autism

Low participant numbers render the results of many studies based on brain scans unreliable, an analysis finds.

A new wave of research is recruiting patients and other members of the public to serve as equal partners, bringing fresh perspectives to research on diseases and other conditions.

A study shows that a molecule produced by intestinal microbes can enter the brain and that its presence is also associated with altered brain connectivity.

The University of Washington researcher leveraged data from the Human Genome Project to identify genes underlying various health conditions and advance precision medicine.

The genes are involved in pacing the development of inhibitory and excitatory neurons. An imbalance in these two types of signaling is thought to play a role in autism.

The unbalanced gut flora present in some people with autism is not a driver of the condition but rather a consequence of eating behaviors characteristic of the condition, a new study claims.

He discovered that autism had strong genetic links.

The finding may help to explain why people with SYNGAP1 mutations tend to have learning difficulties and a high tolerance for pain.

In both a mouse model and the hospital records of more than 3 million children, researchers found a connection between strong immune activation in males and later symptoms of autism spectrum disorder.

Researchers who spoke with Spectrum say that while brain imaging tools have their limitations, they still hold promise in helping to unlock the brain’s secrets. 

For researchers who work with study participants in person, lockdowns made it impossible to obtain fresh data, a survey finds.

The review of more than two dozen studies finds aripiprazole has side effects and does not change core autism features, but parents report improvements in self-injury, tantrums, and other challenging behaviors.

Five collaborations involving autistic scientists and experts are advancing autism research, from lending support for theories of the condition to shoring up trials of new treatments.

Conversations between the immune and central nervous systems are proving to be essential for the healthy social behavior, learning, and memory.

Growing ranks of researchers on the spectrum are overcoming barriers—from neurotypical bias to sensory sensitivities—to shape autism science.

A large twin study in Sweden finds genetics has a much larger influence on the odds of an autism diagnosis, and has remained consistent over time.

Kim Peek, the inspiration for the title character in Rain Man, brought public attention to savant syndrome.

Labs are trying to figure out who will care for animals and organoids and some clinical trials are put on hold.

Aripiprazole, marketed as Abilify, is widely thought to be safer than risperidone, the only other drug approved for use in autistic children. A decade’s worth of data suggests that is not true.