Alvis Gómez KM1, Hernández EY2, Arboleda H2
1Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Corporal Movement Department, Bogota, Colombia, 2Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Master Degree in Neuroscience, Bogota, Colombia
Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a syndrome that occurs in 1 of every 68 children in the USA. The prevalence of this disorder worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2013, is 1 to 6 per thousand. In Colombia, the exact number of people with ASD is not known. Within the genetic studies of ASD, although a high heritability has been found, the concordance rate between monozygotic twins is between 60-92%, suggesting that, together with genetic mechanisms, environmental factors contribute to the appearance of the disorder, and This can be achieved through several mechanisms, including epigenetic regulation. On the other hand, in children with autism it has been proven that there is an alteration in the anticipation of movements; Deficits in anticipation limit the ability of individuals to form precise initial movements. Mutations have been identified in genes that code for neurotransmitters and proteins associated with synapses in patients with ASD. One of the genes that is strongly correlated with autism is SHANK3
Purpose: To analyze the effects of an aerobic training program on the DNA methylation in the SHANK3 gene and on the reaction times in a sample of pediatric population with diagnoses within the Autism Spectrum Disorder of the city of Bogotá.
Methods: Quasi-experimental study, with two groups consisting of children between 7 and 10 years old with a diagnosis of ASD. The group of cases received the aerobic training and the "standard treatment" that will be assumed as the classes that they receive in the school and the therapies that they attend daily and continued with the standard treatment. There was informed consent and assent. Blood samples were taken to perform the epigenetic analysis, aerobic training was performed, for three months with a frequency of 3 times / week; a reaction time test was applied through a computer program. These tests, in addition to the epigenetic control, were performed pre and post-exposure to aerobic training
Results: It is found that the group of cases presents variations in the response of reaction times in comparison with the control group, which could be related to aerobic training. However, there is not enough evidence to generalize the response obtained to population groups other than those of this study. The methylation of the SHANK3 gene presents characteristics that coincide with the data found in similar studies
Conclusion(s): Aerobic training affects both the SHANK 3 gene methylation and the reaction response of the reaction time in the population with autistic spectrum conditions.
Implications: This work contributes to the enrichment of the methods of intervention from physiotherapy and to the improvement of the quality of life and the functioning of the population with autism spectrum disorders.
Keywords: Autism, Neurorehabilitation, Reaction Time
Funding acknowledgements: Human Movement Department- Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Master Degree in Neuroscience- Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Purpose: To analyze the effects of an aerobic training program on the DNA methylation in the SHANK3 gene and on the reaction times in a sample of pediatric population with diagnoses within the Autism Spectrum Disorder of the city of Bogotá.
Methods: Quasi-experimental study, with two groups consisting of children between 7 and 10 years old with a diagnosis of ASD. The group of cases received the aerobic training and the "standard treatment" that will be assumed as the classes that they receive in the school and the therapies that they attend daily and continued with the standard treatment. There was informed consent and assent. Blood samples were taken to perform the epigenetic analysis, aerobic training was performed, for three months with a frequency of 3 times / week; a reaction time test was applied through a computer program. These tests, in addition to the epigenetic control, were performed pre and post-exposure to aerobic training
Results: It is found that the group of cases presents variations in the response of reaction times in comparison with the control group, which could be related to aerobic training. However, there is not enough evidence to generalize the response obtained to population groups other than those of this study. The methylation of the SHANK3 gene presents characteristics that coincide with the data found in similar studies
Conclusion(s): Aerobic training affects both the SHANK 3 gene methylation and the reaction response of the reaction time in the population with autistic spectrum conditions.
Implications: This work contributes to the enrichment of the methods of intervention from physiotherapy and to the improvement of the quality of life and the functioning of the population with autism spectrum disorders.
Keywords: Autism, Neurorehabilitation, Reaction Time
Funding acknowledgements: Human Movement Department- Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Master Degree in Neuroscience- Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Topic: Paediatrics; Paediatrics; Human movement analysis
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Ethics committee: Faculty of Medicine- Universidad Nacional de Colomboa
Ethics number: Act 012-2018
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
