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Autism

·April 17, 2025·5 min read

Autism Affects 1 in 31 Children Aged 8

A CDC report analyzing data from 16 U.S. sites, including Maryland, found that autism now affects 1 in 31 eight-year-olds nationwide. Maryland’s prevalence was slightly lower, with 1 in 38 eight-year-olds and 1 in 41 four-year-olds identified in 2022.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 15, 2025·6 min read

Early Brain Circuit Disruption Linked to Autism Social Challenges

New research has uncovered a disrupted brain communication pathway in children with autism that impairs their ability to quickly shift attention—an essential skill for social interaction. This discovery was made by studying both children with autism and genetically modified mice lacking the Shank3 gene, a common cause of ASD.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·April 15, 2025·7 min read

How Touch Processing Differs in Autism and Why It Matters

A new study reveals that adults with autism process active and passive touch similarly, unlike neurotypical individuals whose brains reduce activity during self-initiated touch. This finding may help explain repetitive behaviors like stimming, which are common in autism and can serve as emotional regulation or sensory coping mechanisms.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·April 14, 2025·5 min read

Gut Imbalances in Autism Linked to Brain and Behavior Changes

New research reveals that gut imbalances in children with autism may influence brain activity and behavior by disrupting the production of key neurotransmitters like serotonin. Scientists found that changes in gut-derived metabolites are linked to differences in brain structure and function in children with autism.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 12, 2025·5 min read

What Autistic Women Want You to Know About Motherhood

New research highlights the unique challenges and needs faced by autistic women during motherhood, including late diagnoses and a lack of professional understanding. Many participants were only diagnosed after their children, reflecting gaps in awareness and support from both family and healthcare providers.

This shows a child looking at a kid's exercise show on TV.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·April 11, 2025·8 min read

AI Rewrites Workouts for Children With Autism and ADHD

Researchers have adapted a children’s exercise program to better serve neurodivergent learners using AI-generated instructions. By leveraging ChatGPT, the team simplified and clarified movement directions in over 500 activities from the InPACT video series.

This shows a child and a pregnant woman.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·April 9, 2025·7 min read

Maternal Diabetes Linked to Higher Risk of Autism

Children born to mothers with diabetes face significantly higher risks of developing neurodevelopmental disorders, according to a sweeping new meta-analysis involving over 56 million mother–child pairs. The study, which analyzed 202 research papers, found that maternal diabetes—especially pre-gestational diabetes—is associated with increased odds of conditions such as autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and learning disorders.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 9, 2025·6 min read

Micromovements Reveal Hidden Emotional Cues in Autism

New research reveals that individuals with autism express emotions using the same facial muscles as neurotypical individuals, but at intensities too subtle for the human eye to detect. Using a novel method called micromovement spikes, researchers captured these faint expressions in five-second videos, uncovering emotion where others see none.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·April 8, 2025·4 min read

Oral Bacteria May Help Detect Autism with 81% Accuracy

A new study has identified a strong link between oral microbiota and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), revealing 11 bacterial species with potential as biomarkers. By analyzing oral samples from children aged 3–6, researchers developed a prediction model that identifies autism with 81% accuracy.

This shows a child in a VR generated room.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·April 8, 2025·5 min read

AI and VR System Detects Autism in Kids with Over 85% Accuracy

Researchers have developed a virtual reality and AI-based system that can detect autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in young children with over 85% accuracy—outperforming traditional assessment methods. The system observes children's motor movements and gaze patterns while they engage in tasks within immersive virtual environments, enabling more naturalistic responses than typical lab settings.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·April 7, 2025·5 min read

Thalamus Identified As a Hub for Memory and Brain Plasticity

A new study reveals that the thalamus, long overshadowed by the cortex and hippocampus, plays a crucial role in shaping and updating brain connections. Researchers observed plasticity in thalamic neurons in response to visual experiences, independent of the cortex—an unexpected finding.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 7, 2025·4 min read

Mom’s Childhood Trauma May Influence Kids with ADHD and ASD

A new study finds that mothers’ adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)—including abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction—may affect children diagnosed with ADHD or autism. Mothers who faced early trauma were more likely to have children who reported similar experiences and to exhibit traits of neurodevelopmental conditions themselves.