AI Brain MRI System Detects Autism in Young Children

Author: Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)
Published: 21 Nov 2023 - Updated: 4 Nov 2026
Publication Type: Informative

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information reports on research presented in November 2023 at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America by a University of Louisville team. Their three-stage artificial intelligence system analyzes diffusion tensor MRI, which shows how water moves along the brain's white matter tracts, to measure connections between brain regions. Tested on scans of 226 children aged 24 to 48 months, 126 with autism, it showed 97 percent sensitivity, 98 percent specificity and 98.5 percent overall accuracy. The work interests parents, pediatricians and autism services because long waits for evaluation delay support, though the findings are a conference abstract that still needs larger studies and FDA review.*

At a Glance

• 1 - The scans came from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange-II dataset.
• 2 - The system produces a report naming affected neural pathways and a severity grade.
• 3 - CDC data show fewer than half of autistic children had a developmental evaluation by age three.
• 4 - The researchers say the approach could cut psychologists' assessment workload by up to 30 percent.

Topic Definition

Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), also called diffusion tensor MRI, is a type of magnetic resonance imaging that measures how water molecules move through brain tissue. Because water travels more easily along nerve fibers than across them, DTI can map the white matter tracts that connect brain regions and show differences in their structure and integrity, which researchers use to study conditions such as autism, brain injury and multiple sclerosis.

Overview

A newly developed artificial intelligence (AI) system that analyzes specialized MRIs of the brain accurately diagnosed children between the ages of 24 and 48 months with autism at a 98.5% accuracy rate, according to research presented in November 2023 at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Mohamed Khudri, B.Sc., a visiting research scholar at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, was part of a multi-disciplinary team that developed the three-stage system to analyze and classify diffusion tensor MRI (DT-MRI) of the brain. DT-MRI is a special technique that detects how water travels along white matter tracts in the brain.

"Our algorithm is trained to identify areas of deviation to diagnose whether someone is autistic or neurotypical," Khudri said.

The AI system involves isolating brain tissue images from the DT-MRI scans and extracting imaging markers that indicate the level of connectivity between brain regions. A machine learning algorithm compares the marker patterns in the brains of children with autism to those of the normally developed brains.

"Autism is primarily a disease of improper connections within the brain," said co-author Gregory N. Barnes, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neurology and director of the Norton Children's Autism Center in Louisville. "DT-MRI captures these abnormal connections that lead to the symptoms that children with autism often have, such as impaired social communication and repetitive behaviors."

The researchers applied their methodology to the DT-MRI brain scans of 226 children between the ages of 24 and 48 months from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange-II. The dataset included scans of 126 children affected by autism and 100 normally developing children. The technology demonstrated 97% sensitivity, 98% specificity, and an overall accuracy of 98.5% in identifying the children with autism.

"Our approach is a novel advancement that enables the early detection of autism in infants under two years of age," Khudri said. "We believe that therapeutic intervention before the age of three can lead to better outcomes, including the potential for individuals with autism to achieve greater independence and higher IQs."

According to the CDC's 2023 Community Report on Autism, fewer than half of children with autism spectrum disorder received a developmental evaluation by three years of age, and 30% of children who met the criteria for autism spectrum disorder did not receive a formal diagnosis by 8 years of age.

"The idea behind early intervention is to take advantage of brain plasticity, or the ability of the brain to normalize function with therapy," Dr. Barnes said.

The researchers said infants and young children with autism receive a delayed diagnosis for several reasons, including a lack of bandwidth at testing centers. Khudri said their AI system could facilitate precise autism management while reducing the time and costs associated with assessment and treatment.

"Imaging offers the promise of quickly detecting autism in an objective fashion," Dr. Barnes said. "We envision an autism assessment that begins with DT-MRI followed by an abbreviated session with a psychologist to confirm the results and guide parents on next steps. This approach could reduce the psychologists' workload by up to 30%."

The AI system produces a report detailing which neural pathways are affected, the anticipated impact on brain functionality, and a severity grade that can be used to guide early therapeutic intervention.

The researchers are working toward commercializing and obtaining FDA clearance for their AI software.

Additional Co-authors

Mostafa Abdelrahim, B.Sc., Yaser El-Nakieb, Ph.D., Mohamed Ali, Ph.D., Ahmed S. Shalaby, Ph.D., A. Gebreil, M.D., Ali Mahmoud, Ph.D., Ahmed Elnakib, Ph.D., Andrew Switala, Sohail Contractor, M.D., and Ayman S. El-Baz, Ph.D.

Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)

RSNA is an association of radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.

The data in these releases may differ from those in the published abstract and those actually presented at the meeting, as researchers continue to update their data right up until the meeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

How is autism diagnosed today?

Autism is diagnosed by trained clinicians through developmental history, observation and standardized assessments of communication, social interaction and behavior. There is no approved brain scan or blood test for diagnosis.

At what age can autism be diagnosed?

Autism can often be reliably diagnosed by age 2, though many children are diagnosed later and some not until adulthood.

Is an MRI safe for young children?

MRI does not use radiation, but young children often need sedation or anesthesia to stay still, which carries its own small risks.

What do sensitivity and specificity mean?

Sensitivity is how often a test correctly identifies people who have a condition. Specificity is how often it correctly identifies people who do not.

Will AI replace autism specialists?

No. Researchers see AI tools as a way to speed up screening and support specialists, with a clinician still confirming the diagnosis and planning support.

What are early signs of autism in toddlers?

Signs can include limited eye contact, not responding to their name, little pointing or showing, delayed speech and repetitive movements or routines.

Why does early autism support matter?

Starting speech, social and developmental support early can help children build communication and daily living skills during a period of rapid brain development.

Is this AI system available to families now?

Not yet. The researchers are working toward FDA clearance, and the system would need further testing before clinical use.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Many families wait months or years for an autism evaluation, and that delay can mean missing support during the years when the brain is most adaptable. An imaging test that flags likely autism quickly could help shorten the queue, though it would still need confirmation by a specialist and could not replace a full assessment of a child's strengths and needs. The results come from a single dataset presented at a meeting, MRI in young children often requires sedation and is costly, and accuracy needs to hold up in larger and more varied groups before it is used in clinics.*

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally issued as a press release by Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and published on 21 Nov 2023. Last updated on 4 Nov 2026. This content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.