AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·April 2, 2020·3 min readSingle mutation leads to big effects in autism-related geneNew findings about NLGN4 genes reveals why males are more susceptible to developing autism than females.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscience·March 26, 2020·4 min readUS autism rates up 10 percent in new CDC reportThe prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in eleven surveillance sites is 1 in 54 among children aged eight. This is a 10% increase from 2014 when it was 1 in 59. Since 2000, prevalence rates of ASD have almost tripled, from 0.67% to 1.85%.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·March 13, 2020·6 min readEarly behavioral marker for autism identified15-month-old infants with an older sibling on the autism spectrum, and who experience social difficulties, such as insecure-resistant parental attachment, are more than nine times more likely to be diagnosed with ASD.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscience·March 5, 2020·5 min readUnderstanding how the brain predicts could make treating autism easierUnderstanding how the brain decides what it should pay attention to is key to understanding how prediction plays a tole in autism.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·March 2, 2020·4 min readCould targeting an Alzheimer’s-associated protein prevent Autism?Reducing levels of the Alzheimer's related Tau protein prevents autism-like behaviors in mouse models. Tau reduction also prevented seizures in the animals.Read More
Auditory NeuroscienceAutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceVisual Neuroscience·March 2, 2020·5 min readWhy those on the autism spectrum are often hypersensitive to light and noiseMice lacking the autism-associated SHANK3 gene were more sensitive to sensation, including touch. The mice also had overactive excitatory neurons in the somatosensory cortex, which may account for sensory hypersensitivity.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·February 21, 2020·4 min readAbnormally low levels of a key protein in brains of young men with autismMales on the autism spectrum have significantly lower levels of a protein in their brains' that plays a role in inflammation and metabolism.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·February 20, 2020·4 min readBaby’s Kicks Provide Clues About Infant DevelopmentHuman-robot interaction and monitoring motor movement may provide clues to developmental disorders such as ADHD and autism in children.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·February 19, 2020·4 min readPrenatal phthalate exposure associated with autistic traits in young boysHigher gestational concentrations of phthalate metabolites were associated with an increased risk of autism in boys, but not in girls. Folic acid may help to protect against the effects of phthalate exposure, researchers report.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·February 13, 2020·5 min readPredicting autism risk may begin with a drop of bloodStudy will analyze dried blood spots from newborns for over 1,000 different chemicals and molecules. The presence of some of the molecules may predict autism risk years before symptoms appear, allowing for early treatment and possible prevention.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·February 12, 2020·5 min readGene associated with autism also controls growth of the embryonic brainIn normally developing mice, the autism-associated Foxp1 gene was activated earlier than previously believed. This occurred during the period when apical radial glia was beginning to expand in numbers and generate a subset of neurons found deep in the developing brain. Mice lacking Foxp1 had fewer apical radial glia at the early stages of brain development.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·February 5, 2020·4 min readGluten-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
