AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·April 1, 2025·4 min readProtein Imbalance Triggers Autism-Like BehaviorA new study reveals that autism-like symptoms in mice emerge when two nerve proteins—MDGA2 and BDNF—fall out of balance. MDGA2 typically keeps BDNF/TrkB signaling in check, but when MDGA2 levels drop, heightened neuronal activity and social impairments occur.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·March 7, 2025·4 min readGenetic Variant in ITSN1 Linked to Higher Parkinson’s and ASD RiskA new study has identified genetic variants in the ITSN1 gene that significantly increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Researchers analyzed nearly 500,000 genetic profiles and found that individuals carrying ITSN1 variants face up to a tenfold higher risk of Parkinson’s.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·March 3, 2025·8 min readMaternal Diet Influences ADHD and Autism RiskA large study analyzing over 60,000 mother-child pairs found that a Western diet during pregnancy—high in fat, sugar, and processed foods—was associated with a significantly increased risk of ADHD and autism in children. Even small shifts toward a Western diet correlated with a 66% higher risk of ADHD and a 122% higher risk of autism.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·January 31, 2025·7 min readGenetics, Not Maternal Sickness, Drives Autism RiskA large study analyzing over 1.1 million pregnancies found no strong evidence that maternal health conditions during pregnancy cause autism. Instead, nearly all previously reported associations between maternal diagnoses and autism could be explained by genetic or environmental factors.Read More
AutismBrain CancerFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·January 9, 2025·8 min readYouthful Brain Stem Cells Linked to Autism and Brain CancerResearchers have identified a unique stem cell in the young brain capable of maturing into multiple cell types, potentially explaining the origins of autism and glioblastoma. These stem cells show gene expression patterns that regulate early brain development and, when disrupted, could lead to neurological conditions.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·January 8, 2025·5 min readSingle Gene Links Autism, Epilepsy via Brain Circuit DevelopmentThe gene neuropilin2 regulates inhibitory neuron migration and excitatory neuron connections, essential for balanced brain activity. A study revealed that deleting neuropilin2 disrupts inhibitory circuits, leading to autism-like behaviors and a higher seizure risk.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·January 7, 2025·4 min readKey Neurons Linked to Autism and Schizophrenia RiskLayer 5 pyramidal neurons, crucial for brain information processing, vary significantly in their synaptic protein composition based on neuron type. Research shows that intratelencephalic (IT) neurons and pyramidal tract (PT) neurons share some synaptic proteins but also have unique characteristics influencing their functions.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscience·January 3, 2025·4 min readMultilingualism Boosts Cognitive Skills in Children With AutismChildren in multilingual households, including those with autism, demonstrate stronger executive functions, such as inhibition, flexibility, and perspective-taking, compared to monolingual peers. Speaking multiple languages also reduces repetitive behaviors and improves communication, key challenges in autism.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·December 27, 2024·4 min readOxytocin Influences Social Behavior and Emotional ResponseNew research reveals how oxytocin profoundly influences social behavior and emotional responses in the brain. Animal models have shown how this hormone impacts social fear and how chronic stress or early life experiences shape behavioral patterns.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·December 27, 2024·5 min readLithium Restores Brain Function and Behavior in AutismLithium, a drug widely used for bipolar disorder, may also treat autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to new research. The study found that lithium restored brain function and reduced behavioral symptoms in mice with Dyrk1a gene mutations, a known ASD risk factor.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·December 19, 2024·7 min readNew Genetic Link to Autism Identified on X ChromosomeResearchers identified variants in the DDX53 gene, located on the X chromosome, as contributors to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These genetic variants, found predominantly in males, provide critical insights into the biological mechanisms behind autism’s male predominance. The study also uncovered another potential gene, PTCHD1-AS, near DDX53, linked to autism, emphasizing the complexity of ASD’s genetic architecture.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·December 16, 2024·6 min readProtein Loss Triggers Molecular Changes Linked to Rett SyndromResearchers have uncovered how loss of the MeCP2 protein triggers early molecular changes leading to Rett syndrome, a severe neurological disorder. By studying adult mice, they demonstrated that MeCP2 loss disrupts gene expression well before measurable neurological deficits arise.Read More
