autism or autistic traits
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) trials target core symptoms (social communication, restricted/repetitive behaviors) as well as co-occurring conditions including anxiety, sleep disturbance, and gastrointestinal problems. The heterogeneity of ASD — driven by hundreds of genetic variants — has driven interest in genotype-stratified trials that enroll specific genetic subtypes (SHANK3, CHD8, FMR1).
Trials evaluate oxytocin nasal spray, vasopressin receptor modulators, mGluR5 antagonists in fragile X, bumetanide (GABA modulator), transcranial magnetic stimulation, and early intensive behavioral interventions. Biomarkers including EEG connectivity measures and eye-tracking are being validated as objective outcome measures.