Efficacy of Neuro-Psychomotor Approach in Children Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Multicenter Study in Italian Pediatric Population.

BACKGROUND: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social interaction and reciprocal communication. ASD affects about 1% of the general population and is associated with substantial disability and economic loss. A variety of approaches to improve the core deficits and lives of people with ASD have been developed, including behavioral, developmental, educational, and medical interventions. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a neuro-psychomotor approach in children affected by ASD. METHODS: The sample consisted of 84 children (66 males, mean age 56.9 ± 15.8 months) affected by ASD assessed between September 2020 to March 2021. The trained therapist was asked to complete the ASD behavior inventory (ASDBI) test at baseline (T0) (September 2020) and after six months (T1) (March 2021) to assess the child's evolution over the observational period. The study was carried out in southern Italy (Campania Region). RESULTS: ASD children showed a significant improvement for AUTISM composite after 6 months of neuro-psychomotor treatment (T1) compared to baseline (65.4 ± 12.2 vs. 75.8 ± 11.5, p < 0.0001). In particular, significant changes were observed for such domains as the problems of excitability (ECCIT), aggression (AGG), behaviors in social relations (RELSOC), expressive (all p < 0.001), sense/perceptual contact modes (SENS) (p = 0.0007), ritualisms/resistance to changes (RIT) (p = 0.0002), pragmatic/social problems (PPSOC) (p = 0.0009), specific fears (FEARS) (p = 0.01), and learning and memory (AMLR) (p = 0.0007). No differences for the domains Semantic/pragmatic problems (PPSEM) and language (LESP) were found. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results suggest the usefulness of the neuro-psychomotor treatment in children with ASD. Although promising, these findings need to be tested further to better understand the long-term effects of this specific type of approach.

Is food refusal in autistic children related to TAS2R38 genotype?

Several studies suggest that atypical eating behaviors, in particular food selectivity, are more frequent in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A link between bitter taste perception, namely PROP/PTC sensitivity and food preferences is known in healthy children. The aim of this study is to investigate whether genetic variants of the TAS2R38 taste receptor responsible for different bitter sensitivity could affect foods preferences and consequently food refusal in ASD children. We recruited 43 children with ASD and 41 with normotypic development (TD) with or without food selectivity, aged between 2 and 11 years. Children were characterized for bitter sensitivity by means of PROP strips and FACS analysis and genotyped for TAS2R38 polymorphisms. Food selectivity was assessed by a validated food preference questionnaire filled by parents. A statistically significant correlation between PROP sensitivity and food refusal was observed. Furthermore, a prevalence of the PAV-sensitive haplotype compared to the AVI-insensitive one was seen in ASD children with food selectivity. In agreement with the initial hypothesis the results show that food refusal in ASD children is mediated by bitter taste sensitivity thus suggesting that the bitter sensitivity test may be used as a device to orientate tailored food proposals for the practical management of food selectivity in ASD. Autism Res 2018, 11: 531-538. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: A variation of the gene TAS2R38, associated with bitter taste sensitivity, can cause a different perception of some foods. In particular, some children are hypersensitive to bitterness and show a more restricted repertoire of accepted foods. We evaluate bitter sensitivity in ASD children with or without food selectivity, through a simple bitter taste test with edible strips. The results show that food refusal in ASD children can be mediated by bitter taste sensitivity thus suggesting that the bitter sensitivity test may be used as a device to orientate tailored food proposals for the practical management of food selectivity in ASD.