It is also the first clinical trial investigating the efficacy, tolerability and safety of intranasal-administered oxytocin in young children with autism, the researchers said.
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This new study had thirty-one children between the ages of three and eight who received oxytocin on a daily basis twice through a nasal spray. It is the first time a medical treatment has been shown to have a positive effect on the social impairments commonly seen in autistic children.
The study, drove by scientists at the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Center in Australia, is thought to be the first confirmation of a restorative treatment for social impedances in youngsters with autism.
While behavioral therapy also has been shown to help children with autism, UPI reports, that option is not available for everyone because it can be both time-consuming and very costly.
A synthetic version of the hormone oxytocin has been shown to reduce behavioral problems in autistic children.
“The next phase of this research is to understand exactly how oxytocin changes brain circuitry to improve social behaviour and document how related treatments might be used to boost learning of established social learning interventions”, Prof Hickie said.
“The possibility to utilize such elementary medicines to upgrade the more drawn out termed advantages of other behavioral, instructive and innovation based treatments is extremely energizing”, he said.
Oxytocin is naturally occurring in the body, and doctors believe it is responsible for influencing a person’s emotional state, forming social ties like romantic interest in another and the bond felt between a child and a parent. The most common side effects were relatively minor and included frequent urination, thirst and constipation.
Researchers found that oxytocin contributed to changes in the brain part responsible for social behavior.
These positive findings reinforce earlier studies suggesting oxytocin could be used to treat children with autism.
Study co-author and co-director of the Brain and Mind Centre, Ian Hickie noted the new results were a critical first advance in the development of medical treatments for the social deficits that characterise autism.
During a five-week period, the children were given a nasal spray containing oxytocin. She reiterated that oxytocin is not a cure for autism, and should be used in conjunction with other treatments.
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“Oxytocin is not a cure for autism and there isn’t likely to be a single treatment for autism in the near future”, Associate Professor Guastella said.
