Effect of Propranolol on Word Fluency in Autism

Beversdorf, David Q.; Saklayen, Sanjida S.; Higgins, Katherine F.; Bodner, Kimberly E.; Kanne, Stephen M.; Christ, Shawn E.

doi:10.1097/wnn.0b013e318204d20e

Cited by 34 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Both were open trials without controls, and both demonstrated remission of tantrums, property destruction, and self-injurious behavior in one-half the patient samples after 6 weeks of treatment with the non-selective beta blockers propranolol or nadolol (17). These trials revealed subtler improvements in speech and social behavior in all eight subjects (18), consistent with controlled trials demonstrating improvement of word fluency (19) and conversational reciprocity (20) with propranolol in ASD. In comparison, the response of the above patient in the present case report during the first week of treatment was faster than that of the patients in these studies and at a lower dose of propranolol (40 mg per day versus at least 100 mg per day).…”

Section: Therapeutic Use Of Beta Blockers In Asdsupporting

confidence: 54%

Amelioration of Aggression and Echolalia With Propranolol in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Schelke¹

2017

American Journal of Psychiatry Residents' Journal

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Section: Therapeutic Use Of Beta Blockers In Asdsupporting

confidence: 54%

Amelioration of Aggression and Echolalia With Propranolol in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Schelke¹

2017

American Journal of Psychiatry Residents' Journal

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“…Interestingly, clinical studies in ASD individuals show a positive effect of propranolol, a medication that blocks the conversion of T4 to T3, thereby potentially providing benefit in those with high TT3 or rT3 concentrations. Indeed, in individuals with ASD, propranolol has been shown to improve language, cognitive flexibility, working memory, facial scanning and behaviour . Lithium, a medication that inhibits thyroid function, has been shown to have positive effect on ASD behaviours in several clinical and animal studies, thereby also indicating a relative overactivity of the thyroid as the culprit.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thyroid dysfunction in children with autism spectrum disorder is associated with folate receptor α autoimmune disorder

Frye

Wynne

Rose

et al. 2017

J Neuroendocrinology

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Folate receptor α (FRα) autoantibodies (FRAAs) are prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). FRAAs disrupt folate transport across the blood-brain barrier by binding to the FRα. Thyroid dysfunction is frequently found in children with ASD. We measured blocking and binding FRAAs and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (T4) (FT4), total triiodothyronine (T3) (TT3), reverse T3 (rT3), thyroid-releasing hormone (TRH) and other metabolites in 87 children with ASD, 84 of whom also underwent behaviour and cognition testing and in 42 of whom FRAAs, TSH and FT4 were measured at two time points. To better understand the significance of the FRα in relation to thyroid development, we examined FRα expression on prenatal and postnatal thyroid. TSH, TT3 and rT3 were above the normal range in 7%, 33% and 51% of the participants and TRH was below the normal range in 13% of the participants. FT4 was rarely outside the normal range. TSH concentration was positively and the FT4/TSH, TT3/TSH and rT3/TSH ratios were inversely related to blocking FRAA titres. On repeated measurements, changes in TSH and FT4/TSH ratio were found to correspond to changes in blocking FRAA titres. TSH and the FT4/TSH, TT3/TSH and rT3/TSH ratios were related to irritability on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist and several scales of the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), whereas TT3 was associated with SRS subscales and TRH was related to Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale subscales. The thyroid showed significant FRα expression during the early prenatal period, although expression decreased significantly in later gestation and postnatal thyroid tissue. The results of the present study suggest that thyroid dysfunction in ASD may be related to blocking FRAA. The high expression of FRα in the early foetal thyroid suggests that foetal and neonatal exposure to maternal FRAAs could affect the development of the thyroid and may contribute to the pathology in ASD.

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“…Preliminary studies indicated possible language benefi ts, on tasks involving a search of semantic and associative networks. Beversdorf et al ( 2011 ) followed up with a small pilot study of high-functioning adolescents and adults with autism and found a signifi cant improvement in category fl uency. The authors concluded there was a benefi cial effect of propranolol on fl exibility of access to semantic and associative brain networks.…”

Section: Possible Treatment For Language Fluencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Asperger Syndrome

2013

Issues in Children's and Families' Lives

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Effect of Propranolol on Word Fluency in Autism

Abstract: Results are consistent with a selective beneficial effect of propranolol on flexibility of access to semantic and associative networks in autism, with no observed effect on phonological networks. Further study will be necessary to understand potential clinical implications of this finding.

Cited by 34 publications

References 44 publications

Amelioration of Aggression and Echolalia With Propranolol in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Amelioration of Aggression and Echolalia With Propranolol in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Thyroid dysfunction in children with autism spectrum disorder is associated with folate receptor α autoimmune disorder

Asperger Syndrome

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