http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/autism/ Autism symptoms and new approaches to treatment. Read current research on autism including early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders, genetic factors and more. en-us Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:05:01 EST Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:05:01 EST 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/autism/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210133439.htm Older maternal and paternal age are jointly associated with having a child with autism, according to a recent study. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:34:34 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210133439.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209172814.htm A new study combines genetic and neurobiological approaches to confirm that synaptic mutations increase the risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). It also highlights a role for modifier genes in these disorders. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:28:28 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209172814.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202151139.htm Scientists have tracked the activity, across the lifespan, of an environmentally responsive regulatory mechanism that turns genes on and off in the brain's executive hub. Genes implicated in schizophrenia and autism are among those in which regulatory activity peaks during an environmentally-sensitive critical period in development. The mechanism, called DNA methylation, abruptly switches from off to on within the human brain's prefrontal cortex during this pivotal transition from fetal to postnatal life. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:11:11 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202151139.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131175627.htm New research might help explain how a gene mutation found in some autistic individuals leads to difficulties in processing auditory cues and paying spatial attention to sound. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:56:56 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131175627.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131092844.htm New UK research on autism in adults has shown that adults with a more severe learning disability have a greater likelihood of having autism. This group, mostly living in private households, was previously 'invisible' in estimates of autism. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:28:28 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131092844.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126224317.htm A family history of psychiatric conditions such as autism and depression could influence the subjects a person finds engaging, new research suggests. Although preliminary, the findings provide a new look at the oft-studied link between psychiatric conditions and aptitude in the arts or sciences. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:43:43 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126224317.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126143651.htm Medical researchers reports that newly discovered mutations in an evolved assembly of genes cause Joubert syndrome, a form of syndromic autism. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:36:36 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126143651.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126123703.htm Measuring brain activity in infants as young as six months may help to predict the future development of autism symptoms. In their first year of life, babies who will go on to develop autism already show different brain responses when someone looks at or away from them. The findings suggest that direct brain measures might help to predict the future development of autism symptoms in infants as young as six months. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:37:37 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126123703.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125143115.htm Children with autism spectrum disorders tend to be fascinated by screen-based technology. A new study found that adolescents with autism (64.2 percent) spend most of their free time using solitary, or non-social, screen-based media (television and video games) while only 13.2 percent spend time on socially interactive media (e-mail, Internet chatting). Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:31:31 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125143115.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125142210.htm Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) tend to be preoccupied with screen-based media. A new study looks at how children with ASDs spend their “screen time.” Researchers found a very high rate of use of solitary screen-based media such as video games and television with a markedly lower rate of use of social interactive media, including email. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:22:22 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125142210.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124200103.htm Teaching children with autism to "talk things through in their head" may help them to solve complex day-to-day tasks, which could increase the chances of independent, flexible living later in life, according to new research. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:01:01 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124200103.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124140311.htm Researchers have found a genetic variation predisposing children to six-times greater risk of developing metabolic syndrome when taking second-generation anti-psychotic medications. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The study showed a close association with two conditions in particular: high blood pressure and elevated fasting blood sugar levels, which is a precursor to diabetes. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:03:03 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124140311.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124112925.htm Scientists looked at blood levels of lipids and fatty acids in two groups of South Korean children – one group of typically developing boys and another group of boys with an autism diagnosis. Even though there were no major differences in what these children ate, those with autism had a lower omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio and lower levels of high density lipoprotein, more commonly known as HDL. For both levels, it’s often believed, the higher the better. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:29:29 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124112925.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120120184525.htm Getting an autism diagnosis could be more difficult in 2013 when a revised diagnostic definition goes into effect. The proposed changes may affect the proportion of individuals who qualify for a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, according to preliminary data. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:45:45 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120120184525.