Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

New discovery reveals how RNA moves genetic information from DNA to create proteins

The discovery cracks the "RNA control code," which dictates how RNA - a family of molecules that mediates DNA expression - moves genetic information from DNA to create proteins.

15 Jul 2013

Vanderbilt research program trains community pediatricians to diagnose autism

A Vanderbilt research program that trains community pediatricians to diagnose autism within their individual practices may lead to more effective treatment of the disorder that now affects an estimated one in 88 children.

12 Jul 2013

Genome sequencing promises to identify rare mutations that give rise to autism

An international consortium, consisting of Autism Speaks, Duke University School of Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children of Toronto, BGI and other institutes, has investigated the genetic variants in 32 families with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

12 Jul 2013

Seven scientists to receive Annual Klerman and Freedman Prizes from Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

Seven young scientists will be recognized by the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation at its presentation of the Annual Klerman and Freedman Prizes on Friday July 26, 2013 at Le Parker Meriden Hotel, New York, NY.

12 Jul 2013

Researchers develop new cry analyzer to look for clues about baby's health

To parents, a baby's cry is a signal of hunger, pain, or discomfort. But to scientists, subtle acoustic features of a cry, many of them imperceptible to the human ear, can hold important information about a baby's health.

12 Jul 2013

Children born after mothers hormonal fertility treatment have increased risk of mental disorders

Whether a child is conceived naturally or in a Petri dish in an incubator has no bearing at all on the child's mental health. However, researchers have identified a small but increased risk of developing a mental disorder such as autism, ADHD or behavioural problems in children whose mothers only received medical treatment to stimulate ovulation and egg development before insemination.

11 Jul 2013

Children diagnosed with autism have excessive cerebrospinal fluid and enlarged brains in infancy

Children who were later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder had excessive cerebrospinal fluid and enlarged brains in infancy, a study by a multidisciplinary team of researchers with the UC Davis MIND Institute has found, raising the possibility that those brain anomalies may serve as potential biomarkers for the early identification of the neurodevelopmental disorder.

11 Jul 2013

Children with SPD have quantifiable differences in brain structure, reveals study

In a groundbreaking new study from UC San Francisco, researchers have found that children affected with sensory processing disorders (SPD) have quantifiable differences in brain structure, showing a biological basis for the disease that sets it apart from other neurodevelopmental disorders.

10 Jul 2013

Researchers identify risk factor for maternal antibody-related autism in subset of children

Researchers with the UC Davis MIND Institute have found that prenatal exposure to specific combinations of antibodies found only in mothers of children with autism leads to changes in the brain that adversely affect behavior and development.

10 Jul 2013

State highlights: Ore. nonprofit hospitals see increased revenue, but lower charity care; Calif. shift means lost autism treatment

A new state report shows the average Oregon hospital more than doubled its margin, or profit, between 2009 and 2011, even as its provision of charity care went down. The findings trace the hospital sector rebound from recessionary lows in 2008, and how expanded Medicaid enrollment in Oregon has helped boost hospitals' bottom line even as many continue to expand to some assessors' dismay (Budnick, 7/5).

9 Jul 2013

First Edition: July 8, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including news about a new ad campaign against the health law, more reaction to the administration's delay of the employer mandate provision and states efforts to restrict abortions.

8 Jul 2013

Scientists focus on the role of mutated adult neural stem cells play in human diseases

CHARGE syndrome* is a severe developmental disorder affecting multiple organs. It affects 1 in 8500 newborns worldwide. The majority of patients carry a mutation in a gene called CHD7. How this single mutation leads to the broad spectrum of characteristic CHARGE symptoms has been a mystery.

6 Jul 2013

Research: People's frontal cortex undergoes a significant change from infancy to adolescence

Experience of parents with their children and teachers with their students demonstrate how kids change their behaviours and knowledge from infancy to adolescence. Until now, little was known of the causes that could lead to these changes.

