Age dynamics of monoaminergic neurotransmitters in cerebrospinal fluid in autism, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and their comorbidity
Brain monoaminergic systems play an important role as neurotransmitters and regulators in ontogenesis. Their disturbances are involved into symptoms of autism (Kanner syndrome) and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Age dynamics of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine in CSF has been studied in patients with autism, ADHD and comorbidity of autism and ADHD in the age range of 1-25 years. Both in ADHD and autism there were disturbances in age dynamics of CSF serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine (p<0.05), especially at the age of 5-7 years in ADHD: increase in serotonin (1.2-1.4-fold) and norepinephrine (1.2-fold) and decrease in dopamine (1.5-1.6-fold); at 1 and 5 years in autism: a decrease in serotonin (4.9-1.2-fold), dopamine (2.8-fold) and norepinephrine (1.2-1.4-fold); at the age of 5-25 years in comorbidity of ADHD and autism: a decrease in serotonin (1.3-2.1-fold), dopamine (1.9-3.7-fold) and norepinephrine (в 1.4-2.1-fold). The disturbances coincide with critical periods in development and maturation of various brain structures, which can result in manifestation of symptoms of ADHD and autism.