Two thirds with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) were less irritable, lethargic, better motivated, able to communicate and had less repetitive movements, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital found.
After 18 weeks of treatment, the average scores on two assessments – the Aberrant Behavior Checklist and Social Responsiveness Scale – of those who received sulforaphane had decreased 34 and 17%, respectively – indicating improvement in factors such as irritability, lethargy, repetitive movements, hyperactivity, communication, motivation and mannerisms. Assessments using the Clinical Global Impression scale indicated that 46% of sulforaphane recipients exhibited noticeable improvement in social interaction, 54% in aberrant behaviours and 42% in verbal communication.
Most but not all of the improvements had disappeared by the 22-week reassessment, supporting the probability that changes had been the result of sulforaphane treatment.
