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Autism

·August 20, 2025·4 min read

Gut Bacteria and Immune Cells May Drive Autism

Researchers have uncovered a critical connection between the gut microbiota, the immune system, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In a germ-free genetic mouse model, removal of gut microbes reduced autism-like behaviors and lowered brain inflammation, showing that microbes may play a dominant role in driving symptoms.

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Autism Featured Neuroscience

·August 18, 2025·5 min read

Prenatal Acetaminophen Linked to Higher Autism, ADHD Risk

A new study has raised concerns about the safety of acetaminophen use during pregnancy, linking prenatal exposure to higher risks of autism and ADHD. Using the gold-standard Navigation Guide review method, the team analyzed 46 studies with over 100,000 participants, finding that stronger studies more consistently showed a connection.

This shows a pregnant woman and a brain.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·August 12, 2025·4 min read

Pre-Pregnancy Obesity Linked to Autism Risk

A new study reveals how maternal obesity before pregnancy can program autism-related behaviors in offspring through lasting epigenetic changes in egg cells. Using IVF and embryo transfer in mice, researchers isolated the pre-conception effects, finding altered DNA methylation patterns that disrupted genes such as Homer1.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 10, 2025·6 min read

When Music Meets Attention: How Background Tunes Shape Focus

A new study compared background music listening habits between young adults with and without ADHD, revealing distinct patterns in when and what they listen to. ADHD-screened participants reported more frequent music use during both less demanding tasks and while studying, with a stronger preference for stimulating tracks.

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Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·July 25, 2025·5 min read

Could Mental Illness Begin Before You’re Born?

A groundbreaking study has revealed that genes linked to mental and neurodegenerative disorders, such as autism, depression, and Parkinson’s, begin influencing brain development during the earliest fetal stages. These genes are already active in neural stem cells—the progenitors that form the brain—long before symptoms arise.

This shows the outline of a child's head and a park.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·July 22, 2025·5 min read

Green Space Lowers Developmental Risks

Children exposed to more green space before birth and during early childhood have a lower risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, a new study shows. Analysis of over 1.8 million mother–child pairs revealed reduced rates of ADHD, autism, and learning delays in areas with higher vegetation levels.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 21, 2025·5 min read

Autism Masking Leaves a Mark on the Brain

Some autistic teens mask their traits to “pass” as non-autistic in social settings, but a new study reveals the hidden cognitive toll. Using EEG, researchers found these teens show faster automatic responses to faces and dampened emotional reactivity, suggesting their brains may adapt to cope with social demands.

Autism Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·July 15, 2025·9 min read

No Link Found Between Aluminum in Vaccines and Autism, ADHD

A massive Danish study of over 1.2 million children has found no evidence that aluminum in early childhood vaccines increases the risk of neurological, autoimmune, or allergic disorders. Researchers analyzed 50 chronic conditions — including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, asthma, and juvenile arthritis — and found no association with cumulative aluminum exposure from vaccines given before age two.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·July 11, 2025·7 min read

When Words Aren’t Enough: Autistic Adults Navigate Nonverbal Challenges

Autistic adults describe nonverbal communication as an exhausting “unwritten language” they must decode in real time, according to a new study. Reviewing hundreds of firsthand accounts, researchers found that many struggle to interpret facial expressions and body language while trying to perform expected cues themselves.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·June 30, 2025·3 min read

Tiny RNA Mark Helps Explain Brain Wiring and Mental Disorders

New research reveals how a tiny chemical mark on RNA helps wire the brain during development. Scientists discovered that m6A methylation regulates the production of proteins essential for axon growth, including APC and β-actin.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·June 28, 2025·6 min read

One Gene Rewires Fear Circuits and Fuels Anxiety

Researchers have uncovered how losing the autism-linked gene PTEN in a specific set of inhibitory neurons reshapes brain circuits tied to fear and anxiety. Using advanced circuit-mapping techniques, they found that deleting PTEN in somatostatin-expressing neurons of the amygdala disrupted local inhibition by 50% while strengthening excitatory input from nearby brain regions.

Autism Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·June 25, 2025·5 min read

Shared Genetic Roots of Autism and Heart Disease Found

New research reveals that autism and congenital heart disease may share a common biological basis—tiny cellular structures called cilia. Scientists found that mutations in genes affecting cilia formation disrupt both brain and heart development, helping explain why the two conditions often co-occur.