Beyond Behaviour: Connective Tissue, Neurodevelopment, and the EDS–ASD Interface

Abstract

An increasing body of clinical observation suggests a significant overlap between Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS), hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), and neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ADHD. This lecture explores the hypothesis that connective tissue differences may play a role in neurodevelopment through multiple physiological pathways.

Topics Include:

• Structural and functional roles of connective tissue in the nervous system
• Associations between hypermobility, autonomic dysfunction, and sensory processing
• Mast cell activation and neuroinflammation
• Interoception, proprioception, and altered sensory signalling

The session will examine how connective tissue variability may influence brain development, sensory experience, and regulatory capacity.

Recognising these links may support more integrated and compassionate clinical approaches, particularly in patients presenting with overlapping physical and neurodevelopmental features.