Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

Eyes hold clues to effective treatment of severe autism, study shows

Vocabulary tests for individuals with the severest forms of autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, are notoriously inaccurate. They commonly ask the test-taker to point to an illustration after hearing a spoken word, measuring the ability to understand and perform a task as much as word knowledge.

20 Jun 2019

Neuroscientists find anatomical link between cognitive and perceptual symptoms in autism

Neuroscientists at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science and University College London have found an anatomical link between cognitive and perceptual symptoms in autism.

20 Jun 2019

Scientists make breakthrough in understanding the genetics of common syndromic autism

Australian and Chilean scientists have made a breakthrough in their understanding of the genetics of a common form of syndromic autism – and they hope their work could one day lead to the development of treatments for the condition.

19 Jun 2019

Gene associated with increased risk of cannabis abuse

New research from the Danish psychiatric project, iPSYCH, shows that a specific gene is associated with an increased risk of cannabis abuse. The gene is the source of a so-called nicotine receptor in the brain, and people with low amounts of this receptor have an increased risk of cannabis abuse.

18 Jun 2019

Parents of autistic adolescents are a critical partner in preparation for learning-to-drive process

Autistic adolescents need the support of their parents or guardians to prioritize independence so that they are prepared for learning to drive, according to a study of specialized driving instructors who have worked specifically with young autistic drivers.

18 Jun 2019

Gut microbiota linked with temperament traits in young children

Scientists in the FinnBrain research project of the University of Turku discovered that the gut microbes of a 2.5-month-old infant are associated with the temperament traits manifested at six months of age.

18 Jun 2019

Study: Early screening of autism may not be as beneficial as previously thought

Screening for autism at three years of age only identifies those with significant developmental delay, and not those with less severe autism. Early screening may therefore not be as beneficial as previously thought, according to data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study.

17 Jun 2019

Augusta vision scientist receives grant to learn more about keratoconus’ causes and treatments

It's an eye condition where genetics and environmental factors like ultraviolet light and vigorous eye rubbing conspire to make the usual curvature of the cornea more pointy, leaving us with double vision and nearsighted.

17 Jun 2019

Transgenerational BPA exposure may contribute to autism, study finds

Transgenerational bisphenol A exposure may contribute to autism, according to a mouse study published in the Endocrine Society's journal Endocrinology.

12 Jun 2019

Bullying in children with ASD gets worse with age

Children with autism spectrum disorder are more likely to experience bullying than children without ASD and this bullying gets worse with age, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

12 Jun 2019

Bridging the Gaps to Advance Research in the Cannabis Industry

In this interview, Joshua Crossney outlines his talk at Pittcon 2019, aimed to bring together analytical scientists with the medical cannabis community to bridge the gaps and advance research in the cannabis industry.

From Pittcon 10 Jun 2019

Stress-induced changes in heart rate may impair auditory perception

Sudden hearing loss can be experienced in highly stressful situations, usually lasting a short time. Researchers at São Paulo State University in Brazil, collaborating with colleagues at Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom, have reported a discovery that contributes to a deeper understanding of this phenomenon.

7 Jun 2019

Research focuses on feeding difficulties for children born prematurely

Feeding difficulties are prevalent among many infants born prematurely.

3 Jun 2019

Gut bacteria linked to metabolic changes and autism in new study

Researchers have made an important discovery that may explain how gut bacteria could contribute to autism-like behaviors.

31 May 2019

Study confirms gut-brain link in autism

People with autism often suffer from gut problems, but nobody has known why. Researchers have now discovered the same gene mutations – found both in the brain and the gut – could be the cause.

31 May 2019

U.S. measles outbreak worst in 25 years

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reported yesterday (30th of May 2019) that this year the number of measles cases in the United States has reached 971 – a record number in the last 25 years.

30 May 2019

$9.5 million grant funds brain imaging study aimed at detecting autism in early infancy

A multicenter research team led jointly by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has received a five-year, $9.5 million grant to further evaluate whether brain imaging can help detect very high risk of autism spectrum disorder in early infancy.

29 May 2019