Sensorimotor (movement and sensation) pathways in autistic and non-autistic people
Official title: Characterization of (A)Typical Sensorimotor Pathways in Individuals With Autism
Run by IRCCS Eugenio Medea · NCT07389720 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The team will test whether differences in movement and sensory skills mark biological pathways linked to autism in children, infants with autistic siblings, and their parents.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 1 Year and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 300 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | IRCCS Eugenio Medea Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Bosisio Parini, Lecco) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 21, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 2026 |
| Study ends | December 2026 |
| Registry record updated | February 5, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07389720 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal participants are children aged 2–12 who are autistic or typically developing, infants under 24 months with a first-degree relative with autism, and the parents of these children.
✕Probably not a fit
Those with significant medical or neurological conditions (including epilepsy), known genetic or dysmorphic syndromes, or current use of psychotropic medications are excluded and unlikely to benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Researchers will collect clinical, neuropsychological, neurophysiological, kinematic, and genetic data from children aged 2–12 (with and without autism), infants under 24 months who have an autistic first-degree relative, and the parents of enrolled children. The study is organized into topic-oriented work packages, including a longitudinal arm to see whether early sensorimotor differences predict later social characteristics and family-based analyses to examine relatedness and heritability. Multiple assessments aim to link behavioral sensorimotor measures to underlying biological mechanisms. Overall, the project seeks to determine whether sensorimotor patterns could act as an endophenotype bridging biology and behavior in autism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify early movement or sensory markers that enable earlier diagnosis or more targeted interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has consistently reported motor and sensory differences in autism, but combining longitudinal, family-based, neurophysiological, and genetic data to define a sensorimotor endophenotype is relatively novel and exploratory.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * children aged 2 to 12 years (both autistic and typically developing) * Clinical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder based on clinical judgment according to DSM-5 criteria (for the autism group). * being parents of the enrolled children (both autistic and typically developing) * infants younger than 24 months of age with a first-degree family member with a clinical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of medical and/or neurological conditions of clinical significance, including epilepsy. * Presence of dysmorphic syndromes or known genetic syndromes. * Current use of medications and/or psychotropic drugs.
Where it's running
-
IRCCS E. Medea
Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Alessandro Crippa, PhD
- Email: alessandro.crippa@lanostrafamiglia.it
- Phone: 39 031877593
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.