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Autism spectrum disorders news
Genetics
Balance between two competing nerve proteins deters symptoms of autism in mice, study finds
In mice, autism symptoms arise when a certain pair of competing nerve proteins falls out of equilibrium, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Dongdong Zhao of Wenzhou Medical University, ...
Apr 1, 2025
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Psychology & Psychiatry
Autistic stimming explained—and why stopping it can lead to burnout
Stimming—short for "self-stimulatory behavior"—is a form of self-soothing commonly seen in autistic people. It can involve repetitive movements, sounds, or actions and is commonly regarded in medical literature as part ...
Mar 31, 2025
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AI analysis of health care records reveals key factors in autism diagnosis
Without clear and effective biological tests for autism based on genes, brain or blood measurements, diagnosis today still largely depends on clinical assessment. The standard way of doing this is by observing how the individual ...
Mar 26, 2025
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Decoding autism through neuroimaging: How alterations in brain connectivity shape symptoms
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a growing global concern, affecting approximately 2.8% of children in the United States and 0.7% in China. ASD is characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication difficulties, ...
Mar 25, 2025
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Are labels like autism and ADHD more constraining than liberating? A clinician argues diagnosis has gone too far
The Anatomy of Melancholy was written more than 400 years ago, but Robert Burton's masterpiece is strangely modern. Although it brims with quaint language and Latin quotes, it also resembles a medical textbook: a compendium ...
Mar 25, 2025
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Investigating the potential impact of environmental factors on neurodevelopmental disorders
The debate on nature versus nurture has never ceased, particularly in discussions about neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) such as autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These lifelong conditions emerge ...
Mar 25, 2025
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Deep brain stimulation may reduce severe self-injurious behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder
Severe self-injurious behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) poses a significant risk of permanent physical injury. Not all children respond to behavioral therapies. Findings from a pilot trial show that ...
Mar 20, 2025
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Community-based screening model improves early autism diagnosis for underserved communities
A study led by Kennedy Krieger Institute's Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation (CASSI) finds that a community-based screening model is helping children receive autism diagnoses faster, particularly in underserved ...
Mar 18, 2025
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Faster autism diagnosis: Improved collaboration results in children being diagnosed a year earlier
Closer collaboration between child health services and specialist care has resulted in faster support for young children with autism. Published in Frontiers in Pediatrics, a study from the University of Gothenburg shows that, ...
Mar 18, 2025
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What is causing autism rates to rise? And should we be concerned?
Autism diagnoses have skyrocketed—from a rare condition to a common reality for 1 in 36 children.
Mar 14, 2025
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Two factors could help close the hiring gap for autistic job seekers, study says
Autistic people often face an uphill battle when searching for a job, especially during interviews. New Virginia Commonwealth University research underscores the enduring value of employer neurodiversity training when coupled ...
Mar 14, 2025
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Job interviews can be a hurdle for autistic applicants
A job interview can make anyone anxious. For people with autism, an interview can be extra stressful. They might avoid eye contact or rush when they speak. They could miss social cues or fidget to cope with discomfort from ...
Mar 11, 2025
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CDC to study vaccines and autism, despite much research showing no link
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is preparing to study whether vaccines are linked to autism—despite overwhelming scientific evidence showing no connection.
Mar 10, 2025
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It's not just what you say—it's also how you say it: How the brain decodes changes in the pitch of speech
You've probably heard the phrase, "It's not what you say, it's how you say it," and now, science backs it up. A first-of-its-kind study from Northwestern University's School of Communication, the University of Pittsburgh ...
Mar 3, 2025
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Study shows rates of ADHD up in adults with autism, intellectual disability
Adults with autism have high rates of co-occurring attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and are more likely to receive ADHD medications, according to a study published online Feb. 12 in JAMA Network Open.
Feb 28, 2025
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'Empathic disequilibrium' concept helps explain social characteristics of neurological conditions
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev's psychology researcher Prof. Florina Uzefovsky has developed a new concept she terms empathic disequilibrium, which she finds better explains social characteristics in a range of clinical ...
Feb 24, 2025
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Children with autism spectrum disorder less likely to have severe injuries than those with ADHD, finds study
A new study published in JAMA Network Open this month has found that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be less likely to experience injuries compared to children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ...
Feb 20, 2025
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Even after learning the right idea, humans and animals still seem to test other approaches
Maybe it's a life hack or a liability, or a little of both. A surprising result in a new MIT study may suggest that people and animals alike share an inherent propensity to keep updating their approach to a task even when ...
Feb 18, 2025
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The exercise program improving the lives of children with autism
An innovative exercise program co-designed by Murdoch University researchers, children with autism and their families, is breaking down barriers for enjoyable movement.
Feb 17, 2025
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Autistic women face barriers to safe and supportive maternity care—new research
Childbirth is often described as one of life's most profound experiences, but for many, it can be fraught with anxiety, pain and trauma.
Feb 17, 2025
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More adults are wondering if they have autism. Here are tips to seek a diagnosis
Natasha Nelson, a 35-year old entrepreneur in Stone Mountain, Georgia, didn't have an innate sense of social norms. She didn't know why people meeting for the first time would choose to engage in small talk instead of deep ...
Feb 17, 2025
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Study finds rates of ADHD remain high into adulthood among patients with autism
In a large study of more than 3.5 million adults, researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Drexel University and George Washington University (GWU) found that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) ...
Feb 12, 2025
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Delayed autism diagnoses found in two groups of children—researchers explain why
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev psychology researchers have found two groups of children who received delayed autism diagnoses. The earlier children are diagnosed—ideally in the first two to three years of life—the ...
Feb 11, 2025
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Autism in mice affects oxytocin-secreting neurons more than other neurons, research reveals
Specific neurons that secrete the neuropeptide oxytocin in the brain are disproportionately disrupted in a mouse model of autism, a RIKEN neuroscience study found. Artificially stimulating neurons restored social behaviors ...
Feb 7, 2025
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Considerable overlap seen for children with medical complexity, autism, study shows
There is considerable overlap between children with medical complexity (CMC) and autism, with significantly higher expenditures seen for those with medical complexity and autism, according to a study published online Feb. ...
Feb 4, 2025
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