A study headed by researchers from the Danish project iPSYCH and the Broad Institute in the U.S., has found the first common genetic risk variants for autism and uncovered genetic differences in clinical subgroups of autism. The discovery means that we will in future be able to determine the genes that separate the diagnostic groups, […]
Looking behind a rare brain disease for clues to treat more common mental disorders: Researchers use genetic manipulation techniques to highlight how the function of a protein can lead to neurodevelopmental delays
Researchers have clarified, for the first time, the mechanism behind a very rare brain disorder called MICPCH (microcephaly, disproportionate pontine and cerebellar hypoplasia) syndrome in animal models. Information gleaned from this study could also inform research into other, more common neurological diseases such as mental retardation, epilepsy, and autism. MICPCH has only affected a total […]
Innovative model helps kids on autism spectrum avoid behavioral drugs in ER
An innovative care model developed by Nemours Children’s Hospital for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in the emergency department (ED) reduces the use of medication administered to kids who are prone to stress and sensory overload in this care setting. Information about this care model was presented today at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s […]
Most Meds Affecting Neurotransmitters Not Linked to Autism Risk
MONDAY, Nov. 5, 2018 — Prenatal exposure to most medications affecting neurotransmitter systems is not associated with estimates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk, according to a study published online Oct. 31 in JAMA Psychiatry. Magdalena Janecka, Ph.D., from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, and colleagues conducted a […]
Unique patterns of neural communications found in brains of children with autism
Think of the brain as a complex transportation hub, a place where neural traffic heads off in any number of directions to make connections while processing something as simple as a mother’s smile. Now consider the same center in a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). At a time different parts of the brain […]
Kids With Autism, Or Developmental Delays More Likely to Be Overweight by Age 5: Study
TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 — Children with autism or developmental delays may be at increased risk for obesity, a new study finds. The study included nearly 2,500 2- to 5-year-olds in the United States. Of those, 668 children had autism spectrum disorder (ASD); 914 had developmental delays; and a control group of 884 children had […]
Social stigma contributes to poor mental health in the autistic community
Stress related to social stigma may be the reason why autistic people experience more mental health problems than the general population, dispelling past theories that the condition itself is the origin of such distress. In the first study of its kind, published in the Journal of Society and Mental Health, researchers from the University of […]
Having an online social forum for class networking gives physics students a boost
Grasping the impulse-momentum theorem during a 100-level physics lecture is one thing, but what if it doesn’t make as much sense once you start your homework assignment? Andy Gavrin, IUPUI physics department chair and associate professor, first added an online social forum to his courses to help students stay engaged in the coursework and assist […]
Making the right connections
Researchers at VIB and KU Leuven have uncovered a new molecular interaction that governs the formation of specific functional connections between two types of neurons. It gives an important clue as to how unique interactions give shape to precisely organized neuronal networks in the brain. Pyramidal neurons are named after their cell body, which is […]
Study of protein ‘trafficker’ provides insight into autism and other brain disorders
In the brain, as in business, connections are everything. To maintain cellular associates, the outer surface of a neuron, its membrane, must express particular proteins—proverbial hands that reach out and greet nearby cells. And, like a creepily long handshake, surface molecules can overstay their welcome: A protein that lingers too long on the membrane may […]