Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

New study warns of long-term risks from fecal microbiota transplants

Fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) have been touted as a potential treatment for a variety of conditions, from inflammatory bowel diseases, obesity, and type 2 diabetes to autism.

6 Jun 2025

ADHD linked to higher risk of irritable bowel syndrome, global study reveals

A global meta-analysis found that people with ADHD are significantly more likely to have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), while the overall risk for other intestinal disorders is not increased. The findings highlight the importance of gut-brain interactions in ADHD and call for further research on microbiome-based therapies.

3 Jun 2025

Pitt researchers challenge a decades-old assumption about brain plasticity

A new study from Pitt researchers challenges a decades-old assumption in neuroscience by showing that the brain uses distinct transmission sites - not a shared site - to achieve different types of plasticity.

3 Jun 2025

Board game helps autistic people share their stories

A board game through which players use images on cards to develop and tell their own stories could be particularly appreciated among people with autism as it offers a means to explain their thoughts and feelings, a new study has shown.

2 Jun 2025

Cross-cultural analysis reveals differences in socio-cognitive abilities of autistic and non-autistic adults

Emerging theories suggest that communication challenges arise from differing perspectives between autistic and non-autistic partners rather than individual socio-cognitive deficits.

30 May 2025

American doctors are moving to Canada to escape the Trump administration

Earlier this year, as President Donald Trump was beginning to reshape the American government, Michael, an emergency room doctor who was born, raised, and trained in the United States, packed up his family and got out.

30 May 2025

Interactive robots should act more like therapy horses in emotional healing

Interactive robots should not just be passive companions, but active partners–like therapy horses who respond to human emotion–say University of Bristol researchers.

29 May 2025

No early sex differences found in autism traits among toddlers

Males are more than four times more likely to receive an autism diagnosis than females. But a new study by researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine has found no clinical differences in autistic traits between the sexes in toddlers when they are first diagnosed with autism.

26 May 2025

Study assures safety of triptan use during pregnancy for migraine sufferers

There's good news for people with migraine who take common drugs before or during pregnancy-a new study found no increase in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD in their children.

22 May 2025

Discovery of novel gene candidate sheds light on autism mechanisms

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition affecting the brain's development and often affects the ability of a person to perceive sensory information and social cues and socialize with others.

21 May 2025

Researchers discover key mechanism behind synapse maturation

Researchers from the lab led by Prof. Joris De Wit (VIB-KU Leuven) have discovered an important clue to how connections between brain cells, known as synapses, mature.

21 May 2025

Microplastics in ultra-processed foods may fuel mental health risks, experts warn

New research highlights a possible link between microplastics in ultra-processed foods and rising rates of depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. Experts call for urgent investigation as microplastic accumulation in the human brain increases alongside ultra-processed food intake.

21 May 2025

Most Americans back MMR vaccine as measles surges and misconceptions rise

A national survey shows that most Americans still support MMR vaccination for children, but public understanding of measles complications and vaccine facts is declining. Despite a sharp rise in measles cases, misconceptions about vaccine risks and autism persist.

20 May 2025

Genetic variations in Prader-Willi syndrome offer key insights into autism and psychosis

In a comprehensive Genomic Press Invited Expert Review, researchers from the University of Haifa have synthesized cutting-edge findings on Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), revealing how this complex neurodevelopmental disorder serves as a critical model for understanding the interplay between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and psychotic spectrum disorders (PSD).

20 May 2025

Measles cases surge in the United States amid falling vaccination rates

The United States is in the midst of the second-highest year of measles cases since 2000, when the disease was declared eliminated in this country, meaning that cases within the United States originated outside the country.

16 May 2025

Early vitamin D deficiency increases risk of ADHD, schizophrenia and autism

Newborn babies with a vitamin D deficiency have a higher chance of later developing mental disorders such as ADHD, schizophrenia and autism, a major study involving The University of Queensland has found.

14 May 2025

Research shows no difference in communication between autistic and non-autistic individuals

There is no significant difference in the effectiveness of how autistic and non-autistic people communicate, according to a new study, challenging the stereotype that autistic people struggle to connect with others.

14 May 2025

New insights into how the brain creates a unified visual experience

People have a lot of misconceptions about what the brain's left and right hemispheres do, but one well-known aspect of this division may be even more true than people realize: The brain not only splits up visual spatial perception-processing what's on our left in the right hemisphere and what's on our right in the left hemisphere-it takes cognitive advantage of that.

13 May 2025

Exploring how play affects cognitive functioning in children with autism

Step into physical therapy professor Anjana Bhat's colorful Move 2 Learn Innovation Lab on the University of Delaware's Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus, and you may see children moving to the beat or leaping over structures as part of an obstacle course.

12 May 2025

Why your baby’s first steps may be written in their DNA

Researchers identified 11 genetic loci linked to the age at which infants start walking, revealing that this milestone is influenced by thousands of common genetic variants. These genetic factors also correlate with brain development, cognitive traits, and neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD.

8 May 2025