Stress biomarkers show an uneven pattern in autism with developmental or intellectual disability
A review found signs of altered autonomic stress regulation, while hormone findings varied and most studies offered low-certainty evidence.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The reviewed studies suggested heightened autonomic arousal and slower recovery after stress in autistic people with developmental delay or intellectual disability. Hormonal findings were less consistent. These measurements describe physiological patterns, not proof of a treatment need or a way to predict an individual's experiences, and the reviewers judged much of the evidence uncertain.
Most studies had low certainty because samples were small and methods, participants and tasks differed. Few recent studies specifically targeted people with both autism and developmental delay or intellectual disability.
Measurements varied across studies
Researchers looked at direct physiological measures such as heart rate variability, skin electrical activity and cortisol. Differences between studies were large enough that the authors did not combine them into a single pooled estimate.
An association is not a treatment target
A heart rhythm measure called respiratory sinus arrhythmia was positively associated with social adaptation. That association does not show that changing the biomarker would improve social functioning or explain the direction of the relationship.
The original publication
Autonomic and hormonal biomarkers in individuals with autism spectrum disorders and developmental or intellectual delay: A systematic PRISMA review.
Vidal-Zaborski O, Merino D, Fernandez A et al.
Neurosci Biobehav Rev · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41314363
- Record checked
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