Supervisors info:
Παναγιώτα Περβανίδου ,Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Ευαγγελία Χαρμανδάρη, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Αργύριος Ντινόπουλος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication deficits and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior. The neuropeptide oxytocin has emerged as a potential target for understanding and treating the social impairments associated with autism.
AIM: The current thesis aims to synthesize the existing literature on the role of oxytocin in autism, exploring its mechanisms of action, potential therapeutic effects, and implications for personalized medicine.
METHODOLOGY: A systematic search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus, using relevant keywords such as "oxytocin," "autism," and "social impairments." Studies published mainly between 2010 and 2022 were included.
RESULTS: Oxytocin is a neuropeptide involved in social bonding, trust, and social cognition. Studies have shown that oxytocin administration can enhance social behavior, improve emotion recognition, and increase eye contact in individuals with autism. However, the effects of oxytocin are variable across individuals, suggesting the presence of individual differences in oxytocin responsiveness. Oxytocin's mechanisms of action involve modulation of brain regions implicated in social processing, such as the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and reward circuitry.
CONCLUSIONS: The current thesis highlights the potential of oxytocin as a therapeutic target for improving social functioning in individuals with autism. However, further research is needed to fully understand the complexities of oxytocin's effects, including identifying biomarkers or behavioral markers associated with oxytocin responsiveness. Additionally, the review underscores the importance of personalized medicine approaches in autism, considering the heterogeneity of the disorder and individual differences in treatment response
Keywords:
Oxytocin, Autism, Social impairments, Social cognition, Personalized medicine
