This technology is an imaging platform that combines passive auditory stimulation with brain imaging to objectively diagnose autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children.
Despite increasing prevalence, diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) typically requires subjective behavioral assays that are not feasible at early stages of development, when clinical intervention has the highest chance of success. As such, a diagnostic method that enabled detection of ASD before behavioral assays are possible would improve disease management and allow early clinical intervention.
This technology describes a method of employing functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) during passive auditory stimulation to objectively diagnose early ASD. This technology identifies early ASD by imaging the brain after auditory stimulation and comparing the results to a healthy control to identify hypoactive regions of the brain. This technology may also be applied during patient sedation, which enables screening of children normally unsuited for functional brain imaging. This technology provides a noninvasive diagnostic method of early ASD that could greatly improve diagnosis and disease management, while also providing a method to monitor treatment progress.
This technology has been validated in a cohort of children (mean age 12.4) previously diagnosed with ASD.
Joy Hirsch, Ph.D.
Patent Issued (US 8,666,475)
[Lai G, Schneider HD, Schwarzenberger JC, Hirsch J. “Speech stimulation during functional MR imaging as a potential indicator of autism” Radiology. 2011 Aug; 260(2): 521-530.] (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21628495)
IR 2378
Licensing Contact: Ron Katz