Abstract
Despite recent interest in the pathogenesis of the autism spectrum disorders (pervasive developmental disorders), neuropathological
descriptions of brains of individuals with well documented clinical information and without potentially confounding symptomatology
are exceptionally rare. Asperger syndrome differs from classic autism by lack of cognitive impairment or delay in expressive
language acquisition. We examined the 1,570 g brain of a 63 year old otherwise healthy mathematician with an Autistic Spectrum
Disorder of Asperger subtype. Except for an atypical gyral pattern and megalencephaly, we detected no specific neuropathologic
abnormality. Taken together, the behavioral data and pathological findings in this case are compatible with an early neurodevelopmental
process affecting multiple neuroanatomic networks, but without a convincing morphologic signature detectable with routine
neuropathologic technology.
descriptions of brains of individuals with well documented clinical information and without potentially confounding symptomatology
are exceptionally rare. Asperger syndrome differs from classic autism by lack of cognitive impairment or delay in expressive
language acquisition. We examined the 1,570 g brain of a 63 year old otherwise healthy mathematician with an Autistic Spectrum
Disorder of Asperger subtype. Except for an atypical gyral pattern and megalencephaly, we detected no specific neuropathologic
abnormality. Taken together, the behavioral data and pathological findings in this case are compatible with an early neurodevelopmental
process affecting multiple neuroanatomic networks, but without a convincing morphologic signature detectable with routine
neuropathologic technology.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10803-011-1259-0
- Authors
- Karen M. Weidenheim, Department of Pathology, Montefiore Medical Center, 111 East 210th Street, Bronx, NY 10467, USA
- Alfonso Escobar, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad National Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
- Isabelle Rapin, Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Online ISSN 1573-3432
- Print ISSN 0162-3257