5 Jul 2013

New study finds inherited genetic contribution in autism with intellectual disability

Researchers are striving to understand the different genetic structures that underlie at least a subset of autism spectrum disorders. In cases where the genetic code is in error, did that happen anew in the patient, perhaps through mutation or copying error, or was it inherited? A new study in the American Journal of Human Genetics finds evidence that there may often be a recessive, inherited genetic contribution in autism with significant intellectual disability.

4 Jul 2013

State highlights: Dartmouth joins N.H. Medicaid managed care

New Hampshire's largest health care provider signed contracts Monday with three health care plans to join the state's managed care network for Medicaid -- a key to getting the network operating. Dartmouth-Hitchcock announced it will work with Well Sense Health Plan, Granite State Health Plan and Meridian Health Plan of New Hampshire to provide coordinated care for eligible Medicaid beneficiaries (Love, 7/1).

3 Jul 2013

Researchers pinpoint role of Arl13b gene in guiding placement of neurons during brain development

Researchers have pinpointed the role of a gene known as Arl13b in guiding the formation and proper placement of neurons in the early stages of brain development. Mutations in the gene could help explain brain malformations often seen in neurodevelopmental disorders.

3 Jul 2013

Study: IVF treatment linked with increased risk of mental retardation

In a study that included more than 2.5 million children born in Sweden, compared with spontaneous conception, any in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment was not associated with autistic disorder but was associated with a small but statistically significantly increased risk of mental retardation, according to a study in the July 3 issue of JAMA. The authors note that the prevalence of these disorders was low, and the increase in absolute risk associated with IVF was small.

3 Jul 2013

RORA: A novel candidate gene for autism regulates large number of other genes

A new study by Valerie Hu, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine at the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), reports that RORA, a novel candidate gene for autism discovered by her group in a 2010 study, regulates a large number of other genes associated with autism.

2 Jul 2013

Lack of motor skills in children may contribute to social awkwardness

Studies have shown that children with autism often struggle socially and now new research suggests that a corresponding lack of motor skills - including catching and throwing - may further contribute to that social awkwardness.

1 Jul 2013

Buffalo's autism center provides faster diagnosis to children with autism spectrum disorders

For families with a child on the autism spectrum, early intervention is the mantra. The earlier their child is diagnosed, the sooner intervention can start, making a tremendous difference in the life of both the child and family.

29 Jun 2013

Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

New discovery reveals how RNA moves genetic information from DNA to create proteins

Vanderbilt research program trains community pediatricians to diagnose autism

Genome sequencing promises to identify rare mutations that give rise to autism

Seven scientists to receive Annual Klerman and Freedman Prizes from Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

Researchers develop new cry analyzer to look for clues about baby's health

Children born after mothers hormonal fertility treatment have increased risk of mental disorders

Children diagnosed with autism have excessive cerebrospinal fluid and enlarged brains in infancy

Children with SPD have quantifiable differences in brain structure, reveals study

Researchers identify risk factor for maternal antibody-related autism in subset of children

State highlights: Ore. nonprofit hospitals see increased revenue, but lower charity care; Calif. shift means lost autism treatment

First Edition: July 8, 2013

Scientists focus on the role of mutated adult neural stem cells play in human diseases

Research: People's frontal cortex undergoes a significant change from infancy to adolescence

New study finds inherited genetic contribution in autism with intellectual disability

State highlights: Dartmouth joins N.H. Medicaid managed care

Researchers pinpoint role of Arl13b gene in guiding placement of neurons during brain development

Study: IVF treatment linked with increased risk of mental retardation

RORA: A novel candidate gene for autism regulates large number of other genes

Lack of motor skills in children may contribute to social awkwardness

Buffalo's autism center provides faster diagnosis to children with autism spectrum disorders

How microRNA is transforming science: From discovery to diagnostics

Advancing benzodiazepine detection

The Surgeon-Scientist Pioneering Regenerative Engineering

Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

How microRNA is transforming science: From discovery to diagnostics

Advancing benzodiazepine detection

The Surgeon-Scientist Pioneering Regenerative Engineering

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