A potential pharmaceutical therapy for autism has been discovered recently in Australia. Researchers from the University of Sydney delivered a nasal spray of a synthetic version of the "love hormone" oxytocin to children with autism and saw significant responses. Results showed that the treatment improved social, emotional and social responses among the children.
Being the first in the field to test oxytocin on young children with autism spectrum conditions (ASC), the said trial, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, is definitely an important step that can pave the way for further discoveries. However, it has also been noted that the effects observed in the study are merely too small and too unpredictable--not enough to celebrate for a new autism wonder drug.
Behavioural therapies have pioneered the treatments for ASC. Nonetheless, these therapies have not been highly successful for all children with ASC despite of the expensive cost (averaging 106.84 USD per one hour session, 20 hours a week). This has motivated scientists to search for effective pharmaceutical therapies for ASC. Numerous drugs have also been tested but to no avail.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, autism is a group of complex brain developmental disorders affecting various human behaviours (such as social, communication, stereotypical and repetitive). According to records, one in 68 children are diagnosed with ASC.
The new study, conducted by the University's Brain and Mind Centre, observed 31 children aged 3 to 8 years old and treated them with oxytocin in the form of nasal spray twice every day. The children's parents and clinicians reported that the children have become more socially responsive both at home and in the therapy rooms. The most common undesirable events were thirst, urination and constipation. Brain and Mind Centre has also previously noted oxytocin to enhance eye gaze, emotion recognition, and memory across a variety of populations.
The research team continues to further develop the potential of oxytocin by understanding how the hormone alters brain circuitry to improve social behaviour.
