Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

Unique protein complex found to influence brain function and anxiety

Scientists at Université de Montréal and its affiliated Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) have uncovered unique roles for a protein complex in the structural organization and function of brain cell connectivity, as well as in specific cognitive behaviors.

12 Oct 2024

Neuroimaging study reveals structural brain differences in children with autism

There is new evidence that the cells responsible for communication in the brain may be structured differently in children with autism. Researchers at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester discovered that in some areas of the brain neuron density varies in children with autism when compared to the general population.

10 Oct 2024

First map of DNA modification in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex created

A UCLA-led study has provided an unprecedented look at how gene regulation evolves during human brain development, showing how the 3D structure of chromatin - DNA and proteins - plays a critical role.

9 Oct 2024

Liver X receptor beta offers new hope in treating depression and anxiety

Liver X receptor beta (LXRβ) shows potential in reducing depression and anxiety by improving neurogenesis, reducing neuroinflammation, and enhancing cognitive and emotional function. More research on LXR agonists could reveal new treatments for mental health disorders.

8 Oct 2024

Scurvy is not just an 18th-century seafarers' disease, study shows

Scurvy, or vitamin C deficiency, is not just an 18th-century seafarers' disease, as a case study of a 65-year-old woman with mobility issues and social isolation shows.

7 Oct 2024

LXRβ emerges as a promising target for depression and anxiety treatments

In a state-of-the-art Bench to Bedside review published in the journal Brain Medicine (Genomic Press), researchers Dr. Xiaoyu Song and Professor Jan-Åke Gustafsson from the University of Houston and Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) shed light on the therapeutic potential of liver X receptor beta (LXRβ) in treating depression and anxiety.

4 Oct 2024

Trump leads, and his party follows, on vaccine skepticism

More than four years ago, former President Donald Trump’s administration accelerated the development and rollout of the covid-19 vaccine.

4 Oct 2024

New pathway linking neuron selectivity to cognitive disorders uncovered

Neuroscientists from Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have determined how a brain cell surface molecule shapes the way certain neurons behave.

3 Oct 2024

Air pollution linked to brain changes in children

Outdoor air pollution from power plants, fires and cars continues to degrade human, animal and environmental health around the globe.

1 Oct 2024

Advanced brain mapping reveals neuronal subtypes and their connections

Scientists at the Salk Institute are unveiling a new brain-mapping neurotechnology called Single Transcriptome Assisted Rabies Tracing (START). The cutting-edge tool combines two advanced technologies - monosynaptic rabies virus tracing and single-cell transcriptomics - to map the brain's intricate neuronal connections with unparalleled precision.

30 Sep 2024

Researchers uncover genetic link between bipolar disorder type I and epilepsy

A team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences has uncovered compelling evidence of a genetic link between bipolar disorder type I (BD-I) and epilepsy, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of these complex neuropsychiatric conditions.

30 Sep 2024

Maternal obesity doubles the risk of developing autism in children

Researchers investigate the potential relationship between maternal fat mass and long-term mental health issues in children born to these mothers.

26 Sep 2024

Study shows no increased autism risk for pandemic-era children

Children born during the first year of the pandemic, including those exposed to COVID in utero, were no more likely to screen positive for autism than unexposed or pre-pandemic children, found researchers from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

23 Sep 2024

Florida’s new covid booster guidance is straight-up misinformation

In what has become a pattern of spreading vaccine misinformation, the Florida health department is telling older Floridians and others at highest risk from covid-19 to avoid most booster shots, saying they are potentially dangerous.

23 Sep 2024

How plant-based, Mediterranean, and Western diets affect gut microbiota and disease

Researchers examine how different dietary components affect the gut microbiome and development of non-communicable diseases.

20 Sep 2024

The urgent need for improved support for SEND pupils

Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are continuing to fall behind their peers with the gap widening despite the introduction of SEND legislation.

19 Sep 2024

Study highlights disparities in stroke burden across regions

Although stroke is highly preventable and treatable, there has been a rapid rise in the global stroke burden between 1990 and 2021, due to both population growth and the rise of aging populations worldwide, as well as a substantial increase in people's exposure to environmental and behavioral risk factors.

19 Sep 2024