Autism

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.

What is Autism?

Autism is not a single disease entity. It is part of a range of developmental disorders known as autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). They begin in childhood and last through adulthood.

What is Sensory Overload?

Autism Classification

Autism Spectrum Disorder & Allergies

Autism Management

Moving House with Autism: Reducing Stress & Anxiety

Are Apraxia and Autism Related?

What is Autistic Burnout?

Autism Prognosis

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Autism

Evidence for Autism being a Genetic Condition

The Reward System and Autism

See more featured articles »

Autism Related Conditions

Autism Screening

Autoantibodies and Autism

Autism and Junk DNA

Autism Mechanism

Autism Causes

Picky Eating and Autism: Tips & Advice

Autism History

Detecting Autism Early

Autism and Particulate Air Matter

Autism and Sleep Problems

Sensory Overload vs. Sensory Seeking: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Explained

Gut Bacteria and Autism Development

Travelling with a Child Who Has Autism

Latest Autism News and Research

Alzheimer’s drugs improve key cognitive skills in children with autism and low IQ

The review synthesizes evidence on whether Alzheimer’s disease medications can improve neurocognitive outcomes in children and adolescents with autism and low IQ. Across 12 studies, preliminary findings show promising gains in language, executive function, learning and memory, and general cognitive ability, particularly in younger children.

18 Nov 2025

Large language models revolutionize psychiatric questionnaires

Large language models can help improve questionnaires used to diagnose mental illness by optimizing symptom generalizability and reducing redundancy.

18 Nov 2025

Maternal obesity raises childhood epilepsy and disability risks, new study shows

Higher maternal BMI before pregnancy is linked to increased risks of epilepsy and intellectual disability in young children, even after extensive adjustment for maternal and neonatal factors. Associations with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD disappear after full adjustment, highlighting the potential mediating role of perinatal complications.

17 Nov 2025

Schizophrenia risk detectable at birth through epigenetic signatures

Genetic susceptibility to neurodevelopmental conditions such as schizophrenia, autism, and ADHD can be linked, in part, to distinct epigenetic signatures in newborn cord blood.

17 Nov 2025

Why early- and late-onset depression are fundamentally different

Genetic differences in early- and late-onset depression highlight distinct risk profiles, informing targeted strategies for improved clinical outcomes.

17 Nov 2025

Parental postpartum depression linked to higher autism risk

Findings reveal a strong link between parental postpartum depression and autism risk, stressing the importance of mental health support for new parents.

17 Nov 2025

Subtle changes in the composition of short tandem repeats may shape disease risk

Scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have revealed a previously overlooked layer of genetic variation that could help explain why people experience disease differently, and why some treatments work better for certain populations.

14 Nov 2025

New technique revolutionizes the design of drugs that target ion channels

An international team involving the Institute of Chemical Research, a joint centre of the University of Seville and the Spanish National Research Council, has developed a new technique that will accelerate the design of drugs that target ion channels, a type of cell membrane protein involved in numerous diseases, ranging from psychiatric disorders to various types of cancer.

14 Nov 2025

Scientists debunk gut microbiome-autism connection

There's no scientific evidence that the gut microbiome causes autism, a group of scientists argue in an opinion paper publishing November 13 in the Cell Press journal Neuron.

13 Nov 2025

Study: Biological underpinnings of autism and ADHD may transcend traditional diagnostic boundaries

A new study published in Molecular Psychiatry reveals that the biological underpinnings of autism and ADHD may transcend traditional diagnostic boundaries.

12 Nov 2025

No, taking paracetamol while pregnant doesn’t cause autism or ADHD, major review finds

Researchers reviewed nine systematic reviews on paracetamol use during pregnancy and found that while some studies suggested links to ADHD or autism, the evidence was of low quality and confounded by shared familial factors. Sibling-controlled analyses showed no causal relationship between prenatal paracetamol exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

11 Nov 2025

Northwestern scientists create new genetic risk score to improve prediction of arrhythmia

In a new Northwestern Medicine study, scientists have developed a more precise genetic risk score to determine whether a person is likely to develop arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat that can lead to serious conditions such as atrial fibrillation (AFib) or sudden cardiac death.

11 Nov 2025

Understanding communication complexity among infants with neurogenetic syndromes

Nancy Brady has been gratified to see the tool she and colleagues pioneered over a decade ago to measure the growth of infants' pre-speech communication skills translated into several languages and referenced in more than 100 research papers, including a åçnew one published in the Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research.

10 Nov 2025

Maternal paracetamol use during pregnancy not linked to autism or ADHD in children

Existing evidence does not clearly link paracetamol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy with autism or ADHD in children, finds an in-depth evidence review published by The BMJ today, in direct response to recent announcements around the safety of using paracetamol in pregnancy.

10 Nov 2025

New evidence reassures safety of acetaminophen use during pregnancy

A rigorous systematic review of the present state of knowledge on the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and the risk of specific neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as autism and ADHD, offers reassurance that acetaminophen does not increase the risk of NDDs.

6 Nov 2025

Oxidative stress linked to repetitive behaviors in mice

Abnormal repetitive behaviors in mice are strongly linked to multiple biomarkers of oxidative stress, which occurs when antioxidants cannot counteract the effects of harmful molecules in the body, according to a study published November 5, 2025, in the open-access journal PLOS One by Kendall Coden and Dr. Joseph Garner of Stanford University, U.S.

5 Nov 2025

How gut microbes shape sleep: New review reveals microbiome clues to insomnia and apnea

A new Brain Medicine review maps how gut microbes influence sleep disorders, from insomnia and sleep apnea to circadian disruption, via bile acids, neurotransmitters, and immune pathways. The findings highlight gut-driven targets for improving sleep quality through diet, probiotics, and microbiome modulation.

5 Nov 2025

Do gut microbes cause autism? New research says diet plays the bigger role

In a family-based study, researchers found that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) shared similar gut microbiomes with their relatives but showed distinctly different eating habits. Their preference for sweets and limited vegetable intake suggests behavior-driven dietary choices may influence, rather than result from, microbiome differences.

5 Nov 2025

While politicos dispense blame, these doctors aim to take shame out of medicine

The distress that Will Bynum later recognized as shame settled over him nearly immediately.

5 Nov 2025

New review illuminates the intricate connections between gut microbiota and sleep regulation

A comprehensive review published today in Brain Medicine illuminates the intricate connections between gut microbiota and sleep regulation, establishing the microbiota-gut-brain axis as a critical pathway in understanding and potentially treating sleep disorders.

4 Nov 2025