The lab of Jason Stein, PhD, associate professor of genetics and member of the UNC Neuroscience Center, has created a controlled model system that could help researchers know more about the genetic variants that increase one’s risk for developing a psychiatric disorder.
Tag: Autism Spectrum Disorder
FSU faculty available for context on latest research into autism spectrum disorder
By: Bill Wellock | Published: April 17, 2024 | 8:30 am | SHARE: April is Autism Acceptance Month, an opportunity to raise public awareness and support for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Florida State University experts work to promote interdisciplinary research that advances our understanding of autism and bridges the gap between scientific knowledge and clinical/educational practice.
Bar-Ilan University study reveals microbiome changes linked to Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by decreased social communication and repetitive behaviors, has long intrigued scientists seeking to unravel its underlying mechanisms.
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine launches Institute for Glial Sciences
Case Western Reserve University has established an Institute for Glial Sciences to advance research of glial cells and their critical role in the health and diseases of the nervous systems, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, pediatric leukodystrophies, Autism spectrum disorders, Parkinson’s disease and cancer.
A Quarter of Teens with Autism Go Undiagnosed, Rutgers Researchers Find
Analysis of records from four New Jersey counties provides crucial data on the condition in 16-year-olds.
Protein p53 regulates learning, memory, sociability in mice
Researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology have established the protein p53 as critical for regulating sociability, repetitive behavior, and hippocampus-related learning and memory in mice, illuminating the relationship between the protein-coding gene TP53 and neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.
IU-developed statewide initiative shows primary care clinicians can diagnose autism in young children with high accuracy
A new study led by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers shows primary care clinicians who receive specialized training can make accurate autism diagnoses for over 80 percent of young children referred with developmental delays, providing compelling evidence that community-based models of autism evaluation are a potential solution for improving access to this needed service.
Jumpstarting to Independence: A creative solution to improve equity in Applied Behavior Analysis therapy for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) benefit from a type of therapy called Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). ABA can help patients with common challenges of ASD, such as noise sensitivity, communication, attention and daily activities. ABA therapy is generally delivered in a one-on-one setting — typically in the family home, an ABA therapy center or school – to support children with ASD and help work through challenges.
Study finds a gut-brain link tied to social development
University of Oregon neuroscientists discovered a pathway linking microbes in the gut to those in the brain, which could lead to new treatments for neurodevelopmental conditions.
Brain-Like Organoids Grown in a Dish Provide Window into Autism
Whatever you do, don’t call them “mini-brains,” say University of Utah Health scientists. Regardless, the seed-sized organoids—which are grown in the lab from human cells—contained an array of neural and other cell types found in the cerebral cortex, the outermost layer of the brain involved in language, emotion, reasoning, and other high-level mental processes. They are providing insights into the brain and uncovering differences that may contribute to autism in some people.
Rare Human Gene Variant in ADHD, Autism Exposes Fundamental Sex Differences
Key differences in male and female mice brains provide new insights into how sex determines the mechanisms by which distinct synapses monitor and regulate dopamine signaling. The impact of sex differences is particularly pronounced when the mice express a human genetic variant found in boys with either ADHD or autism. Behavioral generalizations across the sexes may limit diagnosis of mental illness, especially if one sex translates alterations into outward signs such as hyperactivity and aggression vs. more internal manifestations such as learning, memory and mood, even when the same molecular pathology is at work.
Only Half of Children With Autism Receive Early Intervention Services
Despite a federal mandate requiring access to early intervention programs (EIP) for children with disabilities, fewer than half of autistic children in four New Jersey counties received services before 36 months of age, according to a Rutgers study.
Canisius Study Examines Short-term Effects of Covid-19 Stay-at-Home Restrictions on Youth with ASD
Researchers from the Institute for Autism Research (IAR) at Canisius College assessed the potential short-term effects of COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions on ratings of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and comorbid symptoms severity and adaptive functioning of 69 youth, ages 8–16 years with ASD (without intellectual disability).
UNDERSTANDING MOTOR PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Anjana Bhat, associate professor in the University of Delaware’s Department of Physical Therapy, has been awarded a research project (R01) grant through the National Institutes of Health for the next three years.
UNC TEACCH Researchers Awarded $9 Million for Study of Suicide Prevention Tailored for Youth on the Autism Spectrum
Brenna Maddox, PhD, assistant professor in the UNC Department of Psychiatry and an implementation scientist for the UNC TEACCH Autism Program, is co-leading a national study funded by a $9-million award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) that will compare the effectiveness of two suicide prevention interventions for autistic individuals.
Study Shows Visual Evoked Potential Is a Promising Tool for Translational Research Into Phelan-McDermid Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Researchers at the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai have identified specific transient visual evoked potential waveform abnormalities in individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS), proving the method to be an effective, noninvasive technique to gather objective data from a range of individuals, including those who are profoundly affected.
Brain Organoid Study Highlights Potential Role of Genetic and Environmental Interaction in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have shown in a brain organoid study that exposure to a common pesticide synergizes with a frequent autism-linked gene mutation.
Rutgers Job Training Program for Autistic Adults Gets Boost from Local NJ Logistics Company
With the pandemic shutting down on-campus jobs, Bettaway Supply Chain Services steps in to collaborate with Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCAAS), providing local jobs, career pathing and support for adults on the autism spectrum
FSU experts available to share research insights for Autism Acceptance Month
By: Bill Wellock | Published: March 31, 2021 | 1:55 pm | SHARE: The Autism Society of America celebrates April as Autism Acceptance Month as part of the organization’s efforts to build a better awareness of the signs, symptoms and realities of autism.Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication.
