Early exposure to pollutants may alter brain’s development
A new study suggests that exposure to air pollutants before birth and during childhood may lead to alterations in white matter microstructure in the brain. Abnormal white matter
Widespread changes detected in the cerebral cortex in autism
New research indicates that in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), changes at the molecular level are present throughout the cerebral cortex rather than solely in cortical regions associated with
Study offers clues about eye contact avoidance in ASD
Adults with autism exhibit less activity in a specific brain region during eye contact than neurotypical adults do, according to a new study. Joy Hirsch and colleagues used a
COVID-19 epidemic’s effects on infant development studied
A new meta-analysis indicates that infants born or raised during the COVID-19 pandemic do not exhibit impaired neurodevelopment overall. However, the study suggests that infants who experienced their
Treating autism with contingent electric shock: Are all possible options really considered?
The use of punishment to treat severe behavioral challenges in autistic children was first introduced nearly 60 years ago. Although most people in the autism community strongly disagree
Many children with autism do not receive early intervention
While early diagnosis and treatment of autism are associated with better outcomes, a new study indicates that many children even those in communities with many autism resources—are
Two studies indicate that autoantibodies in maternal blood may provide diagnostic clues in autism
Certain patterns of proteins in the blood of pregnant women may help to predict one type of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children, according to two
Anxiety in children with autism linked to insistence on sameness
A new study suggests that children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who have a very strong preference for sameness in their daily routines may be more
Study indicates that early diagnosis can significantly benefit children with autism
Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) very early in childhood are likely to do significantly better than those diagnosed later, according to a new study from
A historical perspective on autism advocacy and research
Autism advocacy and research have a rich history, and they are beginning to attract much interest beyond the autism community. In this article, I will share some