Cited by 10Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchGenetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Review on the role of hippocampus in autism spectrum disorder: recent insights into neuropathology, genetics, and emerging therapeutic strategies

Open access
Bhamidimarri, Poorna Manasa, Alhosani, Khalood, Cai, Heng, Al-Ali, Haya, Abukhaled, Yara Marwan, Tawamie, Hasan, Abdelaziz, Sahar, Fawaz, Mouna +5 more·2026·Neurobiology of Disease

Abstract

The hippocampus, central to learning, memory, and social behavior, is increasingly implicated in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Structural and functional disruptions in this region contribute to core ASD traits through impaired neurogenesis, abnormal dendritic morphology, excitatory/inhibitory imbalance, and altered connectivity with large-scale brain networks. Neuroimaging studies revealed changes in hippocampal volume, subfield-specific anomalies in the CA1 and dentate gyrus, and reduced functional connectivity within these regions. Genetic mutations in Shank3, Syngap1, Fmr1, and Nlgn3 disrupt synaptic plasticity and social memory circuits, while epigenetic alterations and environmental exposures further impair regulatory processes. Neuroinflammation exacerbates ASD pathology through microglial activation and cytokine release. Collectively, current evidence positions hippocampal dysfunction as central to ASD, emphasizing its relevance as both a biomarker and a therapeutic target to improve clinical outcomes.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.nbd.2025.107227

Cites

199 of 199 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

We couldn’t retrieve this paper’s full text, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Bhamidimarri, P. M., Alhosani, K., Cai, H., Al-Ali, H., Abukhaled, Y. M., Tawamie, H., Abdelaziz, S., Fawaz, M., Kashir, J., Sajjad, Y., Mohiyiddeen, L., Fakih, M., & Hamdan, H.
Affiliations
Khalifa University of Science and Technology (AE)
Corresponding author
Hamdan, Hamdan
Venue
Neurobiology of Disease
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2026-01
Volume
218
Pages
107227
ISSN
0969-9961 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4417525019
Cited by
10
References
199
Citations by year
2026: 10
FWCI
1.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neurobiology of Disease (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
hippocampus, autism spectrum disorder, hippocampal neurogenesis, dendritic morphology, excitatory-inhibitory imbalance, hippocampal connectivity, CA1, dentate gyrus, SHANK3, SYNGAP1, FMR1 gene, neuroligin-3, synaptic plasticity, social memory, epigenetic modifications, environmental exposure, neuroinflammation, microglial activation, cytokines, biomarkers, therapeutic target
MeSH terms
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Animals, Hippocampus, Humans

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review