Autism symptoms can be improved by oxytocin 'love hormone' nasal spray: study

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Oct 28, 2015 06:00 AM EDT
Tags oxytocin

A hormone commonly produced during lovemaking and helps induce labor in pregnant women has been found to have positive effects when used in children with autism.

In a study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, researchers from the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Institute discovered that oxytocin, a naturally-occurring hormone, can be used to improve some of the behavioral and emotional issues in kids with autism.

Sydney Morning Herald describes oxytocin as the love or cuddle hormone as it is commonly produced in actions involving human bonding. Studies have been conducted in the hopes that this hormone could one day be used to help people with varying mental or behavioral conditions.

Eurekalert refers to autism as a developmental disorder affecting the brain. Individuals with autism have difficulty socializing, communicating, interacting with other people and thrive better with performing routine tasks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that 1 out of every 68 children in the United States is autistic. Worldwide, approximately 1 percent of the population has autism.

For this study, a total of 31 children between the ages of three and eight years were selected to participate in the study. For a period of five weeks, Oxytocin was administered twice daily using a nasal spray.

Christine Blue is the mother of Hayden, a 7-year-old who participated in the program. In an interview with ABC News, she relays her delight in the results of the experiment.

According to Christine, prior to participating in the study, they underwent extensive intervention with minimal noticeable changes in Hayden's condition. In just a few weeks of taking oxytocin, Hayden's ability to make contact has improved and he had become more willing to get involved in conversations.

Associate Professor Adam Guastella is a senior author of the study, says the Sydney Morning Herald. He theorizes that the oxytocin makes the brain more sensitive to social cues.

Although a third of the participants showed observable improvements with using oxytocin, the associate professor cautions people into thinking that the synthetic hormone is the cure for autism. In a statement to ABC News, he states that more studies need to be done in order for drug companies to be more willing to distribute the nasal spray across Australia.

"Oxytocin won't make your child normal," says Ms. Blue to reporters. Although she does not see the drug as a cure, she still encourages other families to let their kids participate in clinical trials.

Perth's Telethon Kids Institute intends to work with the researchers from the Brain and Mind Institute in organizing a larger study involving 120 kids with autism.

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