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Autism and PTSD Are Vulnerably Linked
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**Summary:** Individuals on the autism spectrum are particularly
susceptible to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The research
demonstrates that even mild stressors, which typically wouldn't affect
others, can trigger PTSD in those with autism, exacerbating core
autistic traits like repetitive behavior.
The study pinpoints specific brain circuit alterations in the
prefrontal cortex responsible for this hypersensitivity. This research
could revolutionize approaches to diagnosing and treating PTSD in
individuals with autism, emphasizing the need for tailored therapeutic
interventions.
**Key Facts:**
1. **Increased Sensitivity** : Individuals with autism spectrum dis
2. **Brain Circuit Alterations** : Researchers identified changes i
3. **Impact on Autism Traits** : PTSD can aggravate the core traits
**Source:** Australian National University
**People on the autism spectrum are predisposed to Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD), a new study from The Australian National
University (ANU) and the University of Queensland has shown.**
The research also found PTSD can lead to the aggravation of core
traits of autism such as repetitive behaviour,
The study showed that while generally PTSD is triggered by an extreme
stress, a single mild stress can be enough to produce a traumatic
memory in those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
"While heightened sensitivity to stress and trauma has been a rising
concern in ASD, the consequences have been largely overlooked until
now," Dr Dehorter said. Credit: Neuroscience News
Senior author Dr Nathalie Dehorter said the study — conducted on mice
— was able to pinpoint the mechanisms in the brain that might be
responsible for this occurrence.
"While heightened sensitivity to stress and trauma has been a rising
concern in ASD, the consequences have been largely overlooked until
now," Dr Dehorter said.
"We were able to show the specific brain circuit alteration that's
underlying the hypersensitivity to stress in ASD. We know what's
happening at the cellular and at the structural level in the
prefrontal cortex."
Lead author on the study, Dr Shaam Al Abed, said: "Understanding this
hypersensitivity is crucial to treating those traumatic memories with
the right behavioural therapy. By recontextualising the traumatic
memory, we can hopefully alleviate the worsening of those core
traits."
Dr Al Abed said the results could help both clinicians and people on
the autism spectrum.
"PTSD in autism is currently challenging to diagnose," she said.
"If we can understand a bit more about the underlying mechanisms, it
will go a long way to making sure people are managing their symptoms
appropriately."
According to the researchers, the study also supports the idea that
everyday life situations — like entering a particularly noisy or
unfamiliar environment — can be experienced as traumatic by
neurodivergent populations.
The study calls for better awareness of PTSD in autism, to allow for
efficient intervention for those more likely to experience trauma.
"Timely detection appears to be essential, especially if PTSD can
worsen the core ASD traits," Dr Dehorter said.
"We need more research into the overlap between these two conditions."
## About this PTSD and Autism research news
**Author:** Jessica Fagan
**Source:** Australian National University
**Contact:** Jessica Fagan - Australian National University
**Image:** The image is credited to Neuroscience News
**Original Research:** Open access.
"Parvalbumin interneuron activity in autism underlies susceptibility
to PTSD-like memory formation" by Nathalie Dehorter et al. _iScience_
* * *
**Abstract**
**Parvalbumin interneuron activity in autism underlies susceptibility
to PTSD-like memory formation**
## Highlights
* This study demonstrates a reciprocal relationship between ASD and
* Recontextualization constitutes a behavioral strategy to treat PTS
* Recontextualization rescues PTSD-like memory in ASD and aggravatio
* Prefrontal parvalbumin interneurons are a target to treat PTSD-lik
## Summary
A rising concern in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the heightened
sensitivity to trauma, the potential consequences of which have been
overlooked, particularly upon the severity of the ASD traits.
We first demonstrate a reciprocal relationship between ASD and post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and reveal that exposure to a mildly
stressful event induces PTSD-like memory in four mouse models of ASD.
We also establish an unanticipated consequence of stress, as the
formation of PTSD-like memory leads to the aggravation of core
autistic traits.
Such a susceptibility to developing PTSD-like memory in ASD stems from
hyperactivation of the prefrontal cortex and altered fine-tuning of
parvalbumin interneuron firing.
Traumatic memory can be treated by recontextualization, reducing the
deleterious effects on the core symptoms of ASD in the _Cntnap2_ KO
mouse model.
This study provides a neurobiological and psychological framework for
future examination of the impact of PTSD-like memory in autism.
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