Treatment at crossroads of science and art

"The autism epidemic is running rampant," said US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, and he may have a point.

Data from Johns Hopkins University suggest that autism prevalence has risen by nearly 300 percent over the past two decades. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 31 children aged 8 has been diagnosed with the condition. It is undeniable that autism spectrum disorder has become a major issue in American society.

As a scientific researcher dedicated to finding the cause of and potential treatments for autism, Li Xiaohong — director of the Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory at New York State's Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities — knows firsthand the struggles patients and their families face.

Born in Yuanjiang, a river city in Hunan province, Li began her medical training at the Xiangya School of Medicine, where she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees. She later pursued a doctorate in physiology at the University of Cambridge. After several years in the United Kingdom, she moved to New York, joining Mount Sinai School of Medicine to study polycystic kidney disease.

Her shift to autism research happened almost by accident. When the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities was recruiting scientists, she found herself "deeply drawn to the subject," as she put it, and stepped into what would become her life's work.

Li and her team have identified several biological signatures associated with the onset of autism, including alterations in neuroinflammatory markers; alterations of a few signal transductional pathways related to neural development, as well as imbalances in neural circuits — findings that strengthen the scientific foundation for early diagnosis and intervention.

But Li is more than a scientist. She is also a poet and composer. Her creative work channels her personal understanding of autism, using art to express her insights while amplifying public awareness.

Reflecting on why she began creative writing years ago, she said her hope was to inspire "a deeper sense of understanding and compassion for these children and the families who support them."

As a parent herself, witnessing other parents' struggles resonates deeply with her.

"The role of a parent, especially a mother, is incredibly difficult," she said. "Many mothers I know have given up their careers for their children. It's an enormous sacrifice, yet their love runs so deep. That devotion is something I try to honor in my work."

To date, Li has published five collections of poetry: Rainbow, The Arc of the Wind, Beyond All Colors, In the Depths of Light and Shadow and The Moment. Her work, however, extends far beyond personal expression.

Li explained that when children with ASD cannot express their emotions, the resulting frustration may lead to depression or aggression. Artistic expression can help these children gain confidence and happiness.

"I can't know exactly what is going on in their minds, but I'm certain they long for love and connection," she said. "Often they just don't know how to communicate, or they don't fully understand how social interactions work. They face real obstacles, but that doesn't mean they don't want to connect."