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Autism

Research articles covering work related to austism spectrum disorders are provided below.

·September 2, 2020·4 min read

Autism May Not Be Tied to Mindblindness

Reassessing years of research on Theory of Mind in autism, researchers argue the brains of those with ASD may be able to grasp what others think but may have a more difficult time processing the degree to which others think differently from themselves.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 2, 2020·6 min read

Guilt by Dissociation: The Role of Serotonin in Autism

SERT Ala56 impacts the structure of the SERT protein cells, increasing the activity of the transporter to abnormally high levels. The high-activity state results in the removal of too much serotonin from brain sites where serotonin is needed, both during development and in adults.

Autism Featured

·August 31, 2020·4 min read

Flu Vaccination in Pregnant Women Did Not Increase Risk of Autism

Study refutes any association between the H1N1 vaccine given to pregnant women and an increased risk of autism diagnosis in children.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·August 30, 2020·4 min read

Physiological Test for Autism Proves Effective Independent of Co-Occurring Conditions

A new physiological test relies on an algorithm that analyzes metabolites in blood samples to predict whether a person has an ASD diagnosis. The algorithm was 94.7% effective in determining autism diagnosis and was slightly more reliable when co-occurring conditions, such as gastrointestinal disorders, were taken into account.

Autism Featured Genetics Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 28, 2020·5 min read

Genetic Link Between Cattle Temperament and Autism

Study found genes implicated in cattle temperament contribute to neural developmental functions and are differentially expressed in the human brain. Some ASD related genes are associated with cattle temperament.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 24, 2020·5 min read

Autistic People’s Nerve Cells Differ Before Birth

Atypical brain development begins at the very earliest stages of brain organization, at the level of individual neurons.

Autism Featured Genetics

·August 18, 2020·7 min read

Autism-Cholesterol Link

Study reveals a link between cholesterol metabolism and a subtype of autism. The association appears to have a genetic component. Mothers with lipid abnormalities are 16% more likely to have a child diagnosed with ASD, and fathers with abnormal lipid levels were 14% more likely. Individuals on the autism spectrum were twice as likely to have lipid abnormalities than those without ASD. Among those with ASD and abnormal lipid levels, conditions such as ASD, epilepsy, and sleep disorders were more common than in those with normal levels. Findings suggest dyslipidemia may alter neurodevelopment and result in other medical conditions, such as anemia and vitamin D deficiency.

Autism Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 17, 2020·6 min read

Computer IDs Differences in Brains of Patients With Schizophrenia or Autism

Using data from MRI brain scan images, machine learning was 85% accurate at providing a diagnosis of psychiatric disorders that matched psychiatrists' assessments. The algorithm could also distinguish between patients with ASD, schizophrenia, risk factors for psychosis, and those with no history of mental health problems.

Autism Featured Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 15, 2020·5 min read

Pregnant Mother’s Immunity Tied to Behavioral and Emotional Challenges for Kids With Autism

Children born to mothers who experienced immune disorders during pregnancy, including allergies, asthma, autoimmune diseases, and autoinflammatory syndromes, are more likely to exhibit behavioral and emotional problems. The child's sex may interact with maternal immune conditions to influence the outcome of ASD symptoms. While maternal immune disorders were associated with emotional and behavioral problems in children on the autism spectrum, there was no association with reduced cognitive function.

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·August 11, 2020·4 min read

Early Neural Activity Associated With Autism

Signatures of brain activity in infants can predict autism symptoms at 18 months of age. In infants who later received a diagnosis of ASD, researchers noted decreased connectivity between frontal brain regions. The infants also showed increased connectivity across temporoparietal areas in the right hemisphere, which were associated with social information processing.

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·August 10, 2020·4 min read

AI-Enhanced Precision Medicine Identifies Novel Autism Subtype

Precision-medicine enhanced with the help of artificial intelligence assisted in the identification of a new autism subtype that was characterized by abnormal lipid levels. AI-enhanced precision medicine could become a biomedical screening tool for ASD.

Autism Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 10, 2020·5 min read

GI Symptoms Linked to Behavioral Problems in Children, Especially Those With Autism

Preschool-aged children on the autism spectrum were 2.7 times more likely to experience gastrointestinal problems, including pain, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting than their typically developing peers. Almost 50% of those with ASD reported frequent GI symptoms, compared to 18% of those without the disorder. 30% of autistic children experienced multiple GI symptoms. Multiple GI problems were associated with sleep and attention problems, as well as self-harm, aggression, and repetitive behaviors in both children with ASD and those not on the autism spectrum.