AutismFeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·February 5, 2020Gluten-free and casein-free diets found not to affect behavior of autistic childrenNo significant behavioral changes and no association with urinary beta-casomorphin concentrations were found in children on the autism spectrum who were fed a gluten-free or casein-free diet. Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·February 3, 2020New study links autism to specific cellPostmortem study reveals those with ASD have cellular abnormalities that impair the production of myelin. Read More
AutismBrain CancerFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·January 31, 2020Study clarifies genetic autism risk in PTEN patientsCopy number variants may act as genetic modifiers that influence the risk of autism and developmental delay versus cancer risk in people with PTEN mutations. Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·January 30, 2020Study links rapid brain growth in autism to DNA damageNeural progenitor cells generated from skin cell samples of people on the autism spectrum had heightened levels of DNA damage. The damage clustered in 36 of the same genes which had also been damaged in healthy cells exposed to replication stress. Twenty of the genes have previously been linked to the development of autism. Read More
AutismFeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·January 29, 2020Study challenges assumptions about social interaction difficulties in autismSuccessful social interactions for adults on the autism spectrum revolve around partner compatibility, not just the skill set of the other person. Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·January 29, 2020Link between autism and cognitive impairment discoveredStudy identifies a short gene segment crucial for brain development and information processing. The absence of the gene segment induces altered social behaviors, learning difficulties, and memory deficits, which are hallmarks of a subset of ASD. Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·January 27, 2020Prescription drug improves symptoms of autism by targeting brain’s chemical messengersA drug commonly prescribed for edema improves the symptoms for young children on the autism spectrum with no significant side effects. The drug, bumetanide, decreases the ratio of GABA to glutamate in the brain. Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·January 23, 2020Largest autism genetics study identifies 102 associated genesIn the largest genetic sequencing study of autism conducted to date, researchers have identified 102 genes associated with the neurodevelopmental disorder. 49 of the genes were also associated with other developmental delays. The new study has enabled the researchers to increase the number of ASD associated genes from 65 to 102. Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·January 21, 2020‘Love hormone’ oxytocin improves attachment issues in people with autismMale patients on the autism spectrum who were given oxytocin for four weeks experienced improvements in social attachment behaviors for up to 12 months. Read More
AutismFeaturedNeurologyNeurosciencePsychology·January 21, 2020Autism study finds later diagnoses for girls, and high rates of co-occurring disordersOn average, girls on the autism spectrum are diagnosed 1.5 years later than boys. Over 50% of those on the autism spectrum exhibit co-occurring mental health and medical conditions, such as ADHD and epilepsy. Read More
AutismFeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·January 18, 2020What people who don’t like music might tell us about social interactionMusical anhedonia, a neurological condition where people don't enjoy music, affects 5% of the population. Researchers are exploring if this same condition could also be what impairs social bonding for some people on the autism spectrum. Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·January 13, 2020Higher rates of post-natal depression among autistic mothersMothers on the autism spectrum are more likely to report symptoms of postnatal depression than mothers who do not have ASD. Read More
