Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

Research could lead to new treatment for Rett Syndrome, other forms of autism

Penn State scientists have discovered a novel drug target and have rescued functional deficits in human nerve cells derived from patients with Rett Syndrome, a severe form of autism-spectrum disorder.

11 Jan 2016

UTA researchers map out chemical mechanism of key enzyme found in autism, Alzheimer's and Down syndrome

Biochemists at The University of Texas at Arlington are mapping the catalytic processes of sulfur-oxidizing enzymes to improve understanding of the chemical imbalances found in patients with autism, Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome.

11 Jan 2016

UVA's brain discovery hailed as one of 2015's biggest scientific breakthroughs

A shocking discovery about the human brain made at the University of Virginia School of Medicine is being hailed as one of 2015's biggest scientific breakthroughs by numerous year-end lists, including those compiled by Scientific American, Science, The Huffington Post and the National Institutes of Health.

11 Jan 2016

U-M research could lead to new ways of fighting X-linked diseases in girls and women

Nearly every girl and woman on Earth carries two X chromosomes in nearly every one of her cells -- but one of them does (mostly) nothing. That's because it's been silenced, keeping most of its DNA locked up and unread like a book in a cage.

11 Jan 2016

MU researcher exploring ways to meet the needs of young adults with autism

As the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders continues to rise, medical professionals have emphasized early diagnosis, intervention and treatment. However, less attention has been given to children with autism once they reach their teen years and adulthood.

7 Jan 2016

Researchers find no evidence that prenatal exposure to antidepressants increases risk for autism, ADHD

An analysis of medical records data from three Massachusetts health care systems finds no evidence that prenatal exposure to antidepressants increases the risk for autism and related disorders or for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

6 Jan 2016

ONR-sponsored app reads kids' facial expressions to screen for autism

There's an app for everything these days--from weight loss to working out. Now, thanks in part to support from the Office of Naval Research, there's an app that may screen for autism by reading kids' facial expressions for emotional cues.

31 Dec 2015

Researchers suggest microorganisms in the womb set stage for health problems later in life

Researchers review importance of microorganisms that exist in the gut, suggesting perturbation of the environment during pregnancy, delivery and early infancy could impact the developing baby's early microbiome and set the stage for health problems later in life. The term "microbiome" refers to the trillions of organisms we harbor, on our skin and within our respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.

30 Dec 2015

CMU researchers develop new method to survey learning-related changes in synapse properties

Carnegie Mellon University researchers have developed a new approach to broadly survey learning-related changes in synapse properties. In a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience and featured on the journal's cover, the researchers used machine-learning algorithms to analyze thousands of images from the cerebral cortex. This allowed them to identify synapses from an entire cortical region, revealing unanticipated information about how synaptic properties change during development and learning.

29 Dec 2015

3D maps of spatial organization may help find genes involved in hereditary diseases

It has now been 15 years since scientists celebrated the completion of the human genome. At that point, scientists had determined the entire sequence of the genetic letters making up our DNA.

26 Dec 2015

Study: Brains of compulsive video game players wired differently

Brain scans from nearly 200 adolescent boys provide evidence that the brains of compulsive video game players are wired differently. Chronic video game play is associated with hyperconnectivity between several pairs of brain networks.

22 Dec 2015

Scientists identify genes linked to human intelligence

Scientists from Imperial College London have identified for the first time two clusters of genes linked to human intelligence.

22 Dec 2015

Premature babies at higher risk of developing autism in later childhood

Extremely premature babies run a much higher risk of developing autism in later childhood, and even during the neonate period differences are seen in the brains of those who do. This according to a new study by researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden.

22 Dec 2015

Harvard scientists link specific neurotransmitter in the brain with autistic behavior

In a discovery that could offer valuable new insights into understanding, diagnosing and even treating autism, Harvard scientists for the first time have linked a specific neurotransmitter in the brain with autistic behavior.

18 Dec 2015

Study examines whether pregnant woman can take antidepressants during pregnancy

Should a pregnant woman stop taking antidepressants during her pregnancy? The Journal of the American Medical Association has published a study showing the risk of autism doubles (from 1% to 2%) for children of women who use antidepressants, like Zoloft and Prozac. Max Wiznitzer, MD, pediatric neurologist at UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, stresses, even if the study proves correct, the vast majority of babies exposed to antidepressants in the second and third trimesters will not develop autism.

17 Dec 2015

Salk researchers move one step closer to unlocking how the brain functions

How the brain functions is still a black box: scientists aren't even sure how many kinds of nerve cells exist in the brain. To know how the brain works, they need to know not only what types of nerve cells exist, but also how they work together. Researchers at the Salk Institute have gotten one step closer to unlocking this black box.

17 Dec 2015

Study sheds new light on the causes of autism

Evidence of autism may be found in the composition and malfunction of the brain's blood vessels, a team of scientists has found. Their research sheds new light on the causes of autism, which previously had pointed to neurological make-up rather than to the vascular system, and identifies a new target for potential therapeutic intervention.

17 Dec 2015

Researchers successfully test parent-led autism therapy in India and Pakistan

In a world first, clinical researchers from the Universities of Manchester and Liverpool have collaborated with colleagues in south Asia to adapt a parent-led autism therapy and successfully tested it in India and Pakistan, with the aim of improving treatment for an estimated 5 million children in the region with the disorder.

16 Dec 2015

Innovative brain imaging study reveals why ToM deficiencies present in children with ASD

The holidays can be difficult for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), particularly because of new or different social situations. One reason scientists believe ASD causes impairment in social interactions is due to an inability to effectively infer other's thoughts and feelings through "theory of mind," or ToM -- the ability to understand the mental states of others and oneself.

16 Dec 2015

Using antidepressants during pregnancy greatly increases autism risk

Using antidepressants during pregnancy greatly increases the risk of autism, Professor Anick Bérard of the University of Montreal and its affiliated CHU Sainte-Justine children's hospital revealed today. Prof. Bérard, an internationally renowned expert in the fields of pharmaceutical safety during pregnancy, came to her conclusions after reviewing data covering 145,456 pregnancies.

15 Dec 2015

Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

Research could lead to new treatment for Rett Syndrome, other forms of autism

UTA researchers map out chemical mechanism of key enzyme found in autism, Alzheimer's and Down syndrome

UVA's brain discovery hailed as one of 2015's biggest scientific breakthroughs

U-M research could lead to new ways of fighting X-linked diseases in girls and women

MU researcher exploring ways to meet the needs of young adults with autism

Researchers find no evidence that prenatal exposure to antidepressants increases risk for autism, ADHD

ONR-sponsored app reads kids' facial expressions to screen for autism

Researchers suggest microorganisms in the womb set stage for health problems later in life

CMU researchers develop new method to survey learning-related changes in synapse properties

3D maps of spatial organization may help find genes involved in hereditary diseases

Study: Brains of compulsive video game players wired differently

Scientists identify genes linked to human intelligence

Premature babies at higher risk of developing autism in later childhood

Harvard scientists link specific neurotransmitter in the brain with autistic behavior

Study examines whether pregnant woman can take antidepressants during pregnancy

Salk researchers move one step closer to unlocking how the brain functions

Study sheds new light on the causes of autism

Researchers successfully test parent-led autism therapy in India and Pakistan

Innovative brain imaging study reveals why ToM deficiencies present in children with ASD

Using antidepressants during pregnancy greatly increases autism risk

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Precision in every drop: Inside Hamilton’s syringe technology

Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

Clue's CEO Rhiannon White on the Future of Femtech and PCOS

Freezing Point Osmometry in Life Science Applications

Precision in every drop: Inside Hamilton’s syringe technology

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