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Memantine to Treat Social Impairment in Youths With Autism Spectrum Disorder

JAMA Network Open 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.34927

October 01, 2025 at 11:00 AM EDT

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Does treatment with memantine improve social functioning in youths with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without intellectual disability?In this randomized clinical trial that included 42 youths with ASD, memantine was well tolerated and significantly improved social impairments, particularly in youths with abnormally high glutamate levels in the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex region of the brain.Memantine appears to be safe and effective for treating social impairments in patients with autism, particularly for those with glutamate dysregulation.

Corresponding Author: Gagan Joshi, MD, Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, WRN 626, Boston, MA 02114 (gjoshi@mgh.harvard.edu).

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