Why Autism Looks Different in Every Child

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can affect children in very different ways. Two children with the same diagnosis may have distinct strengths, challenges, and support needs. One may communicate verbally, while another may use alternative forms of communication.

Some children experience strong sensory sensitivities, while others respond differently to sounds, textures, or other stimuli. Researchers are investigating the biological factors that may help explain these differences.

In a study involving nearly 300 children, researchers analyzed blood proteins in 191 children with autism and 106 typically developing children. They identified 39 proteins that differed significantly between the two groups, with nearly all showing higher levels in the autism group.

These proteins were better at distinguishing children with autism from those without the diagnosis than at identifying distinct autism subtypes. This finding suggests that some biological patterns may be shared across the autism spectrum, even when individual characteristics vary.

Several proteins identified in the study were associated with genes previously linked to autism. The researchers also found connections to two cellular processes: cytoskeletal organization, which helps maintain cell structure, and chromatin regulation, which influences how genes are expressed. These processes have been explored in previous autism research. Finding related protein patterns in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, a group of immune cells found in the blood, offers another way to investigate the biology of autism without relying solely on brain tissue.

However, the findings do not yet provide a diagnostic test or explain why autism affects each child differently. The study involved a single discovery cohort, so the results need to be validated in independent groups before their clinical significance can be established.

Further research may clarify how these protein patterns relate to autism and whether they could eventually support earlier identification or more individualized care. For now, autism diagnosis continues to rely on clinical assessment of a child's development, behavior, and communication.

If you have questions about your child's development, connect with a doctor at My Pediatric Doctor to discuss your concerns and determine whether further evaluation is appropriate.

References

1. van Erp ML, et al. Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Proteomic Profiling Reveals Cytoskeletal- and Chromatin-Associated Protein Signatures in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity – Health. July 2026.

2. Technology Networks. Researchers May Have Found Why Autism Looks Different in Everyone.

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data and Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder.

4. Zhang et al. An Overview of Chromatin-Regulating Proteins in Cells. Current Protein & Peptide Science. 2016.

5. Hohmann T, Dehghani F. The Cytoskeleton—A Complex Interacting Meshwork. Cells. 2019.