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Autism spectrum disorders news

Autism spectrum disorders

Autism is not a scare story: What parents need to know about medications in pregnancy, genetic risk

Over the past couple of months, headlines have warned expectant parents that something as ordinary as a pain reliever or an antidepressant taken during pregnancy could "cause autism."

Psychology & Psychiatry

'Preventable deaths will continue' without action to make NHS more accessible for autistic people, say experts

Life-saving opportunities to prevent suicide among autistic people are being missed because systemic barriers make it difficult for them to access NHS support during times of mental health crisis, according to new research.

Autism spectrum disorders

Autism is lifelong. Here's what support looks like in adulthood

The government plans to redirect some children off the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and onto a new program called Thriving Kids. When announcing the change last month, health and disability minister Mark Butler ...

Genetics

Tiny fish open new horizons for autism research

Researchers from Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Japan, have revealed that environment influences social behaviors in autism. By using zebrafish that have a mutation in ube3a, a gene linked to Angelman syndrome ...

Autism spectrum disorders

New review highlights need for menopause support for autistic people

A new evidence review undertaken by Swansea University academics to better understand the menopause-related experiences and needs of autistic people, has revealed significant gaps in knowledge, support, and health care provision, ...

Autism spectrum disorders

What we do (and don't know) about autism and aging—new research

Autism is often thought of as a childhood condition, but this is far from true. Autism is a lifelong condition—and most autistic people are adults. Yet less than 1% of autism research has focused on older autistic people.

Autism spectrum disorders

No strong evidence for alternative autism treatments, study finds

The most comprehensive quantitative review of research into complementary and alternative treatments for autism has found no strong evidence to support their use, and that the safety of these treatments was rarely assessed.

Autism spectrum disorders

New study reveals gaps in autism diagnosis for girls

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered the most compelling evidence to date that girls present with different symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than boys—highlighting the need for new and innovative ...

Autism spectrum disorders

New data examines health spending among children with autism

Families with a child receiving treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) incur almost 10 times more in health care costs than those of other children, including those diagnosed but not receiving any ASD treatment.

Neuroscience

Researchers reverse autism symptoms in mice with epilepsy drugs

Stanford Medicine scientists investigating the neurological underpinnings of autism spectrum disorder have found that hyperactivity in a specific brain region could drive behaviors commonly associated with the disorder.

Autism spectrum disorders

Gut microbiota linked to autism spectrum disorder progression in mice

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects an estimated 1 in 31 children in the United States by 2025, and prevalence in East Asian countries, such as South Korea, Singapore, and Japan, may be even higher than those in the United ...

Autism spectrum disorders

Autism, ADHD or both? Research offers new insights for clinicians

In-depth research conducted by UC Davis Health shows that a significant number of autistic children also have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These findings underscore the need to thoroughly diagnose children ...

Autism spectrum disorders

Maternal obesity linked to autism-like behaviors in offspring

In a study conducted at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, researchers from the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) have uncovered a mechanistic link between maternal obesity prior to pregnancy and autism-related ...

Psychology & Psychiatry

Alarming anxiety rates uncovered among autistic college students

As autism diagnoses continue to grow and remain a topic of nationwide debate, new research reveals that autistic individuals are facing mental health challenges at a major turning point in their lives—when they go to college.

Psychology & Psychiatry

New research highlights neurodivergent friendship patterns

New research from Abertay University has shed fresh light on how neurodivergent (ND) people form and experience friendships, highlighting a strong preference for building connections with others who share their neurotype.

Autism spectrum disorders

Why do some autistic people walk differently?

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how people's brains develop and function, impacting behavior, communication and socializing. It can also involve differences in the way you move and walk—known as your ...

Health

Supporting autistic patients in health care

Caring for autistic patients requires a unique approach, and a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal provides tips on looking after these patients.

Autism spectrum disorders

AI used to improve speed and accuracy of autism and ADHD diagnoses

It can take as long as 18 months for children with suspected autism spectrum or attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorders to get a diagnostic appointment with a psychiatrist in Indiana. But an interdisciplinary team led by ...

Autism spectrum disorders

CBD might help children with autism, but more research needed

Researchers at the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have found that cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating compound found in cannabis, could help reduce problematic ...