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Leucovorin use for autism surged after public promotion campaigns

Researchers from the University of California San Diego found that prescriptions for leucovorin, a drug sometimes used off-label for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), rose sharply among children after widespread media attention and public statements from White House officials.

19 May 2026

Children's mental health concerns increasingly addressed during primary care visits

A new study led by researchers at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston University, Boston Medical Center, UMass Chan Medical School, and Brown University finds that children's mental health concerns are appearing more often during routine visits with primary care doctors.

18 May 2026

Childhood abuse may increase vulnerability to abusive adult relationships

Experiencing abuse or neglect as a child can increase the risk of being victimised by a romantic partner in adulthood, by impacting personality and mental health development, finds a new study led by University College London (UCL) researchers.

18 May 2026

Treatment delays rising among teens with cannabis use disorder

Teens may turn to marijuana use for many reasons: curiosity, stress relief, peer pressure, help with mental health, or for the positive feelings of being "high." However, there is a difference between casual use and reliance on cannabis to function.

18 May 2026

UCLA researchers identify potential drug target for treating Fragile X syndrome

UCLA Health researchers have identified a potential drug target for treating Fragile X syndrome, the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability and autism that affects roughly 1 in 2,000 boys.

18 May 2026

Azithromycin fails to improve severe wheezing in preschool children

A study led by researchers at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson showed that giving the antibiotic azithromycin did not help preschool children seen in the hospital emergency room with bouts of severe wheezing.

18 May 2026

Global collaboration can improve diagnosis and care for children with Kawasaki disease

International collaboration in research, diagnosis and care is critical to reducing the risk of serious heart conditions for children with Kawasaki disease worldwide, according to a new science advisory published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

18 May 2026

Study finds pulmonary rehab empowers children with respiratory issues

New research presented at the 2026 ATS International Conference shows that pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) significantly improves functioning and quality of life in children with chronic respiratory conditions, regardless of whether lung function itself improves.

18 May 2026

Time in nature may improve disadvantaged children’s mental health

Growing up in disadvantaged communities can take a toll on children, with greater stress leading to mental health issues and delays in psychological development.

17 May 2026

Prenatal chemical mixtures may influence fetal growth and placental health

Common environmental chemicals could affect birthweight and placental function, according to a new study published in Environmental Science & Technology and led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by "la Caixa" Foundation. Conducted within the Barcelona Life Study Cohort (BiSC), the research underscores the importance of considering real-life exposure to complex chemical mixtures and highlights the role of angiogenic biomarkers in linking these exposures to fetal development.

17 May 2026

WHO warns of rising nicotine pouch addiction among youth

The World Health Organization (WHO) today issues a strong warning over the rapid global expansion of nicotine pouch products, which are being aggressively marketed to adolescents and young people.

17 May 2026

Maternal occupations linked to increased autism diagnosis odds

Findings indicate that certain maternal jobs are associated with increased autism odds in children, highlighting the importance of prenatal occupational health.

15 May 2026

New FUSILLI tool improves gene fusion detection in pediatric leukemia

Researchers have introduced a novel diagnostics method that can more sensitively detect gene fusions in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), the most common type of pediatric cancer, compared to other publicly available fusion detection algorithms.

15 May 2026

Study traces adult heart disease risk back to the womb

A child's future heart health may be partially shaped before they are born, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study that found pregnancy complications are linked to poorer cardiovascular health in offspring more than 20 years later.

14 May 2026

Study reveals hidden struggles faced by unaccompanied child refugees

From relentless cycles of intrusive memories to loneliness and physical pain - a new study form the University of East Anglia reveals the struggles of refugees who entered the UK as unaccompanied minors.

13 May 2026

Scientists identify genetic mechanisms connected to core autism behaviors

A long‑overlooked stretch of the human genome appears to play a distinct role in shaping the social and stereotypic repetitive behaviors that define Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), without affecting learning or other cognitive abilities, according to a major new study published in Nature.

13 May 2026

Early helping behavior shaped by caregiver interactions and motor skills

Does your infant put their arm through their sleeve when you get them dressed? As you sort laundry does your toddler pick up the shorts you dropped? These are examples of how infants help by participating in shared activities.

13 May 2026

Genetic schizophrenia risk linked to neurodevelopmental changes during early adolescence

Research has found that children with higher genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia show decreases in frontal cortical surface area during early adolescence, in contrast to the regional expansion observed in children with low genetic susceptibility.

13 May 2026

Researchers discover a brain signal that predicts child attention lapses

Inside a world-leading deep brain stimulation program at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), researchers have discovered a brain signal that predicts when a child is about to lose attention - and that a brief, targeted intervention in response to that signal can restore their focus.

13 May 2026