The relationship between BDNF and ASD

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the implications and limitations and inline gaps and stated research gap and future-work section of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2024 and 2026, spanning 5 journals. Those papers have been cited 17 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 6 representative gaps

• Examining Depression Among Mothers of Autistic People in South Korea: A Mixed-Methods Approach (2026) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi

  First, immediately following their child’s diagnosis, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders1 3mothers often feel anxious about what the future holds for their children and are particularly vulnerable to seeking pseudoscientific treatments as the causes of ASD are not clearly understood (Scherr et al.

  generalimplications
  Keywords: first immediately following child diagnosis journal autism developmental disorders mothers often feel anxious future holds
• The Association Between Autism Spectrum Traits and Age-Related Spatial Working Memory Decline: A Large-Scale Longitudinal Study (2025) · The Gerontologist · cited 4× · doi

  The intermediate and high autistic trait groups were not limited to a clinical autism diagnosis, which helps account for high rates of autism underdiagnosis in middle-aged/older adults and incorporated the broader autism phenotype group. However, the sample may not be representative of the entire population of middle-aged/older adults in the UK as it is limited to those who can confidently use a computer and access the internet.

  generallimitations
  Keywords: autism high limited middle aged older adults intermediate autistic trait groups clinical diagnosis helps account
• Relationships between peak alpha frequency, age, and autistic traits in young children with and without autism spectrum disorder (2024) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · cited 5× · doi

  Future studies should consider these differences and potentially use multiple assessment tools to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of autistic traits. Finally, although our findings highlight significant age-related differences in PAF in the cingulate regions of children with ASD, the functional implications of these results remain to be fully elucidated. Future research on the link between these neurophysiological markers and specific cognitive, behavioral, and clinical outcomes of ASD are warranted.

  generalinline gaps
  Keywords: future differences consider potentially multiple assessment tools provide comprehensive evaluation autistic traits finally ndings highlight
• Relationship of the Persistent Primitive Reflexes to Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Autistic and Typically Developing Children (2026) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi

  There is a lack of understanding of the relationship between persistent primitive reflexes and emotional and behavioral problems in autistic and typically developing children. Prior studies have suggested that PPRs might be related to neurodevelopmental disabilities such as ASD, but the relationship is not well understood.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: there lack understanding relationship between persistent primitive reflexes
• Platelet Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Is There a Specific Association with Autism Spectrum Psychopathology? (2024) · Biomedicines · cited 7× · doi

  Further studies are needed to investigate the relationship between BDNF and ASD, - Research should focus on evaluating intra-platelet BDNF levels in larger samples of adults with ASD, - Studies should explore the correlation between BDNF and autistic symptoms and related psychopathological dimensions

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: further studies needed investigate relationship between bdnf asd
• Association Between Developmental Coordination Disorder Traits, Autistic Traits, and Emotional/Behavioral Problems in Japanese Preschool Children (2025) · Children · cited 1× · doi

  There is a lack of understanding about the relationship between DCD traits and emotional/behavioral problems, considering the influence of autistic traits. Prior studies have reported inconsistent results. The study aims to fill this gap by examining the association between DCD traits and emotional/behavioral problems.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: there lack understanding about relationship between dcd traits

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