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120119143334.htm A study of discordant twins -- twins in which one has autism spectrum disorder and one doesn't -- finds the lower birth weight twins are more than three times as likely to have ASD than heavier twins. Though genetic effects are of major importance, say researchers, the study suggests a non-genetic influence associated with birth weight may contribute to development of ASD. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:33:33 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120119143334.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120115140050.htm New technology transforms the way detailed anatomical images can be made of whole brains and will greatly facilitate systematic comparison of neuroanatomy in mouse models of human brain disorders, e.g., autism and schizophrenia. Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120115140050.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120112193220.htm A large population-based study in Sweden indicates that there is no link between smoking during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:32:32 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120112193220.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120110093742.htm A new study describes how workshops to teach Google’s 3D modeling software to kids with autism have benefited the intergenerational relationships within the participants’ families. Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:37:37 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120110093742.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120109211825.htm The underlying reason autism is often associated with gastrointestinal problems is an unknown, but new results reveal that the guts of autistic children differ from other children in at least one important way: many children with autism harbor a type of bacteria in their guts that non-autistic children do not. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:18:18 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120109211825.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120103150755.htm Immune system abnormalities that mimic those seen with autism spectrum disorders have been linked to the amyloid precursor protein (APP), according to new research. The study, conducted with mouse models of autism, suggests that elevated levels of an APP fragment circulating in the blood could explain the aberrations in immune cell populations and function -- both observed in some autism patients. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:07:07 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120103150755.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111227092931.htm Left-handedness is sometimes the expression of a genetic defect or an early developmental disturbance. Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:29:29 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111227092931.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111221140355.htm Scientists say they have found a way to "awaken" the paternal allele of Ube3a, which could lead to a potential treatment strategy for Angelman syndrome -- a neurogenetic disorder often misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy or autism. Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:03:03 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111221140355.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111221140347.htm Scientists report that abnormal sequences of DNA known as rare copy number variants, or CNVs, appear to play a significant role in the risk for early onset bipolar disorder. Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:03:03 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111221140347.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111221105645.htm By researching fruit flies, neuroscientists were able to gain a better understanding of a meaningful mechanism of neuronal communication. They demonstrated the importance of a specific protein for signal transmission between nerve cells. This is of high significance as certain people with autism - a functional development disturbances of the brain - suffer from genetic defects in this protein. Therefore the findings could improve the possibility of treating this disease more effectively. Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:56:56 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111221105645.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111214144751.htm Poets might scoff at the notion that heart and brain are closely related, but scientists say a genetic defect that affects the brain can stop a heart. In a new study, researchers found that heart problems that occur in nearly 20 percent of children with Rett syndrome, a neurological disorder, originate because the Rett gene is lost in nerve cells -- not in heart muscle cells. Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:47:47 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111214144751.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111212124518.htm Teaching young children with autism to imitate others may improve a broader range of social skills, according to a new study. Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:45:45 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111212124518.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111207104821.htm Human minds have hit an evolutionary “sweet spot” and - unlike computers - cannot continually get smarter without trade-offs elsewhere, according to research by the University of Warwick. Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:48:48 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111207104821.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205140517.htm It's still unclear what's different in the brains of people with autism spectrum disorders, but evidence from genetic and cell studies points to abnormalities in how brain cells, connect to each other. A new study now provides visual evidence associating autism with a disorganized structure of brain connections, as well as defects in myelin -- the fatty, insulating coating that helps nerve fibers conduct signals and that makes up the brain's white matter. Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:05:05 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205140517.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111128152410.htm In the largest study of brain development in preschoolers with autism to date, researchers have found that three-year-old boys with regressive autism, but not early onset autism, have larger brains than their healthy counterparts. Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:24:24 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111128152410.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111127194338.htm Potential clues to how autism miswires the brain are emerging from a study of a rare, purely genetic form of the disorders that affects fewer than 20 people worldwide. Using cutting-edge "disease-in a-dish" technology, researchers have grown patients' skin cells into neurons to discover what goes wrong in the brain in Timothy syndrome. Abnormalities included changes in the cortex, the largest brain structure in humans, and in neurons that secrete two key chemical messengers. Sun, 27 Nov 2011 19:43:43 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111127194338.