This study investigates the use of a specific type of brain stimulation called individual alpha frequency (IAF)-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a potential treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The researchers aimed to assess its effectiveness and safety in improving ASD symptoms, quality of life, and associated issues like sleep disturbances. They found that after receiving 19 sessions of alpha-rTMS over 4 weeks, there was a significant improvement in IAF, reductions in ASD symptoms based on the childhood autism rating scale (CARS), and improvements in quality of life based on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQLTM 4.0) scores. Caregivers also reported positive changes in various areas, including social skills, behavior, communication, cognitive skills, and sleep patterns.
These findings suggest that IAF-guided alpha-rTMS could be a promising intervention for children with ASD, but further research, including randomized clinical trials, is needed to confirm its efficacy and safety.
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