AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·May 7, 2025·6 min readCan Genetics Predict Autism Intellectual Disabilities?A new predictive model combining genetics with developmental milestones may help forecast which autistic children are at risk of developing intellectual disabilities. In a large study of over 5,600 children, researchers were able to correctly predict 10% of such cases and differentiate between low and high-risk groups twice as well as current methods.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscience·May 6, 2025·4 min readFinger Movements Offer New Clues for Autism DetectionSubtle hand movements during grasping tasks may help diagnose autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with high accuracy. Using machine learning, researchers analyzed how autistic and non-autistic individuals used their fingers to grasp objects, achieving approximately 85% classification accuracy.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscience·May 5, 2025·4 min readWhy Lefties Are More Common in Autism and DyslexiaA new meta-analysis highlights a strong connection between early-onset neurodevelopmental disorders with linguistic symptoms and left- or mixed-handedness. Disorders like dyslexia, autism, and schizophrenia were notably associated with higher rates of non-right-handedness, unlike later-onset conditions such as depression.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscience·April 29, 2025·6 min readVasopressin Boosts Social Skills Without Aggression in AutismNew research shows that supplementing vasopressin levels in low-social rhesus monkeys improves social behavior and facial recognition without triggering aggression. The findings suggest vasopressin deficiency may underlie social difficulties seen in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscience·April 25, 2025·6 min readAutistic Traits Don’t Increase Memory Decline in Older AdultsA large longitudinal study found that older adults with high levels of autistic traits experience no greater decline in spatial working memory than their neurotypical peers. Researchers tracked cognitive performance over seven years in more than 10,000 UK adults aged 50 and older.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·April 21, 2025·5 min readTandem Repeats May Explain Autism RiskNew research has uncovered a genetic connection between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), a rare neuromuscular disease. The study identifies tandem repeat expansions (TREs) in the DMPK gene as a shared mechanism that disrupts gene splicing and contributes to ASD-like social behaviors in individuals with DM1.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscience·April 17, 2025·5 min readAutism Affects 1 in 31 Children Aged 8A 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.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscience·April 15, 2025·5 min readFussiness at 9 Months May Signal Early Autism RiskSigns of autism may be detectable as early as 9 months of age, well before the typical diagnosis window of 3 to 5 years. Researchers found that infants who were described by parents as fussy, slow to adapt, or delayed in development were more likely to show autism-related traits by 12 months.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·April 15, 2025·6 min readEarly Brain Circuit Disruption Linked to Autism Social ChallengesNew 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.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscience·April 15, 2025·7 min readHow Touch Processing Differs in Autism and Why It MattersA 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.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscience·April 14, 2025·5 min readGut Imbalances in Autism Linked to Brain and Behavior ChangesNew 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.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·April 12, 2025·4 min readPuberty Brain Shift May Explain Autism in Genetic DisorderSummary: Researchers have identified changes in brain connectivity before and after puberty that may explain why some children with chromosome...Read More