Continuing research and breakthroughs in autism treatment and technologies lead to more inclusive and rewarding lives for individuals with ASD and their families.
As therapists using applied behavioral analysis to create personalized support plans, we like to say, “When you know one person diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, you know one person with autism spectrum disorder.” The key innovations discovered or built upon in 2024 are helping to change the landscape for our clients and the way we can provide them with full-spectrum support.
This is because, while some characteristics or signs of ASD may be more prevalent for those with a diagnosis, each child and individual deserves to be met where they’re at—and with respect to their household and its systems.
The year 2024 marked some exciting breakthroughs in autism research, treatment options, and technological supports that help us form more detailed and customized behavioral plans for each person we work with.
Here are four of the discoveries we found most exciting this past year:
The more we learn about the brain and neurodivergent variances, the better we get at honing in on how to serve best those who fall out of the neurotypical category. Advances in genetic testing are one pathway scientists have toward becoming increasingly precise at identifying genes more likely to contribute to an ASD diagnosis.
According to researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center:
Hundreds of novel genetic variants across an ancestrally diverse cohort of 195 families, including 222 people with…ASD have been identified...expanding the catalog of known mutations associated with ASD. The unique variants had not yet been reported in any genomic data from public databases nor were they present in any other individual in the cohort.
Previously, the bulk of ASD genetic testing and studies have focused on individuals of primarily European descent. This study has helped to broaden our understanding of ASD in underrepresented populations.
Researchers in Tel Aviv have also honed in on a genetic link to ASD as the result of a mutation they’ve named SHANK3. Lead researcher Inbar Fisher explains that SHANK3, “...causes a dual impairment in the brain’s development and proper function: first, in oligodendrocytes, as in neurons, the SHANK3 protein is essential for the binding and functioning of receptors that receive chemical signals (neurotransmitters and others) from neighboring cells. This means that the defective protein associated with autism disrupts message transmission to these vital support cells. Secondly, when the function and development of oligodendrocytes are impaired, their myelin production is also disrupted.”
Findings like these further open the possibilities for targeted therapies, pharmaceuticals, genetics, and other therapeutic options.
One of the most exciting things about the continued uncovering of genes and genetic sequences contributing to ASD cases is the realization that CRISPR-Cas9 technology may be an option to prevent or reduce genetically linked ASD occurrences.
CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene editing technology that is causing major upheaval in biomedical research. It makes it possible to correct genetic errors or turn certain genes on or off with relative affordability and ease. Thus, the combination of continued identification of genetic mutations linked to ASD and the use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology could significantly decrease the number of individuals living with ASD or at least improve their quality of daily life and social interactions.
The pharmaceutical drug Nirsevimab is widely known as an antibody injection (not a vaccine), most often used to help prevent severe RSV in babies and young children. However, one of its side effects is changing certain gene expressions and modulating the concentration of cell division proteins in specialized brain cells.
As a result, early research and clinical trials have demonstrated improvements in cognitive abilities, social communication, and repetitive behaviors for some children with severe or low-functioning ASD. Further research is needed for clarity around optimal candidates and dosage.
Other drugs or related therapies and technologies shown to improve social, emotional, and behavioral function in individuals with ASD include:
NOTE: Always speak to your physician, neurologist, or therapist before trying any of these therapies. As we mentioned above—and as alluded to in the increasing number of varying genetically linked causes—every child with ASD is different. ASD therapies should always be customized to the individual to provide the least invasive and most effective treatments.
While we’ve mentioned a few breakthroughs in ASD therapy or treatment above, most of them are not “interactive.” However, some exciting new tech-based therapies support children with ASD and their families, many of which have really taken off as of 2024.
Examples include:
We encourage families to participate in role-playing to increase any child’s social/emotional awareness and successful participation with peers and friends. This role-playing practice is especially important for children with ASD who struggle to share, take turns, alternate between speaking and listening, etc. However, role-playing with mom, dad, therapist, or siblings can only go so far because these aren’t “real life” scenarios.
Today, cutting-edge virtual reality programs (like Floreo) make it far more engaging for children, teens, and young adults to participate in practice scenarios that are more lifelike ones they’ll encounter at school, in team sports, with friends, or out in public.
More companies are creating gadgets, panels, tools, or whole environments that integrate soothing or interactive sensory features to calm and engage kids with ASD. Sensory regulation, including safe spaces, can be essential to an ASD toolkit at home, school, or in therapeutic environments.
While some are designed for the professional realm, others, like zPods (a customizable autism bed for better sleep), create sensory-friendly environments that help children regulate. You can also work to create DIY sensory tables and spaces using the principles practiced by these innovators.
There are a range of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) options out there that help to give a voice to those who struggle to speak or are nonverbal. These range from devices that translate typed text to a personalized voice (typically chosen by the individual) to those that decipher gestures and movement.
However, while versions of these have existed in the past, 2024’s explosion of AI-assisted software has catalyzed the sensitivity and efficacy of these devices, making them more efficient and fluid than ever before.
It’s our pleasure as applied behavior analysts at the Autism Response Team to remain on the cutting edge of breakthroughs in autism treatment and technology so our clients don’t have to. You have enough on your plate learning to navigate daily life with your ASD loved one—and we’re here to facilitate that process in any way we can.
Contact us to schedule a consultation or to learn more about how we can support you using a combination of researched-based therapies and innovations, all of which we tailor to the individual and your family’s goals.
