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Autism spectrum disorders news

Genetics

Knocking out one key gene leads to autistic traits, mouse study shows

More than 70 genes have been linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a developmental condition in which differences in the brain lead to a host of altered behaviors, including issues with language, social communication, ...

Autism spectrum disorders

National data indicate that autistic birthing people are at increased risk for postpartum anxiety and depression

American women have the highest rate of maternal deaths among high-income countries, with outcomes worse for minoritized groups.

Autism spectrum disorders

Sibling secrets: Autism's impact on family ties

A recent study provides fresh insights into the dynamics of sibling relationships in families with a child diagnosed with autism. This research explores the unique perspectives of both mothers and siblings, unveiling fascinating ...

Neuroscience

Cancer drug could ease cognitive function for some with autism

An experimental cancer drug could make thinking easier for individuals with Rett syndrome, a rare disorder linked to autism, according to new research from the University of California San Diego—a discovery that could lead ...

Neuroscience

Researchers discover a new face-detecting brain circuit

Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have uncovered a brain circuit in primates that rapidly detects faces. The findings help not only explain how primates sense and recognize faces, but could also have implications ...

Autism spectrum disorders

Is autism a disorder, an identity or both?

Definitions of autism often evoke the language of disease or abnormality. This medicalized approach fails to represent the full diversity of views within the autism community, say U. of I. speech and hearing science professor ...

Autism spectrum disorders

France's autism problem – and its roots in psychoanalysis

France has a problem with autism. The country's highest administrative court estimates that there are 700,000 autistic people in France. However, only 75,000 are diagnosed. Autistic children have historically been diagnosed ...

Autism spectrum disorders

Defining the biology of autism

When approaching faculty to gauge interest in a new Feinberg center focusing on autism, Peter Penzes, Ph.D., Ruth and Evelyn Dunbar Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, received puzzled responses from some professors ...

Autism spectrum disorders

Lagging decades behind on autism care, France plays catch-up

When Gaspard Bigand was 3 years old, his pre-school teachers labeled him "different." But his parents got zero advice from the French education or health care systems, and it took two years for him to be diagnosed with autism.

Autism spectrum disorders

Rumination leads to problems in boys with autism

Boys with autism are more prone to develop physical complaints, depression and aggressive behaviour. Psychologists at Leiden University have discovered that this is mainly related to rumination. Publication in the Journal ...

Autism spectrum disorders

How do you make a destination autism-friendly?

Myrtle Beach , South Carolina, has a busy boardwalk and all kinds of attractions, from mini-golf courses and water parks to a zip line and a Ferris wheel.

Autism spectrum disorders

Abnormal brain connections seen in preschoolers with autism

Preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, have abnormal connections between certain networks of their brains that can be seen using a special MRI technique, according to a study published online in the journal Radiology. ...

Autism spectrum disorders

Praise may motivate young adults with autism to exercise more

Simple statements of praise may have a big effect on the amount of exercise young adults with autism complete, according to preliminary research from the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG). The study ...

Neuroscience

Autism's social deficits are reversed by an anti-cancer drug

Of all the challenges that come with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the social difficulties are among the most devastating. Currently, there is no treatment for this primary symptom of ASD. New research at ...

Psychology & Psychiatry

A dose of humor for treating fears

When children have significant difficulty reducing their fears and anxieties, the solution can be a surprisingly natural one: play, humor and silliness.

Autism spectrum disorders

How it feels to be diagnosed with autism later in life

"He is wired differently to you and me, this child of mine. He doesn't like loud noises, or dark spaces, or strangers touching his head". These are the first lines from a poem a mother penned about her son 11-year-old son ...

Autism spectrum disorders

College students with autism have high rate of suicidal thoughts

Over the next decade, about 247,000 young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are expected to enroll in universities, colleges, or technical/vocational schools. Because post-secondary education is expected to present ...

Autism spectrum disorders

New lab addresses pediatric feeding disorders

Bryant Silbaugh, assistant professor of special education in The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Department of Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching, leads innovative behavioral research on pediatric feeding disorders ...

Autism spectrum disorders

Scientists link genes to brain anatomy in autism

A team of scientists at the University of Cambridge has discovered that specific genes are linked to individual differences in brain anatomy in autistic children.

Autism spectrum disorders

Genetic targets for autism spectrum disorder identified

Autism is a spectrum of closely related symptoms involving behavioral, social and cognitive deficits. Early detection of autism in children is key to producing the best outcomes; however, searching for the genetic causes ...

Autism spectrum disorders

Study cited for blaming autism on TV cartoon does not exist

There is no Harvard study that says a British children's television cartoon causes autism, despite what a social media post claims. In fact, there's at least one peer-reviewed study that hints that a children's television ...