New autism diagnostic tool ‘can aid understanding of the condition’

A new diagnostic method for autism has been hailed by the Disabilities Trust as a development which could improve understanding of the condition in the future.

Dr Jenny Alvarez, head of autism clinical services and consultant clinical psychologist at the organisation, has welcomed recent King's College London research into a new method of detecting autism using brain scans.

According to research from the college's Institute of Psychiatry, the magnetic resonance imaging scan takes only 15 minutes and can identify autism among adults with 90 per cent accuracy.

Dr Alvarez noted that this test had been conducted with a small sample size, suggesting that further research is necessary to establish whether the method is accurate enough to be useful on a larger scale.

However, she said it could provide valuable insights into the way that brains develop differently among those with autistic spectrum disorders.

"Diagnosis is complex and can lead to an inconclusive result which can be frustrating and confusing for those involved. A diagnostic tool such as this could be a valuable future contribution," she explained.