Efficacy of Laser Acupuncture for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Clinical, Molecular, and Biochemical Study

Background: Low-level laser acupuncture (LLLA) biostimulation could contribute to improving the symptoms and communication of children manifesting autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Photobiomodulation might influence the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and miR-320 expression. The aim was to investigate the influence of LLLA biostimulation on the severity, language abilities, BDNF levels, and miR-320 in a sample of children with ASD.

Methods: The participants with ASD (N = 30) were randomly divided equally into groups: Group I received LLLA therapy twice a week for 12 sessions and Group II did not receive it. Assessments of the severity, language abilities, BDNF level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and miR-320 expression by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed before and after the intervention. A comparison between ASD cases (N = 30) before starting the therapy and neurotypical children (N = 15) regarding miR-320 expression was performed.

Results: Following the intervention, the severity of ASD was reduced and language performance was elevated in both groups. The improvement in Group I was higher with (P = 0.002; 0.03). The plasma BDNF level was reduced only in Group I (P < 0.001). The expression level of miR-320 in Group I did not show a change (P = 0.641). A significant difference in miR-320 expression between children with ASD and the neurotypical group (P = 0.000) was observed.

Conclusion: This study introduces LLLA therapy as a safe and promising therapeutic procedure for improving the core manifestations and communication abilities and for modulating BDNF levels in children with ASD. The reduced expression of miR-320 showed a good diagnostic value in children with ASD.