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Autism spectrum disorders news
Autism spectrum disorders
Prescribed opioid pain medications during pregnancy likely aren't associated with increased risk of autism, ADHD
Previous studies have suggested that children exposed to opioid pain medications while in the womb have higher rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but a new study ...
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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."
Sep 15, 2025
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'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.
Sep 15, 2025
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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 ...
Sep 11, 2025
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North-south autism assessment divide in the UK leaves children waiting three years longer
Children in the North of England are waiting up to three years longer than those in the south for an autism diagnosis, new data analysis shows.
Sep 11, 2025
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A novel approach to building communication and social connection among individuals with autism
New research has revealed that people with similar levels of autistic traits are more attracted to each other, and their brains synchronize in unique ways during passive and active communication.
Sep 10, 2025
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Challenges with motor coordination drive differences in imitation and learning in children with autism, research reveals
The ability to imitate gestures is key to learning from others and it helps foster social interactions. Children with autism, however, tend to imitate less often and less accurately than peers without autism. For example, ...
Sep 10, 2025
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How universities can become neuro-inclusive—and what can help autistic students thrive
With the prevalence of autism increasing in recent years, more autistic people are attending college and university. (There are different ways to identify in the autistic community, with some people preferring to call themselves ...
Sep 8, 2025
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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 ...
Sep 5, 2025
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How an autism-linked mutation reduces vasopressin and alters social behavior
A team of researchers has identified for the first time the mechanism linking a mutation in the Shank3 gene with alterations in social behavior. Using a mouse model carrying this autism-associated mutation, the study shows ...
Sep 4, 2025
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'Cracks in the system' drive high suicide rates for autistic people in the UK, says study
A new study, led by the University of Cambridge in collaboration with Bournemouth University, shows that autistic people identify loneliness, hopelessness, and feelings of worthlessness and failure as key factors underpinning ...
Sep 4, 2025
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Autistic students say they want schools to focus on their strengths—not their diagnosis
An increasing number of young Australians are autistic. About 4.4% of children aged to 10 to 14 years and 3.4% of older teens have an autism diagnosis.
Sep 4, 2025
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Gaming to socialize or escape? Research scopes out problematic gaming habits
People who have autistic-like traits, but who fall short of a clinical diagnosis, are at risk of problematic gaming, according to a new Charles Darwin University (CDU) study exploring what factors can lead to gaming disorders.
Sep 3, 2025
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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, ...
Sep 2, 2025
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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.
Sep 2, 2025
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Two distinct microglia populations linked to autism-like and depression-like behaviors in mice
The anterior insular cortex (aIC) is an important brain region known to contribute to the regulation of emotions, the integration of bodily sensations, decision-making and some other functions. Past studies have linked this ...
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.
Aug 28, 2025
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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 ...
Aug 28, 2025
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I'm autistic and don't speak: Here's what I want you to know
My travels with autism started long before my diagnosis, at the age of three years and three months.
Aug 28, 2025
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Around 90% of middle-aged and older autistic adults are undiagnosed in the UK, review finds
Some 89–97% of autistic adults aged 40+ years are undiagnosed in the UK, according to the largest review of its kind which was conducted at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College London. ...
Aug 28, 2025
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What's the best way to support autistic kids with mild to moderate delay?
Autistic children with mild to moderate developmental delay will no longer be eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) from mid-2027.
Aug 27, 2025
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Fresh insights into the inner workings of the developing brain could lead to autism treatments
While there is a vast amount of information about the human brain and how it develops and works, much of the organ is still uncharted territory. But new research published in the journal Nature is giving us new insights into ...
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.
Aug 22, 2025
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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.
Aug 20, 2025
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AI social coach offers support to people with autism
A specialized chatbot named Noora is helping individuals with autism spectrum disorder practice their social skills.
Aug 20, 2025
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