autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social deficits and repetitive behaviors, often accompanied by gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Emerging evidence highlights the gut-brain axis as a key pathway linking GI dysfunction to ASD pathophysiology. This review synthesizes current findings on the interplay a…

Biological sex is increasingly recognized as a fundamental dimension of brain organization, yet how it influences early neurodevelopment, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD), remains understudied. Using data from the International Infant EEG Data Integration Platform (EEG-IP), a multi-site longitudinal cohort of 179 infants (91 males, 88 females) at elevated (ELA) and typical (TLA) likeli…

BackgroundSevere challenging behaviors in autistic adults are difficult to manage in generic psychiatric settings and impose a heavy burden on individuals, families, and services. The Piedmont Region (Italy) established a specialized third-level inpatient unit for these presentations, embedded within an integrated, three-tier regional network. This study reports preliminary effectiveness data fro…

BackgroundPsychosocial interventions for autistic adults remain limited. This study evaluated the implementation feasibility and potential clinical effectiveness of a manualized group psychotherapy program delivered under routine care conditions.MethodsData from 115 autistic adults who completed the program in routine outpatient care were analyzed. Outcomes included pre- to post-intervention chan…

In a cohort of nearly 3,000 boys followed from birth into childhood, young boys who were circumcised just after birth did not have a higher risk of autism, according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

BackgroundWhile atypical brain development in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been extensively characterized during childhood and adolescence, it remains unclear how these neurodevelopmental deviations persist into adulthood and affect brain aging. Existing studies relying on single morphometric measures have yielded inconsistent findings, underscoring the need for integrative, multiscale neur…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition frequently accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms, pointing to a potential role of the gut microbiota–brain axis. To explore this connection, the present review synthesizes findings from studies published between 2016 and 2026, including observational studies, meta-analyses, animal experiments, and clinical trials, with the…

A new mouse study led by UCLA Health suggests that inflammation during pregnancy can trigger autism-like changes in offspring, but also that those brain and behavior effects may be rapidly but temporarily reversible in adulthood with a short-term dose of the immunosuppressive drug rapamycin.

IntroductionAutism spectrum disorder is common in children with increasing prevalence, leading to efforts towards early identification and treatment initiation in young children. We aimed to identify the developmental trajectory of young children with an autism diagnosis and clinical factors associated with better developmental outcomes in a real-world setting.MethodsIn this study, 38 children (m…

Dr. Jimmy Holder, associate professor in pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and Principal investigator at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, and his team have received a grant for up to $17.25 million from Aligning Research to Impact Autism (ARIA) to become a part of the Innovative Medicine and Precision Approaches to Clinical Trials (IMPACT…

Brain scans have uncovered two biologically distinct forms of autism hidden within the spectrum. An international team of researchers has identified at least two biologically distinct forms of autism by examining how different regions of the brain communicate with one another. The findings could help advance more precise and personalized approaches to autism care and [...]

BackgroundThis study examined the 52-week safety and efficacy of AST-001 syrup for the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children aged 2–11 years.MethodsThis multicenter long-term follow-up study enrolled children with ASD who were identified as responders in an antecedent phase II randomized controlled trial. A total of 61 participants were given the same dose (high or low) they…

As April marks Autism Awareness Month, faculty in the Department of Media and Information (M&I) are working to improve how mental health is assessed among autistic adolescents by redesigning screening tools to be more accessible, precise and inclusive. Led by Celeste Campos-Castillo and Susan Bonner, associate professors in M&I, their project combines expertise in communication, health services a…

Children with epilepsy have a higher risk of also having autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A new study in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology examined factors associated with the co-occurrence of autism and epilepsy in a large population-based group.

Background and AimsAnxiety and depression symptoms are common among autistic youth, yet little is known about the pattern and relationship of their trajectories from childhood into adolescence, a period of increasing social and academic demands.MethodsThis study used parallel process latent growth curve models to examine joint trajectories, including initial levels and rate of change in caregiver…

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted essential services, posing unique challenges for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who depend on consistent, specialized support. Service providers faced unique challenges in adapting to remote delivery methods, highlighting the fragility of existing systems during crises. This study explored the experiences of ASD service providers in Qatar du…

BackgroundAutistic children experience disproportionately high rates of malnutrition compared to non-autistic (NA) peers. Sensorimotor integration differences (SMD), prevalent in 69–95% of autistic individuals, are hypothesized to drive this disparity. SMD contributes to core autistic traits that exacerbate feeding difficulties (e.g., food selectivity), potentially leading to malnutrition and gut…

Penn Medicine and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) today announced the appointment of Eric M. Morrow, MD, PhD, as the founding director of the Lurie Autism Institute.