Implication of Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Implications

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a cluster of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental conditions with atypical social communication and repetitive sensory-motor behaviors. The formation of new neurons from neural precursors in the hippocampus has been unequivocally demonstrated in the dentate gyrus of rodents and non-human primates. Accumulating evidence sheds light on how the deficits in the hippocampal neurogenesis may underlie some of the abnormal behavioral phenotypes in ASD. In this review, we describe the current evidence concerning pre-clinical and clinical studies supporting the significant role of hippocampal neurogenesis in ASD pathogenesis, discuss the possibility of improving hippocampal neurogenesis as a new strategy for treating ASD, and highlight the prospect of emerging pro-neurogenic therapies for ASD.

Automated summary

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by atypical social communication and repetitive sensory-motor behaviors. Emerging evidence suggests that deficits in hippocampal neurogenesis may play a significant role in the abnormal behaviors observed in ASD. This review summarizes pre-clinical and clinical studies supporting the importance of hippocampal neurogenesis in the pathogenesis of ASD, discusses the potential of enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis as a new therapeutic strategy for ASD, and highlights the prospects of pro-neurogenic therapies for ASD.