Hormone Therapy in Rhesus Monkeys Offers Hope for Autism Treatment

Recent research conducted by scholars from Florida Institute of Technology and collaborating institutions has highlighted the potential of hormone supplementation as a novel approach to autism therapy. The study focused on vasopressin, a hormone integral to social behavior regulation in mammals. Employing a rhesus monkey model exhibiting low social interaction akin to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), scientists explored whether replenishing vasopressin could improve social cognition.

Catherine Talbot, an assistant professor of psychology at Florida Tech, and her team observed that low-social rhesus monkeys have reduced vasopressin levels, paralleling findings in humans with ASD. Previous rodent studies indicated that increasing vasopressin heightened aggression, raising caution. However, Talbot's team hypothesized that in species-specific contexts, vasopressin might promote typical social behaviors.

In their innovative experiment, low-social monkeys received vasopressin via nebulization in a controlled setting, allowing the animals to voluntarily expose themselves to the hormone while sipping grape juice. Following the treatment, the researchers assessed the monkeys' responses to social and aggressive stimuli, along with their ability to recognize and remember faces.

Results revealed that vasopressin notably enhanced social behaviors without triggering aggression. The treated monkeys showed increased expressions of affiliative behaviors and improved facial recognition memory, suggesting a rescue of social cognition deficits. These findings point to vasopressin's potential as a targeted treatment for social impairments characteristic of ASD.

This groundbreaking research aligns with earlier studies indicating vasopressin deficits in individuals with autism. Talbot noted that early trials in humans are already underway to translate these findings into potential therapies. Future research is focusing on complex social skills, such as understanding others’ perspectives, and exploring early intervention strategies in young at-risk monkeys.

The study underscores the importance of personalized medicine approaches, recognizing that individuals with the lowest vasopressin levels might benefit most from supplementation. Overall, this research opens promising avenues for developing more effective, biological-based autism treatments.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-hormone-supplementation-rhesus-monkeys-potential.html