Brain Stimulation Shows Promise for Autistic Children with Intellectual Disability

A new study published in BMJ suggests that non-invasive brain stimulation may improve social communication and language abilities in autistic children with intellectual disability.

"Children with intellectual disability are often excluded from autism research."

Study Overview

The research included 194 children, approximately half of whom had IQ scores below 70 (range 50–70), with a mean age of around 6.5 years.

The Intervention

The study used theta-burst stimulation, delivering magnetic pulses to specific brain regions. Sessions lasted a few minutes and were conducted over five days.

• One group received active stimulation
• The other group received a sham (placebo) treatment

Key Findings

Parents completed questionnaires on social communication at three points:

• Before treatment
• Immediately after treatment
• One month later

Improvements observed after five days persisted at one month. No serious side effects were reported.

Important Caveats

The study authors caution that several questions remain unanswered:

• Long-term benefits are still unclear
• Optimal session frequency has not been determined
• Real-world applicability requires further investigation

Brain stimulation is not a replacement for behavioral therapy and requires specialized equipment.