A scoping review of autism research conducted in Central Asia: Knowledge gaps and research priorities.
Rano Zakirova-Engstrand, Gulnoza Yakubova
PMID 37161788WHAT IT FOUND
Only 11 autism studies exist from Central Asia, mostly from Kazakhstan.
There is no evidence on adult outcomes or surveillance systems. Clinicians cannot rely on local data for diagnosis or treatment, as most research focuses on parent experiences or biology rather than clinical interventions.
Key findings
01No studies were identified in the research areas of Lifespan Issues and Infrastructure and Surveillance, indicating a significant knowledge gap.
02Most included studies were conducted in Kazakhstan, with only one study from Uzbekistan and none from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, or Turkmenistan.
03Research on treatments and interventions was limited to two studies on robot-assisted therapy and one on transcranial micropolarization, with no evidence for other interventions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The search was limited to English and Russian languages, potentially missing studies published in local languages. Only peer-reviewed journal articles were included, excluding grey literature such as theses or conference presentations. The databases searched may not have been accessible to researchers in all Central Asian countries, particularly Turkmenistan. The review did not assess the quality or risk of bias of the included studies. Most studies were from Kazakhstan, so findings may not represent the entire region.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. Open access publication costs were funded by Stockholm University.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the absence of studies as evidence that autism is rare or untreated in Central Asia. The lack of research reflects limited funding and infrastructure, not necessarily a lack of need or clinical activity. Do not assume that the two robot-assisted therapy studies represent the standard of care or available interventions for autistic individuals in the region.