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111123133352.htm Although many mental illnesses are uniquely human, animals sometimes exhibit abnormal behaviors similar to those seen in humans with psychological disorders. Such behaviors are called endophenotypes. Now, researchers have found that mice lacking a gene that encodes a particular protein found in the synapses of the brain display a number of endophenotypes associated with schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:33:33 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111123133352.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111115175807.htm Scientists are finding new tools to help understand neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and fragile X syndrome. Studies show in new detail how the brain's connections, chemicals, and genes interact to affect behavior. Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:58:58 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111115175807.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111109161303.htm To diagnose autism spectrum disorders, clinicians typically administer a variety of tests or scales and use information from observations and parent interviews to classify individuals into subcategories listed in standard psychiatric diagnostic manuals. This process of forming "best-estimate clinical diagnoses" has long been considered the gold standard, but a new study demonstrates that these diagnoses are widely variable across centers, suggesting that this may not be the best method for making diagnoses. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:13:13 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111109161303.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111108200720.htm Children with autism have more brain cells and heavier brains compared to typically developing children, according to researchers. The small, preliminary study provides direct evidence for possible prenatal causes of autism. Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:07:07 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111108200720.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111108200710.htm In a small, preliminary study that included 13 male children, those with autism had an average 67 percent more prefrontal brain neurons and larger than average brain weight, than children without autism. Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:07:07 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111108200710.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111108200522.htm A new study shows that brain overgrowth in boys with autism involves an abnormal, excess number of neurons in areas of the brain associated with social, communication and cognitive development. Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:05:05 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111108200522.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111107162734.htm Neurons in the prefrontal cortex of individuals with autism show changes at numerous sites across the genome, according to a new study. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:27:27 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111107162734.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111107162732.htm In a study conducted at 12 university-based research sites, there was wide variation in how best-estimate clinical diagnoses within the autism spectrum were assigned to individual children. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:27:27 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111107162732.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111103212618.htm Autism spectrum disorder affects about one in 100 children resulting in a range of problems in language, communication and understanding other people's emotional cues, all of which can lead to difficulties in social situations. New research used genome wide association study data to find a variation in the gene for transducin beta-like 1X-linked (TBL1X) which is associated with increased risk of ASD in boys. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:26:26 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111103212618.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111102161045.htm We must stop considering the different brain structure of autistic individuals to be a deficiency, as research reveals that many autistics -- not just "savants" -- have qualities and abilities that may exceed those of people who do not have the condition, according to a provocative new article. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:10:10 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111102161045.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111030151556.htm In 2009, the DNA alphabet expanded. Scientists discovered that an extra letter or "sixth nucleotide" was surprisingly abundant in DNA from stem cells and brain cells. Now, researchers have mapped the patterns formed by that letter in the brains of mice, observing how its pattern of distribution in the genome changes during development and aging. Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:15:15 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111030151556.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111024172742.htm A new study shows that rats given a popularly prescribed antidepressant during development exhibit brain abnormalities and behaviors characteristic of autism spectrum disorders. Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111024172742.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111024153415.htm Rats exposed to an antidepressant just before and after birth showed substantial brain abnormalities and behaviors, according to a new study. After receiving citalopram, a serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor, during this critical period, long-distance connections between the two hemispheres of the brain showed stunted growth and degeneration. The animals also became excessively fearful when faced with new situations and failed to play normally with peers. Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:34:34 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111024153415.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111021074534.htm The benefits of virtual worlds can be used to help autistic children develop social skills beyond their anticipated levels, suggest early findings from new research. Researchers have developed an interactive environment which uses multi-touch screen technology where virtual characters on the screen demonstrate gestures and show children's actions in real time. Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:45:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111021074534.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020145104.htm Researchers have found a possible explanation for why autistic children act and think differently than their peers -- for the first time, they show that the connections between regions of the brain that are important for language and social skills grow much more slowly in boys with autism, when compared to healthy children. Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:51:51 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020145104.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020105914.htm Researchers have found distinct differences between the facial characteristics of children with autism compared to those of typically developing children. This knowledge could help researchers understand the origins of autism. Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:59:59 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020105914.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020025800.htm A new study has found that pregnant women with a particular gene variation are more likely to produce autoantibodies to the brains of their developing fetuses and that the children of these mothers are at greater risk of later being diagnosed with autism. Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:58:58 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020025800.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111019184622.htm A review of the genetic and biochemical abnormalities associated with autism reveals a possible link between the widely diagnosed neurological disorder and Type 2 diabetes, another medical disorder on the rise in recent decades. Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:46:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111019184622.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111019181856.htm Like a bridge that spans a river to connect two major metropolises, the corpus callosum is the main conduit for information flowing between the left and right hemispheres of our brains. Now, neuroscientists have found that people who are born without that link -- a condition called agenesis of the corpus callosum, or AgCC -- still show remarkably normal communication across the gap between the two halves of their brains. Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:18:18 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111019181856.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111017092239.htm Autism researchers have found a link between low birthweight and children diagnosed with autism, reporting premature infants are five times more likely to have autism than children born at normal weight. Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:22:22 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111017092239.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013154000.htm Autism is normally diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 3. But new research is finding symptoms of autism spectrum disorders in babies as young as 12 months. If children could be diagnosed earlier, it might be possible to help them earlier -- and maybe even stop them from developing autism, according to experts. Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:40:40 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013154000.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111012124205.htm By reprogramming skin cells from patients with mental disorders, scientists are creating brain cells that are now providing extraordinary insights into afflictions like schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111012124205.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111012113758.htm Preliminary employment studies indicate that the autism population may earn less and be employed at a lower rate compared to other people with disabilities. Now, an autism expert is identifying employment resources that are available for people with autism and steps employers can take to improve the workplace and hiring process for this population. Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:37:37 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111012113758.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011102006.htm Researchers say they have isolated a very specific difference in how high-functioning people with autism think about other people, finding that -- in actuality -- they don't tend to think about what others think of them at all. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:20:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011102006.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011074632.htm Researchers in the UK have a goal to build over 30 more KASPAR robots to help children with autism. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:46:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011074632.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111005143722.htm Scientists have created a genetically engineered mouse with increased dosages of the Ube3 gene. And, like the patients who also harbor increased dosages of this single gene, the genetically engineered mice exhibit robust examples of all three traits considered hallmarks of autism: reduced social interaction, impaired communication and excessive repetitive behaviors. Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:37:37 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111005143722.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111004121307.htm New findings from a 16-year study confirm that the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, the gold-standard for the classification of mental health conditions, can be used to accurately identify autism spectrum disorders in children with Down syndrome, according to new research. Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:13:13 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111004121307.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111003151819.htm Scientists have discovered that one of the most common genetic alterations in autism -- deletion of a 27-gene cluster on chromosome 16 -- causes autism-like features. By generating mouse models of autism using a technique known as chromosome engineering, researchers provide the first functional evidence that inheriting fewer copies of these genes leads to features resembling those used to diagnose children with autism. Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:18:18 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111003151819.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110929152058.htm Researchers are examining the use of propranolol (a drug used to treat high blood pressure and control heart rate as well as to reduce test anxiety) to improve the primary traits associated with autism -- difficulty with normal social skills, language and repetitive behaviors. Researchers say the drug is a promising new avenue for improving language and social function. Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:20:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110929152058.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110929122749.htm Scientists have created a mouse model for autism that opens a window into the biological mechanisms that underlie the disorder and offers a promising way to test new treatment approaches. The research found that autistic mice display remarkably similar symptoms and behavior as children and adults on the autism spectrum. Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110929122749.htm