Biology
“Noncoding” Mutations May Play Unexpected Key Role in Autism
A new study used machine learning to show how “all mutations are not created equal”
Stories by Jessica Wright
Neurological Health
Autism May Be Diagnosed by Age Two
New study suggests that early screening may benefit some children
Neurological Health
Genetic Tests for Autism Can Sometimes Change Lives
The assays don't always yield results, but the information they offer can, at times, alter the course of treatment or prevention
Neurological Health
Serotonin Revived as a Possible Target for Autism Treatments
Speeding up the chemical messenger’s action makes autism-modeling mice more social
Behavior & Society
Numerous Health Problems Burden Young Adults with Autism
Young people with autism have more psychiatric and medical conditions than do their typical peers or those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Neurological Health
Autism Prevalence Jumps 16 Percent, CDC Says
Rising awareness of the condition’s characteristics may contribute to an increase in reporting
Behavior & Society
The Prevalence of Autism in the U.S. Appears Steady
New data suggest the rate hovers between two and three percent
Mental Health
Unmasking Anxiety in Autism
Anxiety can assume unusual forms—turning uncertainty, or even a striped couch, into a constant worry
Mental Health
Oxytocin Nasal Spray May Boost Social Skills in Children with Autism
Study suggests a biomarker for treatment with the “love hormone”
Behavior & Society
The Real Reasons Autism Rates Are Up in the U.S.
A hard look at whether the rise comes from more awareness, better diagnosis—or something else
Neuroscience
Mice Take Selfies of Their Own Brains
Rodents learn to put their heads under a microscope as a daily routine, letting researchers peer into their brains while the animals are relaxed and happy
Neuroscience
Does the Immune System Have a Role in Battling Autism?
New study finds mice may need infection-fighting molecules to socialize
Mind
Common Mutations Account for Bulk of Autism Risk
Common gene variants that have minor effects may contribute about half the risk of developing autism
Mind
Genetic Mutation May Lead to Autism Subtype
CHD8, a gene that regulates the structure of DNA, is the closest thing so far to an “autism gene”
Health
Nanotechnology: Deliver on a Promise
Effective treatment of cancer requires getting the drugs precisely to the target. Enter the nanoparticle
Mind
Females Are Genetically Protected from Autism
It takes more mutations to trigger autism in women than in men, which may explain why men are four times more likely to have the disorder
Mind
The Right Incentive Can Erase an Autism Deficit
With the right incentive, such as winning a prize, children with autism do fairly well at inferring the thoughts and beliefs of others, according to a new study
