Georgiana OPREA , Alin CIOBICĂ
ABSTRACT :
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social
deficits, repetitive behaviors, and neurochemical dysfunction. In this context, oxytocin, tetrahydrobiopterin and memantine attracted attention through their therapeutic potential, demonstrated in preclinical studies in animal models. Monotherapy with these substances has
shown distinct beneficial effects: oxytocin improves social interactions, memantine modulates neuronal excitation/ inhibition, and tetrahydrobiopterin corrects biochemical abnormalities associated with neurotransmitter metabolism. However, the literature does not provide sufficient information about the combined use of these compounds, despite their complementary mechanisms of
action. This review summarises the current results on the individual efficacy of oxytocin, tetrahydrobiopterin and memantine in ASD, highlighting existing gaps and the need for further research on combination therapies, which could be an innovative solution for addressing the complex symptomatology of ASD.