DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

7 July 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Politics
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Brain recordings could help fine-tune treatment for autism, say researchers

November 15, 2021
An EEG recording cap. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
An EEG recording cap. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Researchers at Amsterdam’s UMC hospital say they have taken a step forward in treating autism in children by using brain scans to help identify suitable treatments.

Currently children are given medicines such as Ritalin in response to behavioural symptoms such as hyperactivity or disrupted sleep. But child psychiatrist Hilgo Bruining said electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings, which film brain activity, would allow paediatricians to prescribe treatments based on how the brain responds to stimulus.

‘Medicines such as Ritalin or anti-psychotic drugs only suppress behaviour,’ he told NOS. ‘They don’t address the cause in the brain and have side-effects that are sometimes worse than the disorder.’

Bruining said his research has also found that some children with autism could be helped by bumetanide, a medicine originally produced to treat high blood pressure, which reduces the concentration of chlorine in the brain.

The medicine, which has few side effects, could also benefit some children with epilepsy or dyslexia, conditions which are more common in people with autism.

An initial study found that around 10% to 20% of children who were given bumetanide found it improved their concentration and ability to process information, making social interactions less overwhelming.

‘The pill is certainly not the solution for all children with autism. But the method we are working with highlights the group of children who can benefit from it,’ Bruining said.

‘For the very first time we’ve been able to use films of the brain to produce evidence that a medicine has a demonstrable effect on the processing of stimuli and information in the brain.’

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Health
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Netherlands to send F-35s to patrol Poland’s eastern border
CDA leader Henri Bontebal leads in the prime ministerial stakes
Animal rights activists blockade Apeldoorn abattoirs, 40 arrests
Arrests at Amsterdam street market in people smuggling inquiry
Rental housing sell-off prompts 30% drop in student lodgings
NewsHomeEconomyPoliticsArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now