Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

Darla Shine joins anti-vaccination campaigners, increases threat of measles outbreak in US

Darla Shine has recently joined anti-vaccination campaigners by claiming that having measles as a child could protect against cancer in later life.

15 Feb 2019

Scientists implicate hidden genes in the severity of autism symptoms

Scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have implicated a largely hidden part of the human genome in the severity of autism symptoms, a discovery that could lead to new insights into the disorder and eventually to clinical therapies for the condition.

15 Feb 2019

Movement impairments in autism can be reversed through behavioral training

Researchers from Cardiff University have established a link between a genetic mutation and developmental movement impairments in autism.

13 Feb 2019

Abnormal timing found in the brains of people with autistic symptoms

The neural 'time windows' in certain small brain areas contribute to the complex cognitive symptoms of autism, new research suggests.

13 Feb 2019

Fundamental technology to support early differential diagnosis of concurrent ASD in patients with ADHD

Hitachi, Ltd., Jichi Medical University, International University of Health and Welfare and Chuo University have developed fundamental technology to support the early differential diagnosis of concurrent autism spectrum disorder in patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

13 Feb 2019

Increased activity of EHMT2 gene deficient neurons could cause autism in humans

A novel investigation into the impacts of neuronal mutations on autism-related characteristics in humans has been described in the open-access journal eLife.

13 Feb 2019

Study reveals how one mutation causes the most common inherited intellectual disability

Research published today (Feb. 11, 2019) reveals how one mutation causes fragile X, the most common inherited intellectual disability.

12 Feb 2019

Human brain protein linked with autism has an effect on fruit fly behavior

A mutant gene that encodes a brain protein in a child with autism has been placed into the brains of fruit flies. Fruit flies hosting that gene produce the variant human brain protein and show abnormal behaviors of fear, repetitive activity and altered social interaction, reminiscent of autism impairments.

12 Feb 2019

VA pushing research, inventions into commercial markets to improve public health

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced on Monday a new effort to improve public health by pushing its research and inventions into commercial markets.

12 Feb 2019

Using Therapy Dogs to Reduce Stress and Improve Emotional Well-Being in Vulnerable Individuals

There is much research that shows that therapy dogs can help reduce stress and improve emotional well-being in vulnerable individuals. Rachel McPherson talks about this research that the work done by The Good Dog Foundation.

11 Feb 2019

Misinformation is causing measles cases to rise worldwide

Misinformation and anti-vaccination groups have caused a rise in cases of vaccine-preventable viral disease measles around the world, according to the WHO.

8 Feb 2019

Zebrafish offers clue to alleviate gastrointestinal distress related to autism

University of Miami researchers have discovered a clue in the humble zebrafish's digestive tract that, one day, could help people on the autism spectrum alleviate one of the most common yet least studied symptoms of their disorder: gastrointestinal distress.

7 Feb 2019

Measles outbreak sends vaccine demand soaring, even among the hesitant

Demand for measles vaccine has surged in the Washington county where the highly contagious virus is linked to more than 50 confirmed illnesses this year — including among people who had previously shunned the shots.

6 Feb 2019

With mom’s green card on the line, family forgoes autism services for citizen child

As U.S. immigration enforcement becomes stricter under the Trump administration, more immigrant families are cutting ties with health care services and other critical government programs, according to child advocates who work with such families.

1 Feb 2019

New understanding could help improve prediction and prevention of depression

In a new study, researchers from the Danish iPSYCH project demonstrate that people with the highest genetic propensity are over two and a half times as likely to be treated in a psychiatric hospital for depression compared to people with the lowest propensity.

31 Jan 2019

New link found between psychiatric disorders and events during the prenatal stage

Particular genetic variants in the human genome that are important for the development of the brain early in the life of the fetus are frequently found in psychiatric disorders. This is shown by a study carried out by iPSYCH.

31 Jan 2019

Medical cannabis relieves ASD symptoms in children

In a new study of patients with autism who are 18 years old and under, researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka University Medical Center report that cannabis as a treatment for autism spectrum disorders appears to be a well-tolerated, safe and effective option to relieve symptoms including seizures, tics, depression, restlessness, and rage attacks.

31 Jan 2019