The Utility of Biomarkers for Assessment and Intervention in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

The inherent heterogeneity of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)Technology support for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) underscores a challenge, where heterogeneous clinical, neurocognitive and neurobiological traitsNeurobiological traits in NDDs defy consistent characterization across diagnoses. Therefore, the field of neurodevelopmental research has undergone strong advances with the aim to provide evidence on the underlying mechanisms of neurodevelopmental disorders. In the present chapter, we will provide an overview on the current state of knowledge on identified underlying biomarkers, elaborating on different types of biomarkers, the neural and neurophysiological, genetic, epigenetic and metabolic correlates of ADHD and ASD and discussing their potential for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Despite advancements in the field, the search for a single biomarker meeting the optimal standards of sensitivity and specificity remains unfulfilled. The chapter therefore also discusses potential needs for developmentally informed research strategies to address the dynamic nature of NDDs. This includes innovations in machine learning, which may offer promising biomarker discovery approaches in the spirit of precision medicine. Addressing these complexities and the ethical considerations, particularly the risk of discrimination and stigmatization, is imperative for future research.