Study of Sensorimotor Skills and Biological Markers in Children and Families Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying sensorimotor skills as potential biomarkers that connect biological aspects of autism with behavioral and clinical features. This study focuses on early motor and sensory differences often seen in people with autism and their family members. It aims to understand how these skills develop, whether family relationships influence them, and how these differences may reveal biological mechanisms of autism. The study includes three main parts a longitudinal study of infant siblings at risk, a cross-sectional study comparing autistic children and their parents with typical families, and detailed phenotyping within individuals across behavioral, neural, and molecular levels. All children and their parents participating will undergo intellectual assessments and motor skill evaluations using tools like the Movement Assessment Battery for Children - Third Edition MABC-3, along with questionnaires completed by parents or participants. Motor profiles will also be analyzed through detailed movement tracking during specific upper-limb tasks. Additional evaluations include clinical assessments using autism-specific tools, neuropsychological tests, neurophysiological imaging, and genetic testing through blood or saliva samples. These assessments cover the studys experimental arm and support a comprehensive understanding of sensorimotor pathways in autism. Participants will be assessed immediately after the interventions using primary outcome measures such as the Movement Assessment Battery for Children 3, the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire, the Adult Developmental Coordination DisorderDyspraxia Checklist, and kinematic analysis of motor tasks. Secondary outcomes include MRI scans, spectroscopy, and exome sequencing. The study involves children aged 2 to 12 years, their parents, and infants under 24 months with a family history of autism. The research team will monitor participants intellectual and motor abilities, behavioral and neural traits, and genetic data to explore sensorimotor features linked to autism. The study is expected to continue until December 2026.

Characterization of (A)Typical Sensorimotor Pathways in Individuals With Autism