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Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits
Autistic people generally want the same things in life that our typical peers do, regardless of where we fall on the spectrum: a sense of purpose, …
AutismRebooting Becky's brain
It’s 7 p.m. on a Friday and Rebecca ‘Becky’ Audette is already in bed, tucked under a polka-dotted lavender comforter. Dark purple velour curtains …
Federal chokehold on marijuana stymies studies on epilepsy, autism
The Expert:<p>Shaun Hussain<p><b>Director of the Infantile Spasms Program</b>, University of California, Los Angeles<p>A few years ago, I began to see children in my …
CannabidiolA blood test for autism? Not so fast, experts say
A new study suggests that its results could lead to a simple test for some children with autism, but statisticians say the test — even if validated — …
AutismThe link between antidepressants and autism, explained
Among the many things a woman is supposed to avoid when pregnant are antidepressants, particularly a subtype of the drugs that some studies have …
AutismAutism’s sex bias may originate in brain’s immune cells
Two of the most reliable risk factors for autism are being male and being exposed to inflammation in the womb. At first glance, these may seem to be …
NeuroscienceHow a 'pacemaker' for the brain could ease autism traits
The Expert:<p>André Fenton<p><b>Professor</b>, New York University<p>The ability scientists have to manipulate genes has spawned new treatments for cancer and other …
NeuroscienceFamily ties: Sabatini brothers crack codes that may underlie autism
Late one October night in 2016, a group of friends set up recording equipment in a hotel lobby and settled in for three hours of wine-fueled banter …
NeuroscienceProposed revisions to global diagnostic manual for autism raise concerns
The proposed new version of the global manual for diagnosing medical conditions gets many things right about autism — but some items diverge from the …
AutismInconsistent prevalence estimates highlight studies’ flaws
The lore about autism is that prevalence rates are rising — leading many people to call it, misleadingly, an ‘epidemic.’ Even among scientists, many …
AutismStudy quantifies prevalence of autism in India
About 1 in 100 children in India under age 10 has autism, and nearly 1 in 8 has at least one neurodevelopmental condition. The estimates are based on …
AutismOutcry compels NIH to put new clinical trial policy on hold
The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has postponed enforcing parts of a controversial new clinical trials policy until September 2019.In the …
Clinical TrialsMutant flies reveal key gene interactions within autism deletion
The absence of several interacting genes underlies the developmental problems seen in people missing a segment of chromosome 16, a new study in fruit …
Drug approval could boost research on marijuana treatment for autism
The United States has approved, for the first time, a compound derived from marijuana to treat certain types of epilepsy. The ruling may spell good …
New diagnostic code for Angelman syndrome may spark crucial research
The international manual of conditions now includes a diagnostic code for Angelman syndrome — which may enable scientists to systematically collect …
Whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy carries no risk of autism
Children born to women who received a routine vaccine while pregnant are not at an increased risk of autism, according to a study of nearly 82,000 …
Career-prep program fosters strengths of teens with autism
One Thursday afternoon in November, about a dozen students around age 13 huddle at tables in a cluttered science classroom. Some chat while they …
The hidden danger of suicide in autism
Many people with autism entertain thoughts of suicide and yet show few obvious signs of their distress. Some scientists are identifying risks — and …
How to help young adults with autism transition to adulthood
For the past 20 years, my colleagues and I have run a social-skills group for children with autism, ages 5 to 18 years. Our program teaches the …
Blocking key enzyme eases memory problems, anxiety in autism mice
Blocking an enzyme called ERK prevents some unusual behaviors and brain structure in mice missing a segment of chromosome 16. Loss or gain of a copy …
Faulty use of data threatens early intervention for autism
Early-intervention programs can make a huge difference in children’s lives — particularly in the lives of those with autism or related conditions. We …
Studies unveil hidden ties between epilepsy gene and autism
When Abigail was 19 months old, she took a ferry with her mother Gillian across the English Channel during a move from Germany to England. On board, …
Study ties autism to maternal high blood pressure, diabetes
Children born to women who had diabetes or high blood pressure while pregnant are at an increased risk of autism, two new studies suggest1,2.Autism …
Beyond the bench: Meet autism researcher Nicola Grissom
The Expert:<p>Nicola Grissom<p><b>Assistant professor</b>, University of Minnesota<p>In 2015, Nicola Grissom traveled to a small town in Maine for a research …
Refined versions of gene-editing tool increase its versatility
Four new techniques expand the repertoire of the gene-editing tool CRISPR. The improvements make it easier to check the results, expand the method’s …
How separating children from parents causes irreparable harm
We are all familiar with the heartbreaking images of children being separated from their parents at the United States-Mexico border and then placed …
New restrictions on epilepsy drug may do more harm than good
A partial ban in Europe on the use of a drug called valproate during pregnancy could deny women effective treatment for serious conditions.Valproate …
How to game the search for autism treatments
An expanding arcade of video games takes aim at easing autism traits, from poor visual attention to problems with motor skills. But how useful — and …
How colleges can prepare for students with autism
Increasing numbers of young adults with autism are pursuing a college education. Many campuses are not ready for them.The post How colleges can …
Autism meeting evolves to address needs of people on the spectrum
I always look forward to the annual meeting of the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR, formerly IMFAR). As managing editor of an autism …
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