Brief Report: Initial Trial of Alpha7-Nicotinic Receptor Stimulation in Two Adult Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Ann Olincy, Audrey Blakeley-Smith, Lynn Johnson and 2 others
PMID 27565651WHAT IT FOUND
After taking DMXB-A, both adults with autism showed a lower brain response marker, higher attention test scores, and better self-rated attention.
This tiny study cannot show benefit.
Key findings
01DMXB-A 150 mg decreased both P50 ratios into the healthy adult range.
02RBANS Attention Standard Scores increased during DMXB-A administration for both patients, more prominently at 150 mg.
03Self-rated attention dysfunction decreased as DMXB-A dose increased, but Patient 2 showed no decrease in social responsiveness self-ratings.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The study included only two adults, so it cannot show how most people with autism would respond. The trial stopped after 8 months for lack of funding and subject interest. Only single-day exposure was tested, so longer-term effects on attention or social symptoms were not measured. Patient 1 also took metformin, gabapentin, levothyroxine, lovestatin, perphenazine, and glipizide; Patient 2 also took escitalopram and mirtazapine, so the contribution of DMXB-A cannot be separated from these ongoing medications. The CPT-IP showed order effects across the three testing days regardless of treatment. Self-rated social responsiveness changed little, and a patient showed no decrease.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that DMXB-A improves autism symptoms. The trial included only two adults, stopped for lack of funding and interest, and social responsiveness self-ratings did not decrease in Patient 2.