Funded through NSF grant, NAU researcher strives to increase participation of neurodiverse students in STEM fields
Psychological sciences professor Ronda Jenson is leading a team of researchers in supporting the success of neurodivergent students in higher education, with the goal of increasing the pipeline into STEM careers.
CHOP Researchers Demonstrate How Defects in Mitochondria May Lead to Autism Spectrum Disorder
Researchers have demonstrated that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be caused by defects in the mitochondria of brain cells.
Scientists Identify New Gene Involved In Autism Spectrum Disorder
DALLAS – Dec. 22, 2020 – UT Southwestern scientists have adapted a classic research technique called forward genetics to identify new genes involved in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In a study published this week in eLife, the researchers used this approach in mice to find one such gene called KDM5A.
Cord blood DNA can hold clues for early ASD diagnosis and intervention
Specific regions in cord blood DNA can help identify kids who might develop autism, a study led by UC Davis MIND Institute researchers. The findings may hold clues for early diagnosis and intervention.
For toddlers with autism, more intervention hours are not necessarily better
Two prominent early intervention models for toddlers with autism show a very similar impact, whether delivered at 15-hours or 25-hours per week intensities, a study led by UC Davis MIND Institute researchers has found.
Researchers tap AI to help individuals with autism in the workplace
The Yang-Tan Institute of Employment and Disability at Cornell University has joined a multi-institution team that has received a $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to help create better job outcomes for people with autism spectrum disorder.
Guilt by Dissociation: Study Sheds Light on Serotonin in Autism
A study on serotonin, a mood-regulating molecule in the brain that regulates many brain synapses, is helping to unravel the puzzle surrounding its role in autism. The activity and regulation of the serotonin transporter (SERT), protein is critically dependent on a number of other proteins that tell the protein where to locate on nerve cells and how to act. Shifts in the transporter’s activity can significantly impact the ability of serotonin to act in the brain.
Pregnant mother’s immunity tied to behavioral, emotional challenges for kids with autism
Children with autism born to mothers who had immune conditions during their pregnancy are more likely to have behavioral and emotional problems, a UC Davis Health study has found. Offspring sex may also interact with maternal immune conditions to influence outcomes, particularly in terms of a child’s cognition.
Researcher develops method for mapping brain cell change, development in mice
Penn State researchers have developed a new method for studying key moments in brain development.
Seaver Autism Center For Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai Launches First Drug Trial for ADNP Syndrome
Researchers at the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai have started recruiting participants for a new clinical trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of a low dose of ketamine in children diagnosed with ADNP syndrome (also known as Helsmoortel-VanDerAa syndrome), a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the activity dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) gene.
Scientists uncover new genetic mutations linked to autism spectrum disorder
Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands have identified mutations in a gene called CNOT1 that affect brain development and impair memory and learning. The research, published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, also revealed that CNOT1 interacts with several known autism spectrum disorder (ASD) genes, opening new research avenues for the condition.
Genetic rescue of SHANK3 is potential therapy in rare forms of autism spectrum disorder
A mouse study by Craig Powell, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues suggests that early genetic rescue may be a potential therapy in autism spectrum disorder, or ASD. Powell looked at one gene called SHANK3, whose alteration is seen in about 0.5 percent of ASD patients.
Depression symptoms linked to reduced cognitive control in people with autism
Adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and those with typical development show similar proactive cognitive control. However, symptoms of depression in individuals with autism were linked to less proactive control, a UC Davis study found.
U.S. Autism Rates Up 10 Percent in New CDC Report
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health contributed to a new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that finds the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among 11 surveillance sites as 1 in 54 among children aged 8 years in 2016 (or 1.85 percent).
Reduced Response to Odors May Be Common in People with Autism
Article title: Decreased amplitude and reliability of odor-evoked responses in two mouse models of autism Authors: Matthew A. Geramita, Jing A. Wen, Matthew D. Rannals, and Nathaniel N. Urban From the authors: “Here we show that two mouse models of autism,…
Largest Autism Sequencing Study to Date Identifies 102 Genes Associated With the Condition
In the largest genetic sequencing study of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to date, researchers have identified 102 genes associated with risk for autism. The study also shows significant progress towards teasing apart the genes associated with ASD from those associated with intellectual disability and developmental delay, conditions which often overlap.
One-Fourth of Children with Autism Are Undiagnosed
One-fourth of children under age 8 with autism spectrum disorder — most of them black or Hispanic — are not being diagnosed, which is critical for improving quality of life.
Measuring Mutations in Sperm May Reveal Risk for Autism in Future Children
Spontaneous mutations in male sperm are linked to development of autism spectrum disorder. Researchers have created a way to measure mutations and estimate risk of ASD in future children. If developed into a clinical test, the method could be a useful predictive tool in genetic counseling.
In Some Children with Autism, “Social” and “Visual” Neural Circuits Don’t Quite Connect
Researchers combined eye gaze research with brain scans to discover that in a common subtype of autism, in which ASD toddlers prefer images of geometric shapes over those of children playing, brain areas responsible for vision and attention are not controlled by social brain networks, and so social stimuli are ignored.
Zimmerli Art Museum Offers New Tools for Visitors with Sensory-Related Disorders
The Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University-New Brunswick is the first art museum in New Jersey to offer specialized tools to help visitors in the autism spectrum enjoy their visit without stressful sensory overload.