Autism News and Research

RSS

Autism (sometimes called “classical autism”) is the most common condition in a group of developmental disorders known as the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests. Other ASDs include Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS). Experts estimate that three to six children out of every 1,000 will have autism. Males are four times more likely to have autism than females.

Columbia scientists receive grant from CZI to construct atlas of cells in human spinal cord

Scientists at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute today received a grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative donor advised fund, an advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, to construct an atlas of gene activity of all cells in the human spinal cord.

17 Oct 2017

New study maps human genome to healthy tissue functions and disease processes

Our genomes help to determine who we are - the countless variations between individuals that encode the complexity of tissues and functions throughout the body.

13 Oct 2017

Researchers use mixed realty viewer to visualize complex biological networks in 3D

They call it the "hairy ball." It's an unflattering name for two-dimensional representations of a complex biological network, a depiction of a system of linkages and connections so complex and dense that "it looks like a big mess," said Dmitry Korkin, PhD, associate professor of computer science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and director of the university's bioinformatics and computational biology program.

13 Oct 2017

Researchers find multiple new mutations linked to autism in children but not their parents

Most cases of autism appear to be associated with the appearance of new mutations that are not inherited from the child's parents, researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine report.

12 Oct 2017

Vanderbilt Center for Autism & Innovation aims to help people with ASD find meaningful employment

Creating a model pipeline that will assist adults on the autism spectrum find meaningful and gainful employment while enhancing local business innovation.

12 Oct 2017

Biased research samples can profoundly skew results of brain imaging studies

Any scientist who studies groups of people knows that the characteristics of the "sample" -- the group of people selected for the study -- can profoundly impact the study's findings. To produce the most accurate findings, a study group ought to be as similar as possible to the people in the larger population you want to say something about.

12 Oct 2017

Whole genome sequencing could help better understand genetic abnormalities underlying autism

An analysis of the complete genomes of 2,064 people reveals that multiple genetic variations could contribute to autism. The work suggests that scanning whole genomes may one day be useful for clinical diagnostics.Autism has genetic roots, but most cases can't be explained by current genetic tests.

12 Oct 2017

Research findings could pave way to new therapies for treating seizures and autism

Recent research discoveries in the development of brain disorders could pave the way to new therapies for treating seizures, and even some children with autism, says a leading oncologist and researcher at the University of Alberta.

12 Oct 2017

Maternal immune activation linked to ASD symptom severity in children with autism

The retrospective cohort study of 220 Australian children, conducted between 2011-2014, indicates that a "an immune-mediated subtype" of autism driven by the body's inflammatory and immunological systems may be pivotal, according to the University of Sydney's Professor Adam Guastella.

10 Oct 2017

Improving synchronization of brain waves enhances learning and self-control

Robert Reinhart calls the medial frontal cortex the "alarm bell of the brain." "If you make an error, this brain area fires," says Reinhart, an assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences at Boston University. "If I tell you that you make an error, it also fires.

10 Oct 2017

Scientists offer insight into how the brain makes perceptual judgments

Scientists at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute have contributed to solving a paradox of perception, literally upending models of how the brain constructs interpretations of the outside world. When observing a scene, the brain first processes details -- spots, lines and simple shapes -- and uses that information to build internal representations of more complex objects, like cars and people.

10 Oct 2017

Study sheds new light on underlying genetic causes of congenital heart disease

Approximately one in every 100 babies is born with congenital heart disease (CHD), and CHD remains the leading cause of mortality from birth defects.

9 Oct 2017

Whitehead Institute scientists identify brain/body connection in genomic region linked to autism

For the first time, Whitehead Institute scientists have documented a direct link between deletions in two genes--fam57ba and doc2a--in zebrafish and certain brain and body traits, such as seizures, hyperactivity, enlarged head size, and obesity.

9 Oct 2017

Researchers find surprising differences in first-ever whole-brain map of inhibitory neurons

Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine have collaborated on the first-ever quantitative whole-brain map of inhibitory neurons in the mouse brain. These brain cells play a crucial role in regulating response to stimuli and have been widely implicated in many psychiatric conditions.

6 Oct 2017

UC Berkeley researchers to develop new ultra-high-resolution MRI brain scanner

Functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, has transformed our view of the brain, allowing researchers to pinpoint areas associated with everything from depression and dementia to playing chess and engaging in sex.

6 Oct 2017

Multivitamin use during pregnancy could protect children from autism with intellectual disabilities

Children whose mothers took multivitamins during pregnancy are roughly 30 percent less likely to develop autism with a co-occurring intellectual disability, according to a new Drexel University-led study.

5 Oct 2017

Researchers improve genetic decoding of neurodevelopmental disorders

A result that will help in the future diagnosis of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as intellectual disability, autism or schizophrenia.

5 Oct 2017

Tulane researchers explore Shox2 protein’s potential link to epilepsy, autism and schizophrenia

Tulane University's Laura Schrader, a cell and molecular biology professor and Brain Institute member, received a two-year grant from the National Institute of Health to study the role of a Shox2, a protein in the brain important for development and function of the thalamus.

4 Oct 2017

Researchers discover new class of molecules that may protect brain from injury or diseases

Research led by Nicolas Bazan, MD, PhD, Boyd Professor and Director of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence at LSU Health New Orleans, has discovered a new class of molecules in the brain that synchronize cell-to-cell communication and neuroinflammation/immune activity in response to injury or diseases.

28 Sep 2017

Iron supplements for low birth weight babies can prevent behavioral problems at school age

Babies classified as low birth weight (under 2.500 grams) are at risk of iron deficiency, which is linked to impaired neurological development.

27 Sep 2017

Autism News and Research

Further Reading

Columbia scientists receive grant from CZI to construct atlas of cells in human spinal cord

New study maps human genome to healthy tissue functions and disease processes

Researchers use mixed realty viewer to visualize complex biological networks in 3D

Researchers find multiple new mutations linked to autism in children but not their parents

Vanderbilt Center for Autism & Innovation aims to help people with ASD find meaningful employment

Biased research samples can profoundly skew results of brain imaging studies

Whole genome sequencing could help better understand genetic abnormalities underlying autism

Research findings could pave way to new therapies for treating seizures and autism

Maternal immune activation linked to ASD symptom severity in children with autism

Improving synchronization of brain waves enhances learning and self-control

Scientists offer insight into how the brain makes perceptual judgments

Study sheds new light on underlying genetic causes of congenital heart disease

Whitehead Institute scientists identify brain/body connection in genomic region linked to autism

Researchers find surprising differences in first-ever whole-brain map of inhibitory neurons

UC Berkeley researchers to develop new ultra-high-resolution MRI brain scanner

Multivitamin use during pregnancy could protect children from autism with intellectual disabilities

Researchers improve genetic decoding of neurodevelopmental disorders

Tulane researchers explore Shox2 protein’s potential link to epilepsy, autism and schizophrenia

Researchers discover new class of molecules that may protect brain from injury or diseases

Iron supplements for low birth weight babies can prevent behavioral problems at school age

Investigating new cancer therapy candidates with live-cell imaging

Freezing Point Osmometry in Life Science Applications

Transitioning to automated liquid handling

Latest News