The Changing Faces of Autism in Angelman Syndrome

Angelman syndrome is a rare genetic condition. It affects the brain and nerves. Many kids with Angelman syndrome also have autism. But how autism shows up in these kids can change over time. That's what a recent study wanted to find out. The study looked at 107 kids with Angelman syndrome. They were between 2 and 18 years old. Some of the kids were studied more than once. This helped the researchers see how autism traits changed over time. They used different tests to measure autism traits and sensory issues. They also looked at things like the kids' genes, whether they were boys or girls, and if they had epilepsy. One big finding was that kids with a certain gene change had more autism traits. This was the deletion genotype. The study also found that autism traits stayed mostly the same over time. But there were some changes. Kids with a specific gene mutation showed a decrease in autism traits. The same was true for the whole group in the social and emotional areas. The study also pointed out something important. A common test for autism, the ADOS, might overestimate autism traits in kids with Angelman syndrome. This is something doctors and researchers need to keep in mind. They should use many different tools and experts' opinions when diagnosing autism in these kids. So, what does this all mean? It means that understanding autism in kids with Angelman syndrome is complex. It changes over time and can look different from one child to another. Doctors need to be aware of these changes. They should use a variety of tools and experts to get a full picture. This way, they can help these kids get the support they need.