Articles tagged with Autism
Researchers discovered distinctive patterns of DNA methylation associated with both autism diagnosis and related behavior traits, suggesting a quantitative relationship between the two. The study provides insight into the biological mechanism mediating gene-environment interaction in autism spectrum disorder.
A study published in JAMA found that maternal use of valproate during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of autism spectrum disorder and childhood autism in offspring. The absolute risk is estimated at 4.42% for autism spectrum disorder and 2.50% for childhood autism.
Children with SLDs frequently have co-occurring conditions and require specialized support. The study clarifies the causes of SLDs and provides guidance on tailoring education to meet individual needs.
A study found that children with autism spent significantly more time playing video games than typically developing peers, and were more likely to develop problematic gaming habits. Conversely, they spent less time on social media and more time watching TV and engaging in physical activities.
Researchers developed an efficient method of analyzing brain activity using magnetoencephalography (MEG) to detect autism in children. The approach showed significant differences in functional connectivity and background noise between autistic and non-autistic brains, with 94% accuracy.
Researchers at the University of Missouri found that propranolol improves working memory performance in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The study showed significant improvements in working memory abilities, particularly in those who already take the medication for anxiety.
Researchers have linked autism in a mouse model to abnormalities in specific chromosomal regions and associated genes. The study provides new insights into the disease's causes and may lead to the development of new treatments.
Research found that mutations in neuroligin-3 protein block endocannabinoid signals, affecting brain excitability and communication between neurons. The study suggests targeting the endocannabinoid system may help reverse autism symptoms.
A new study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that age at diagnosis for children with autism depends on specific behavioral symptoms. Children exhibiting impairments in nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors were more likely to be diagnosed earlier.
A new NIH grant will help Dr. Daniel Geschwind expand his research on the genetic causes of autism spectrum disorders to include African American populations. The study aims to identify gene variants associated with autism in individuals of African ancestry and test their relevance in European populations.
Researchers at University of Nottingham found autistic children copy useful actions only, while typically developing children copy both necessary and unnecessary actions. This study offers new insights into social development in children with autism.
Research shows children with autism have difficulty imitating social behaviors and instead focus on efficient actions. Typically developing children, however, are more likely to copy unnecessary actions, a behavior known as overimitation.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded funding to two new Autism Centers of Excellence, joining nine other centers nationwide in a five-year research effort to identify autism causes and treatments. The centers will focus on early intervention styles and genetic variants associated with autism.
Children with autism have excess duplicated DNA segments, which may affect the chances of developing autism. The research found a higher level of genetic changes, including common variants, in children with autism compared to typically developing children.
The UC Davis MIND Institute has received a prestigious Autism Centers of Excellence Award to establish an Autism Center of Excellence and Treatment Network, led by Sally J. Rogers. The award supports two treatment studies on the most effective methods of treating very young children with autism.
Researchers found no association between vaccine exposure and autism in a study of over 300 children with ASD and 750 without, contradicting long-standing parental concerns about vaccine safety.
Researchers identify key findings in a large-scale study of individuals with int dup(15), including maternal and paternal duplications. The study found elevated levels of GABA and previously unknown sleep problems in affected subjects, providing significant insights into the disorder.
A study found that infants with a higher risk of developing autism take longer to shift their gaze, indicating possible differences in brain structure and organization. The research suggests that this measurable delay could be a precursor to well-known symptoms of autism.
Two genes associated with rare autism-related disorders are also jointly linked to more general forms of autism, according to a new study published in Molecular Psychiatry. The findings suggest a new genetic pathway to investigate in general autism research.
A new study published in Brain Connectivity found evidence of aberrant neural communication in toddlers with autism, indicating a disorder of connectivity. The researchers observed reduced brain connectivity and diminished capacity for neural communication in autistic children's brains.
A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that women who experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse as children are more likely to have a child with autism. The study, which examined data from over 50,000 women, suggests that childhood trauma may increase the risk of autism in future generations.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University developed a system to help children with autism learn joint attention, a basic social skill. The humanoid robot NAO was found to be effective in improving attention and following instructions, suggesting robots could play a crucial role in responding to the growing number of autism diagnoses.
A new study reveals that men who have children at older ages are more likely to have grandchildren with autism. The research found that the risk of autism increases with the age of the grandfather, suggesting that genetic risk can accumulate over generations.
A new study found that 7-month-old infants who later develop autism show slower gaze shifting and attention reorientation compared to typically developing infants. The researchers suggest that atypical brain circuits, specifically the splenium of the corpus callosum, may contribute to this behavioral difference.
Infants with autism show subtle, measurable differences in attention as early as 7 months old. Researchers found a specific neural circuit causes the slower response, pointing to a problem with 'sticky attention'.
Researchers found that individuals with autism have broader tuning of neurons in the fusiform face area, leading to difficulties in recognizing faces. This impairment affects social interactions and limits facial expression understanding.
Researchers developed a mouse model of autism and tested a treatment that blocked abnormal cell danger signals, reversing autism symptoms. The study suggests chronic brain inflammation and frayed connections between brain cells contribute to autism.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry has found that autism spectrum disorders affect brain activity differently in children and adults. The research suggests that brain changes associated with autism continue to develop into adulthood, highlighting the need for targeted treatments.
Researchers at UC San Diego used a newly discovered function of an old drug to restore cell communications in a mouse model of autism, reversing symptoms. The findings suggest that correcting abnormalities in a mouse is a long way from a cure for humans but offer encouragement to test this approach in a small clinical trial.
Research suggests autistic children are 28 times more likely to contemplate or attempt suicide than typical children, with demographics and behavioral problems being key risk factors. The study analyzed data from over 700 children with autism, finding depression was the strongest single predictor of suicidal ideation or attempts.
A new study found that taking folic acid supplements from four weeks before conception to eight weeks into pregnancy can lower the risk of childhood autism by 40%. The study, based on data from Norway's Mother and Child Cohort Study, suggests that this prevention method is simple, inexpensive, and effective.
Research found short bouts of exercise enhance higher brain functions, including memory, concentration, planning, and decision-making, in all three age groups. Short exercises improved self-control, especially in children and teens, crucial for academic achievement and daily life.
A new study published in Pediatrics reveals that 70% of children with autism spectrum disorders achieve phrase or fluent speech by age eight, driven by nonverbal intelligence and social interest. The study also found that core abilities, such as nonverbal intelligence and social engagement, have a greater influence on communication dev...
Scientists have created a detailed map of the global connections within the brains of individuals with agenesis of the corpus callosum, a genetic cause of autism. The study reveals abnormal brain connectivity patterns and network topology, potentially leading to new imaging biomarkers for diagnosis and management.
Researchers analyzed EEGs from autistic children and found a structural difference in brain connections, including increased short-range and decreased long-range connections. This pattern may underlie autism's classic cognitive profile of focused tasks but poor integration across brain areas.
Research published in PLOS ONE found that children with autism spectrum disorders display more social behaviors like talking and physical contact when interacting with animals than with toys. The presence of animals also increases instances of smiling and laughing, and reduces negative behaviors.
Researchers will use a novel model and emerging technology to study astrocytes in autism spectrum disorders, providing a framework for future strategies. The grant supports Trapp's work on mechanisms of neurodegeneration and repair in multiple sclerosis and related conditions.
Research at Arizona State University has found that children with autism have higher levels of several toxic metals in their blood and urine compared to typical children. The study's findings suggest a strong association between toxic metal levels and variations in autism severity.
A new study found that low-birth-weight newborns with enlarged ventricles on an ultrasound are seven times more likely to be diagnosed with autism later in life. The research suggests that an early brain abnormality may indicate a higher risk of developing autism.
Researchers found increased activation in brain regions utilized by typically developing kids after four months of Pivotal Response Treatment. This suggests improved social engagement and processing of low-level social stimuli. The study's findings have implications for early intervention and potential long-term benefits.
Women who took folic acid supplements from four weeks before conception to eight weeks into pregnancy had a 40 per cent lower risk of giving birth to children with childhood autism. The findings only apply to a lower risk of childhood autism, the most severe form of autism.
A Norwegian study found that mothers who took folic acid supplements during early pregnancy had a 40% reduced risk of having children with autistic disorder. The timing of the supplements was critical, with the greatest reduction in risk observed when taken between 4 weeks before to 8 weeks after the start of pregnancy.
A study of 85,000 Norwegian children found that prenatal folic acid supplementation was associated with a lower risk of autistic disorder. The research suggests that maternal use of folic acid supplements before and early in pregnancy may protect against the development of autism spectrum disorders.
A review of published studies suggests that interactions with therapy dogs can help children with ASD develop emotional attachments and interaction in a social setting, leading to improved interpersonal communication. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and build on the current evidence.
Researchers discovered a genetic mutation in CELF6 that disrupts serotonin signaling and leads to common autism behaviors like communication difficulties and resistance to change. The findings provide new insights into the biological pathways underlying autism.
Young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are less likely to receive healthcare transition services than those with other special needs. This can lead to gaps in care and increased dependence on the healthcare system.
A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that genes linked to autism and schizophrenia are only switched on during early stages of brain development. Researchers used advanced techniques to map gene activity in mouse brains, identifying key populations of subplate neurons and shedding light on th...
Yale researchers identified social attention deficits in six-month-old infants with autism spectrum disorders, suggesting an early warning sign. The study's findings may pave the way for earlier interventions and treatment strategies.
A comprehensive analysis found children with autism are 5 times more likely to have feeding problems, including tantrums and severe food selectivity. The study also showed lower intake of calcium and protein, and a higher number of nutritional deficits among these children.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University and Tel Aviv University found that mutations in the NHE9 gene lead to a profound loss of function in an ion transporter, which may trigger seizures. This discovery could lead to new diagnosis or treatment options for autism patients.
A New York-based physician-researcher has uncovered a potential connection between autism and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) levels in newborns, proposing a study to investigate this hypothesis. IGF plays a crucial role in brain development, and depressed levels may serve as a biomarker for the later development of autism.
Researchers found that a protein family linked to autism suppresses the development of inhibitory synapses, which may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders. Overexpressing this protein reduced inhibitory synapse density, while knocking it down increased their development.
Researchers found a 43% increase in autism among mothers with top 20th percentile CRP levels and an 80% increase at the top 10th percentile. The study used a large national birth cohort and adds to evidence of an overactive immune response altering fetal brain development.
Researchers identified several inherited mutations in genes linked to severe syndromes that also cause autism, including AMT, PEX7, and SYNE1. These milder mutations seemed to cause brain-specific disease, offering new insights into the genetic causes of autism.
Two new studies identify inherited genetic mutations linked to autism spectrum disorders, suggesting that 5% of autism risk is due to complete gene function disruption. Researchers also found partial loss of gene function and variability in autism severity despite similar genetic mutations.
A NIH-funded study confirmed that some children who were accurately diagnosed with autism in early childhood can lose the symptoms and diagnosis as they grow older. The research team documented a small group of school-age children and young adults who no longer exhibit signs of the disorder, now comparable to their mainstream peers.
The UCI Center for Autism Research & Treatment is launching an innovative drug discovery effort to develop effective pharmaceutical therapy for core deficits of autism. Researchers are using a synergistic approach, integrating multiple disciplines and compounds to target neural pathways altered in the disorder.
A new study reveals that a mutation in the Timothy syndrome gene causes abnormal brain circuitry by retraction of dendrites in response to neural activity, leading to cognitive impairment. The finding may have implications for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
Researchers identified 25 additional copy number variations associated with autism, which could serve as predictive markers. The study found that these variants have a strong effect in raising an individual's risk for autism and may be incorporated into clinical tests.
A study at Massachusetts General Hospital finds reduced local and long-range brain activity coordination in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Local connectivity was previously thought to be higher in autistic brains, but the current research reveals a more complex connection between brain regions.