Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

Novel treatment approach to halt epilepsy progression identified

Only a very small percentage of neurons show changes after an epileptic seizure in mice, but these alterations can be permanent and trigger future seizures that can affect the whole brain and lead to impaired cognition, like memory and learning, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

22 Mar 2024

Prenatal topiramate exposure not associated with increased autism risk among children

Topiramate—an antiseizure medication prescribed to treat epilepsy as well as migraines and bipolar disorder—does not appear to increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among children exposed to it prenatally, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

21 Mar 2024

Antipsychotic use during pregnancy not linked to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders or learning difficulties

The use of antipsychotics during pregnancy isn't linked to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders or learning difficulties, UNSW Sydney-led study shows – giving assurance to those concerned about continuing their medications during pregnancy.

18 Mar 2024

Global health burden of neurological conditions is much greater than previously understood, study reveals

Globally, the number of people living with, or dying from, neurological conditions such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, and meningitis has risen substantially over the past 30 years due to the growth and ageing of the global population as well as increased exposure to environmental, metabolic, and lifestyle risk factors.

18 Mar 2024

Brain region associated with movement found to be abnormal in children with developmental language disorder

A rigorous analysis of numerous studies concludes that a part of the brain traditionally associated with movement is abnormal in children with developmental language impairments, according to Georgetown University Medical Center neuroscientists.

15 Mar 2024

Study highlights growing burden of neurological disorders worldwide

Globally, the number of people living with, or dying from, neurological conditions such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, and meningitis has risen substantially over the past 30 years due to the growth and aging of the global population as well as increased exposure to environmental, metabolic, and lifestyle risk factors.

15 Mar 2024

The brain may use a single shared blueprint to guide early development, study suggests

In a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers from the University of Minnesota Medical School investigated brain development to understand how different areas of the brain become specialized in handling information such as vision, sound, touch and planning.

11 Mar 2024

The effects of high maternal folate intake on the health outcomes of offspring

Researchers summarized what is known about the effects of excessive folic acid (FA) supplementation for mothers on children.

8 Mar 2024

Kobe University study identifies FAM81A as key player for synaptic function

A protein that appears in postsynaptic protein agglomerations has been found to be crucial to their formation.

7 Mar 2024

Nonspeaking autistic people show greater literacy skills than expected

About one-third of autistic people are unable to communicate using speech, and most are never provided an effective alternative.

7 Mar 2024

Key brain cells linked to repetitive behaviors in psychiatric diseases

Crym-expressing astrocytes in the striatum have been identified as key regulators of behaviors often seen in neuropsychiatric diseases, opening up new avenues for targeted therapies.

6 Mar 2024

From China to Uzbekistan - United for Women’s Wellness on IWD

On the occasion of International Women's Day (IWD), BGI Genomics interview Wang Leilei, a trailblazing blind model, and Viktoriya Tsay, an Uzbek advocate of women’s health. Their stories stich a cross-cultural narrative of nurturing the nuance of women’s wellness worldwide.

From BGI Genomics 6 Mar 2024

Prenatal exposure to nicotine could increase risk of behavioral disorders in newborns, study finds

Although several studies have linked smoking during pregnancy with neurodevelopmental disorders, the results of behavioral experiments in mice prenatally exposed to nicotine have been inconsistent.

5 Mar 2024

New hope for binge eating and bulimia: GLP-1 drugs could be the key

GLP-1 receptor agonists show promise in reducing binge eating behaviors in disorders like bulimia nervosa, offering a new avenue for treatment with minimal side effects.

4 Mar 2024

Unlocking the molecular mysteries of autism and intellectual disability

A new study from a team of McGill University and Vanderbilt University researchers is shedding light on our understanding of the molecular origins of some forms of autism and intellectual disability.

1 Mar 2024

UC Riverside professor receives NIH grant for neurodevelopmental disorder study

Iryna Ethell, a professor of biomedical sciences in the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside, has been awarded a five-year grant of $2.4 million from the National Institutes of Health to study mechanisms of hyperexcitability and seizures in neurodevelopmental disorders such as such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism.

29 Feb 2024

UCLA Health study uncovers astrocytes' role in neuropsychiatric disorders

UCLA Health researchers have discovered a group of specialized support cells in the brain that can regulate behaviors associated with human neuropsychiatric disorders.

29 Feb 2024

NIH funds study on neural mechanisms behind autism and sound sensitivity

Supported by a $2 million R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health, the Auerbach Lab at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology will examine how different genes associated with autism spectrum disorders may similarly impact our brain's neurons, resulting in heightened sensitivity to sounds.

28 Feb 2024

GTF2I gene's role in Williams syndrome and autism unraveled

Individuals with the neurodevelopmental disorder Williams syndrome have a gregarious "cocktail party" personality, while those with the opposite genetic alteration, in contrast, tend to have autistic traits and are prone to struggle socially.

28 Feb 2024

Neuroscientists uncover surprising role of glia in regulating neuronal responses in the brain

Neuroscientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center have found that an often-overlooked type of brain cell called glia has more of a role in brain function than previously thought.

28 Feb 2024