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ASD

This shows the outline of two children's heads

·August 19, 2019·6 min read

Increased risk of psychiatric disorders in children with inflammatory bowel disease

Children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of being diagnosed with a mental health problem. The risk of being diagnosed with a psychiatric condition is 1.6 times higher for those with IBD than the general population. IBD is associated with an increased risk of eating disorders, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and ASD diagnosis. Researchers report there is also an increased risk of suicidal thoughts when the child reaches adulthood. The risk of being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder was highest during the first year of IBD diagnosis, especially in children diagnosed with the condition before the age of 6.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Visual Neuroscience

·August 15, 2019·4 min read

Autism can be measured through a non-verbal marker

A visual test may be a new tool in the diagnosis of autism. Individuals on the autism spectrum are slower to dampen neural activity in response to visual stimuli in the brain. Using EEG data collected from the visual region, researchers could predict with 87% accuracy whether or not a person had ASD.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·August 9, 2019·4 min read

69 genes that increase the risk for autism identified

Study identifies 69 genes linked to increased autism risk, including 16 new genes previously not believed to be associated with ASD.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·August 8, 2019·6 min read

Decoding touch: Potential therapy for abnormal touch sensitivity in autism spectrum disorders

Isoguavacine, an old experimental compound which exclusively targets peripheral neurons, mitigates abnormal touch sensitivity in mouse models of ASD. The compound also improved body mass, reduces anxiety, and in one genetic subset of mice, prevented the development of brain abnormalities that arise from altered touch response.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 1, 2019·3 min read

Lower stress and depression levels in mothers of children with autism following responsive teaching

Responsive teaching techniques help improve parental stress and depression in mothers whose children are on the autism spectrum.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 29, 2019·4 min read

High levels of estrogen in the womb linked to autism

Estrogens were significantly elevated in fetuses that later went on to develop autism. Higher levels of prenatal estrogens were more predictive of ASD than higher levels of prenatal androgens. The study supports a twenty-year-old theory that increased prenatal sex steroid hormones are a potential cause of autism spectrum disorder.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·July 28, 2019·4 min read

CBD and genetic testing provide hope for ‘intractable’ epilepsy in children

Genetic testing can help identify children at risk of epilepsy, in addition to identifying new genetic mutations associated with the condition. Using CBD based medications can also help reduce seizures in children with epilepsy.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·July 27, 2019·3 min read

Genes underscore five psychiatric disorders

Nineteen gene sets have been identified that contribute to at least five psychiatric disorders. The gene sets were associated with ADHD, ASD, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·July 26, 2019·3 min read

Brain region linked to altered social interactions in autism model

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays a critical role in regulating social behaviors. In mouse models of ASD, dysfunction in the ACC was linked to social impairments associated with the disorder.

Autism Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·July 25, 2019·5 min read

Exploring genetic ‘dark matter,’ researchers gain new insights into autism and stroke

Study illuminates the role of non-coding mutations in autism spectrum disorder. Researchers say non-coding mutations may also shed light on an array of other neurological and health disorders.

This shows a child looking at a DNA double helix

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 25, 2019·4 min read

Brain protein mutation from child with autism causes autism-like behavioral change in mice

Researchers implanted a genetic mutation that encodes the DAT protein from a child with ASD into mice. The mice began to exhibit autism-like behavioral deficits. Mice with the DAT T356M mutation had reduced social interaction and a loss in social dominance. The mice also demonstrated an increase in hyperactivity. At the physiological level, the researchers found impaired striatal dopamine transmission and clearance.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 24, 2019·5 min read

Pupil dilation and heart rate, analyzed by AI, may help spot autism early

A machine learning algorithm can accurately detect abnormalities in pupil dilation, which are predictive of ASD, in mouse models. The AI can also detect if a female has Rett syndrome with 80% accuracy. The system could be used to detect autism in infants and toddlers.