Predicting Treatment Response to Memantine in Autism Using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Namenda (pill and the liquid) will be started at 5 mg/day doses to be titrated up 20 mg/day based on response and tolerability, as per the package insert instructions and based upon clinical titration in other clinical trials for a period of 12 weeks. Namenda XR will be started at 7 mg/day to be titrated up to 28mg/day based on response and tolerability, as per package insert instructions and based upon clinical titration in other clinical trials for a period of 12 weeks.

The subjects will undergo an MRI assessment after baseline behavioral assessment. The session will involve a structural MRI scan, single voxel spectroscopy scans and resting state functional MRI. The subjects will be started on memantine post the imaging session. The imaging will be carried out on a research dedicated 3 Tesla (3T) Siemens Trio Scanner at the University of Missouri Brain Imaging Center by trained personnel.