Medicina Molecular e Genética

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): From Diagnosis to Management

Abstract

Amjad Ali, Syeda Marriam Bakhtiar and Vasco Azevedo

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a complex heterogeneous neuro-developmental disorders with varying degrees of severity that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. ASD research has received considerable attention and continues to be focused because of limited options available for its successful management. The detail understanding of the ASD etiology has now been progressed to encompass genetic, epigenetic, neurological, hormonal, and environmental factors that may affect the individual symptoms of the patients with ASD. The diagnosis of ASD is not that easy since there is no clinical test, such as blood test, available for diagnosis. Specific set of genetic and epigenetic biomarkers represented by a characterized phenotype can respond efficiently to the treatment with a specific drug or intervention. Nevertheless, children and young people with ASD have higher chances of developing unbearable side effects from the use of medications. The general etiology (genetic and epigenetic) and associated symptoms, biomarkers and treatment options of autism are briefly discussed in this article.