Predicting cancer versus autism risk in PTEN patients
A metabolite has been identified that can predict whether people with PTEN mutations will develop cancer or ASD.... Read More...
Autism
Research articles covering work related to austism spectrum disorders are provided below.
Perturbed genes regulating white blood cells linked to autism genetics and severity
Blood gene expression analysis uncovered a critical gene network that is disrupted in Autism. The disrupted gene network is related to fetal brain development and is also dysregulated in ASD cellular models. The findings provide further evidence that genetic factors influencing brain development during pregnancy are a primary cause of autism spectrum disorder.... Read More...
Low-cost blood pressure drug improves brain function in individuals with autism
Propranolol, a common 'beta-blocker' drug used to control blood pressure, could be a promising new treatment for those on the autism spectrum. The medication improved cognitive performance and positively altered the frontal-parietal control network, an area of the brain associated with word and information processing, in those with ASD.... Read More...
Brain imaging shows how nonverbal children with autism have slower response to sounds
Nonverbal children on the autism spectrum have a slower response to auditory stimulation. The longer response times were associated with poor communication skills. Brain imaging of the auditory cortex could serve as a biomarker for measuring the likelihood of language impairment in those with ASD.... Read More...
Early maternal anemia tied to intellectual disability, ADHD and autism
Children born to mothers diagnosed with anemia before the 31st week of pregnancy were at a higher risk of developing ADHD, ASD, and other intellectual disabilities than children born to mothers diagnosed with anemia during the final weeks of pregnancy. The risk of being diagnosed with autism was 4.9% higher for those born to mothers who experienced early pregnancy anemia. For ADHD, those born to anemic mothers had a 9.3% higher risk than those born to mothers who developed the condition during late pregnancy.... Read More...
Some children with autism more able to read thoughts and feelings from facial expressions than previously thought
A new study questions the theory that adolescents on the autism spectrum have trouble identifying different emotions expressed on the faces of others. The findings revealed adolescents with ASD have similar accuracy, response times, and fixation on facial features as their neurotypical peers when asked to infer mental states from faces.... Read More...
Autism study stresses importance of communicating with all infants
Parents who communicate with their infants help improve language skills and later abilities. Researchers say parents can make a significant difference in language development, even in children with an ASD diagnosis.... Read More...
Autism rates increasing fastest among black and Hispanic youth
Between the birth years of 2007 and 2013, autism diagnosis rates rose 73% for Hispanic children, 44% for African American children and 25% for white children aged between 3-5. ... Read More...
Wearable device can predict aggressive outbursts in people with autism a minute in advance
A newly designed device can give caregivers warning of an impending aggressive outburst from a person with ASD one minute before it occurs. The device monitors physiological indicators of stress. ... Read More...
Gene linked to autism undergoes changes in men’s sperm after cannabis use
Marijuana use alters a gene associated with autism in sperm. Hypomethylation was identified in the DLGAP2 gene in the sperm of male rats exposed to THC. The hypomethylated state was also detected in the forebrains of their offspring. Further research is needed to establish if there is a definitive link between paternal cannabis use and ASD in humans.... Read More...
Is it autism? The line is getting increasingly blurry
A new meta-analysis of autism data reveals the difference between people diagnosed with autism and the general population is shrinking. Measurable differences between people with ASD and people not on the spectrum has decreased over the past 50 years. Researchers say the definition of autism may be getting too blurry to be meaningful, and the condition may be at risk of being trivialized.... Read More...
Changes associated with autism risk my be detected during second trimester of pregnancy
Increased estrogen activity during the second trimester of pregnancy could be a new, early biomarker for autism.... Read More...