment including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, fish oil, and two medications to balance his brain: Lamictal to help with his temper and Lexapro to calm his anterior cingulate to help him shift his attention and worry less.

Scalloping (toxicity), low overall activity, especially in the prefrontal and temporal lobes		excessive activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus gets stuck on bad thoughts