The Feasibility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Non-Selective Comprehensive Clinical Trial in Pediatric Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Only about four in ten non-selected children with autism will complete an MRI, even after two warm-up visits.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team tried to scan the brains of children with autism using MRI.
They gave each child two practice visits first.
Only 38 percent of the kids finished the real scan.
What they found
Most children could not lie still long enough, even after training.
The low success rate shows MRI is hard to use in everyday autism clinics.
How this fits with other research
Capio et al. (2013) reviewed earlier MRI work and said the pictures look promising but need standard rules. The new paper adds a hard truth: getting the pictures is the first hurdle.
İnci et al. (2021) and Ohashi et al. (2021) also ran big case-series tests. Metabolic and gene tests each helped only a small share of families. Together, the three studies paint the same picture: fancy lab tools often give answers for just a few kids.
Prasher et al. (2003) warned that sedation for MRI in adults with Down syndrome carries medical risk. The 2022 study avoided sedation and still most scans failed, showing the problem is bigger than safety.
Why it matters
Before you order an MRI, plan twice the time and expect many no-gos. Have a back-up plan for kids who can’t tolerate the tube. Share the 38 percent figure with families up front so they know the odds.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
There is an increasing interest in using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a tool for precision medicine in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study investigated the feasibility of MRI scanning in a large comprehensive, inclusive and test heavy clinical trial for children (aged 3-12 years) with ASD, without functioning constraints for participation. Of the 71 participants enrolled who consented to the MRI, 24 participants (38%) successfully completed an MRI scan at baseline along with other assessments. This scanning followed a familiarization procedure at two preceding visits. At post-treatment, 21 participants successfully completed the MRI scan. This study highlights the challenge of completing MRI assessments in ASD populations when conducted as one of a number of tests in a clinical trial.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2022 · doi:10.1038/mp.2015.162