Oxytocin Found to Stimulate Social Brain Regions in Children with Autism

The hormone oxytocin has been generating excitement — and caution — among people who care about autism.

Scientists have been eager to see if oxytocin, which plays a role in emotional bonding, trust and many biological processes, can improve social behavior in people with autism. Some parents of children with autism have asked doctors to prescribe it, although it is not an approved treatment for autism, or have purchased lower-dose versions of the drug over the counter.

Scientifically, the jury is out, and experts say parents should wait until more is known. Some studies suggest that oxytocin, sometimes called the “love hormone,” improves the ability to empathize and connect socially, and may decrease repetitive behaviors. Others find little or no impact, and some research suggests that it can promote clannish and competitive feelings, or exacerbate symptoms in people already oversensitive to social cues. Importantly, nobody knows if oxytocin is safe or desirable to use regularly or long term.

Now, the first study of how oxytocin affects the brains of children with autism finds hints of promise — and also suggestions of what its limitations might be.

Oxytocin Improves Brain Function in Autistic Kids

Preliminary results from an ongoing, large-scale study by Yale School of Medicine researchers shows that oxytocin -- a naturally occurring substance produced in the brain and throughout the body -- increased brain function in regions that are known to process social information in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

'Cuddle Hormone' Aids Autism Treatment

BOSTON -- When Cheryl Philippon's youngest son Steven was diagnosed in November with autism, their lives changed forever.
"So much of our time is focused on his schedule, his program," said Philippon.
The 3-year-old had been nonverbal up until recently, and he still avoids playing with others, even his older sister, who's 4.
"Patients with autism have primary deficits in terms of their social cognition, so they have a hard time developing strong trust bonds with other individuals," said Dr. Eric Hollander, director of the Compulsive, Impulsive and Autism Spectrum Disorder Program at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, N.Y.