Gender specific influence of serotonin on core symptoms and neurodevelopment of autism spectrum disorders: A multicenter study in China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

High serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) blood levels are the most reliable and frequently replicated biomarker for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). However, their differential influence on core ASD symptoms in males and females remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the changes in 5-HT levels in children with ASD to assess and compare its influence on the core symptoms and neurodevelopment of boys and girls.

Methods

Herein, 1,457 ASD children and 1,305 typically developing (TD) controls (age = 2-7 years) were enrolled from 13 cities across China. Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) were used to evaluate the ASD symptoms in children, and the revised Children Neuropsychological and Behavior Scale-Revision 2016 (C

SUBMITTER: Mou QH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11954278 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature