Articles tagged with Autism
A new study published in Human Brain Mapping found that autistics are up to 40 percent faster at problem-solving than non-autistics, with improved perceptual abilities. The research used the Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices test to measure hypothesis-testing and learning skills.
A new parent questionnaire, Language Use Inventory (LUI), has been developed to evaluate language skills in children with autism. The LUI assesses pragmatic language development, which is critical for effective communication in everyday interactions.
The Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI) study will follow a cohort of up to 1,200 pregnant women who already have a child with autism to investigate early risk factors for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Researchers will collect data on possible environmental risk factors and their interplay with genetic susceptibility duri...
The UGA Collaborative Adolescent Autism Teacher Training (CAATT) project aims to train teachers on how to work with secondary-age students with ASD. The new program will provide fellowships for up to a dozen graduate students annually to learn specialized training in structuring classrooms and designing instruction.
A multi-center study found that antidepressant citalopram had no significant effect on reducing repetitive behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder. The study included 149 children aged five to 17 and tested the treatment over a 12-week period.
A six-site clinical trial found that citalopram, commonly prescribed to children with autism spectrum disorders, was no more effective than a placebo at reducing repetitive behaviors. The study included 149 participants and showed negative side effects in nearly all children.
A study funded by NIH found citalopram to be no more effective than a placebo in reducing repetitive behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders. The medication was associated with increased side effects, challenging its use as a treatment option.
A new study published in Archives of General Psychiatry found that the antidepressant citalopram did not reduce repetitive behaviors in children and teens with autism spectrum disorders. The medication, an SSRI, was tested in a randomized controlled trial involving 149 children with moderate to severe repetitive behavior.
The vaccine-autism debate persists despite scientific consensus, fueled by internet misinformation and declining public trust. Pediatrician Paul Offit's efforts to set the record straight have been hindered by celebrity anti-vaccine advocates like Jenny McCarthy.
Researchers from the University of Oregon and University of California, Davis, have identified a locking mechanism that allows neurons to form synapses, essential for transmitting information. This discovery sheds light on autism development, a brain disorder affecting social and communication abilities.
Researchers at UCLA have discovered a link between a variant of the CACNA1G gene and increased autism risk in boys. The study found that nearly 40% of the population carry the common variant, which increases the correlation to autism spectrum disorder.
A new study estimates that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) costs the UK more than £27 billion a year, with £2.7 billion spent on children's support and £25 billion on adults. Researchers call for increased early intervention and policy review to address these significant economic impacts.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center discovered neurons that mirror the attention of others, which may contribute to social deficits in autism and other disorders. The attention-mirroring neurons were found in the parietal lobe, a part of the brain dedicated to eye movements and attention.
A UNC-Duke study found that impaired brain plasticity in mice with Angelman syndrome is linked to severe cognitive deficits. The researchers discovered a latent ability for brain cells to express plasticity, which could lead to new treatments or a cure for the disorder.
Research at Washington University in St. Louis found that the average age of autism diagnosis is nearly six years old, three to four years after possible diagnosis. Early diagnosis is often linked to more severe cognitive impairment and is less common for females and minority groups.
A magnetic resonance imaging study found that toddlers with autism tend to have an enlarged amygdala, a brain area associated with processing faces and emotion. This brain abnormality is also linked to improved joint attention ability in children with autism.
The study found that children with autism rely on a region of the brain for conscious movement, while typically developing peers use a region for automating motor tasks. Decreased connectivity between brain regions involved in motor planning and execution was also observed.
Researchers have identified a new gene variant associated with autism, found to be highly active in fetal brain regions critical for language and social behavior. The study suggests that this gene variant may contribute to an increased prenatal risk of autism.
Researchers identified genetic factors affecting autism risk, including genes involved in forming and maintaining brain cell connections. These findings may lead to better diagnostic strategies for children with autism.
A large study at Penn Medicine has detected variations in central nervous system genes that contribute to the genetic risk of autism. The research found a particular genetic variation linked to an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder in children.
Two studies identify genes that may contribute to autism, including a region of chromosome 5 associated with neuronal cell-adhesion molecules. These findings suggest a significant role for genetics in the development of autism, potentially leading to new treatments.
Research suggests that being firstborn, having a breech birth, or maternal age over 35 may increase autism risk. This study analyzed Utah children with ASD and found significant correlations between these factors.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center found that prenatal exposure to maternal antibodies can trigger neurobehavioral changes similar to autism in mouse pups, including increased anxiety and hyperactivity. The study suggests that the immune system may play a key role in some cases of autism.
A study found that over-the-counter melatonin supplements significantly improve sleep quality in children with autism and Fragile X Syndrome. Children who took melatonin experienced longer total night sleep durations and earlier sleep-onset times, reducing stress on families.
UC Davis researchers found that low levels of PCBs alter brain cell development and excitability, explaining the association between PCB exposure and behavioral deficits in children. The studies show how PCBs affect dendritic plasticity, a key characteristic of neuronal development.
Researchers aim to understand how sensory integration goes awry in autism and its implications for clinical management. They will compare multisensory integration in subjects with autism to healthy control subjects using high-density electrical recordings.
A special class at UCLA helps high-functioning teens with autism spectrum disorders learn social etiquette and interact with peers. The program, PEERS, focuses on teaching rules of social behavior and provides parents with guidance to support their child's development.
A new tool, Baby Steps, combines photo and video recording with medical record-keeping to track children's developmental milestones. This system led to a three-fold increase in parents recording medically relevant information.
The Interactive Autism Network is expanding its research initiative to adults with autism, enrolling individuals to gain insight into their experiences and connect them with researchers. The IAN Project aims to provide much-needed data on the lives of adults with autism, addressing a significant unmet need.
Autism Speaks announces partnerships with Albania and Ireland to enhance public awareness and develop sustainable autism programs. The organization aims to investigate causes, prevention, and treatments for autism spectrum disorders globally.
Researchers suggest that autism symptoms may be reversible due to dysregulation of the locus coeruleus, a bundle of neurons processing sensory signals. The new theory proposes that fever can stimulate this system, potentially restoring its normal function.
Researchers aim to create a whole-brain circuit map in the mouse brain within two to three years, providing insights into neurodevelopmental illnesses. The project would involve tracing inputs and outputs of each area using standardized protocols and technologically feasible techniques.
Two-year-olds with autism lack selective attention to human movements, instead focusing on physically synchronous sounds and motion. Researchers tracked eye movements of children with and without autism while watching cartoon animations, revealing a key difference in how they process social cues.
Researchers found that individuals with autism tend to stare at people's mouths rather than their eyes due to the attraction of audiovisual synchrony. This phenomenon is more pronounced in toddlers with autism, who exhibit a strong preference for lip-sync, whereas unaffected peers focus on socially meaningful movements.
The NIH will commit $60 million in ARRA funds to support autism research, focusing on diagnostic screening tools, early interventions, and adapting pediatric treatments for older children. The grants will promote economic recovery by creating biomedical jobs and supporting innovative projects.
The Nancy Lurie Marks Clinical and Research Fellowship Program in Autism will support HMS faculty and students interested in autism research over six years. The program will fund basic and clinical research in various fields, including genetics and neuroscience.
A follow-up study published in the Journal of Autism Research found that 41 Utahns with autism had a higher social outcome than similar studies, with 24% having a very good social outcome. The study suggests that early intervention and strong social networks may play a role in determining social outcomes for individuals with autism.
Increased amygdala activity may cause social deficits in autism by leading to reduced neural habituation and impaired learning of social cues. This hyperarousal affects the ability to pick up subtle social cues, contributing to difficulties with complex social interactions.
A national survey found primary care physicians are more likely to inquire about complementary alternative medicine (CAM) use in children with autism. The study also revealed a desire for specific CAM education tailored to this population. CAM therapies have become increasingly common among children with autism, highlighting the need f...
A new study published in BMC Pediatrics reports significant clinical improvements in children with autism after hyperbaric treatment. The treatment, which involves inhaling oxygen at high pressure, showed improvements in overall functioning, language, and social interaction.
Researchers will map planum temporale's functional organization to better understand its role in language abilities and disorders. The study aims to find connections between the brain region and conditions such as autism, schizophrenia, and perfect pitch.
A gene variant in the MET gene may contribute to increased risk of co-occurring medical conditions in individuals with autism. The study found that disrupted signaling of the MET gene is linked to a syndrome including autism and gastrointestinal dysfunction.
The project will investigate the genetic and environmental risk factors that contribute to autism, with a focus on prenatal development and early childhood. By analyzing brain development and behavior in infants at high genetic risk, researchers aim to identify potential indicators of autism and improve early diagnosis.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University developed a system to monitor children with autism's emotional state using physiological sensors attached to robots, allowing for personalized treatment. The system achieves an accuracy of over 80% in predicting emotional states like anxiety and engagement.
A new mouse study has identified a genetic component to empathy, showing that certain mouse strains can learn to associate another's distress with a cue. The findings have implications for understanding social interaction deficits in humans and may lead to important discoveries about psychosocial disorders. The researchers hope to deco...
A molecule that promotes brain development may serve as a possible treatment for Rett syndrome, reversing some of its symptoms in mice. Researchers found that injecting the molecule into mice with faulty brain cells helped them develop normally and reduced symptoms.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory found that two genes cause autism-like symptoms in mice, suggesting multiple genetic risk factors influence autistic symptoms' severity. The study may lead to drugs targeting signaling mechanisms between the two genes and a diagnostic target or biomarker.
The Autism Consortium has published a groundbreaking study defining the mechanism behind Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder primarily affecting girls and a leading cause of autism. The research discovered that targeting the IGF1 signaling axis could be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating or reversing Rett Syndrome.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have discovered a link between a genetic pathway and autism, finding that mutations in this pathway are associated with both autism and other developmental disorders. The study suggests that the lack of specific genes may play a role in the development of autism.
A Brown University research team has discovered a novel Fragile X granule in the brain that could serve as a target for future autism treatments. The finding opens a new line of research into potential treatments for autism, a neurological disorder that affects social interaction and communication.
A recent review summarizes studies refuting the claim of a vaccine-autism link, instead attributing symptoms to coincidental timing or other factors. Immunization rates are crucial in preventing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Children born preterm are at three times higher risk of screening positive for autism, according to a Boston University study. The modified checklist for autism in toddlers (M-CHAT) is used to assess developmental risks, with over 21% of children in the study screening positive.
Researchers found that 21% of preterm children screened positive for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with cognitive impairments increasing the likelihood. The study suggests a possible correlation between preterm birth and ASD, but further research is needed to confirm direct causality.
Researchers at Children's National Medical Center have identified a specific group of precursor cells that develop into the amygdala, a critical brain region for emotional processing. The discovery sheds light on how the amygdala forms during development and could help understand autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
A study by UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute researchers found that California's seven-fold increase in autism cases since 1990 cannot be explained by changes in diagnosis or counting. Environmental culprits such as chemicals and infectious microbes are likely responsible for the trend.
Research suggests that autism and schizophrenia may stem from similar physical abnormalities caused by disruptions in early organogenesis, typically between 20-40 days after fertilization. This developmental stage is critical in shaping the body's development, and errors during this period can lead to various mental health disorders.
A study reveals a link between dysregulation of a common signaling pathway and repetitive behaviors associated with multiple neurological disorders. Deletion of FK506-binding protein is associated with enhanced mTOR signaling, synaptic plasticity, and memory deficits.
Decreasing FKBP12 gene activity in mice disrupted neuron-to-neuron communication, leading to enhanced long-term potentiation and repetitive behaviors. The study provides insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and obsessive-compulsive disease.
Researchers estimate RASD affects 25-30% of children with an autistic disorder. Children with RASD typically develop normally until 18-24 months, then regress and lose previously acquired skills. Identifying early signs is crucial to address potential neurological development issues.
Researchers used MEG to identify timing abnormalities in the brains of patients with autism, finding a fraction of a second delay in brain activity. This delay may underpin language processing and communication impairment in autistic children.