Advanced Quantitative Microstructure Imaging in Autism: A Review of Methodology, Group Differences, and Associations With Developmental Outcomes.

The review did not conduct a backward or forward citation search, which may have missed relevant studies. Many included studies did not consistently report key variables, and some findings relied on a single study. Acquisition parameters (such as scanner strength and diffusion directions) varied widely across studies, making direct comparisons difficult. The analysis grouped brain regions broadly (e.g., combining corpus callosum subregions), which may obscure specific local differences. The review included participants across a wide age range without assessing age-specific impacts, limiting insights into developmental changes.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The work was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the National Institutes of Mental Health.

Do not interpret these mixed imaging findings as evidence that advanced MRI can currently diagnose autism or predict individual patient outcomes. The inconsistencies in results across the 34 studies mean these techniques are still in the research phase and not ready for clinical decision-making.