Larger brains in medication naive high-functioning subjects with pervasive developmental disorder

Saskia J.M.C. Palmen, Hilleke E. Hulshoff Pol, Chantal Kemner, Hugo G. Schnack, Joost Janssen, René S. Kahn, Herman Van Engeland

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Are brain volumes of individuals with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) still enlarged in adolescence and adulthood, and if so, is this enlargement confined to the gray and/or the white matter and is it global or more prominent in specific brain regions. Methods: Brain MRI scans were made of 21 adolescents with PDD and 21 closely matched controls. Results: All brain volumes, except the white matter, were significantly larger in patients. After correction for brain volume, ventricular volumes remained significantly larger in patients. Conclusions: Patients showed a proportional, global increase in gray matter and cerebellum volume, and a disproportional increase in ventricular volumes. Thus, at least in high-functioning patients with PDD, brain enlargement may still be present in adult life.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)603-613
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Volume34
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2004
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Brain MRI
  • autism
  • cortical lobes
  • gray matter
  • white matter

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