Scientists have for the first time successfully delivered the gene-editing tool CRISPR into mouse brains and altered their behavior1. In the method, a nanoparticle ferries the enzyme used in CRISPR into the brains of a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. The enzyme dampens a signaling pathway related…

The first online registry dedicated to autism research is closing down on 30 June, ending a 13-year run. The project, called the Interactive Autism Network (IAN), launched in 2006 and was designed to link autistic people with scientists interested in studying the condition. Over its tenure, the netw…

The two boys attend a school in Mexico, and their teacher recorded them.Source: The Autism Site

A new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine has the power to reveal the brain’s structure and activity at unprecedented resolution. The machine produces a magnetic field of 10.5 tesla — more than three times that of a typical hospital machine and 50 percent stronger than that of the most powerful…

This boy with autism was bullied at school. So a celebrity stepped in.Source: The Autism Site

If you’ve met one person who is a runner, you’ve met one person who is a runner. By Tracey Cohen Without a doubt, running, like autism, can be full of challenge, even painful at times. But the willingness to embrace difficulty is giving oneself the opportunity to flourish, to live a fulf…

A newly formed group of leaders from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is poised to generate funding opportunities for child health research, including autism science. The so-called Trans-NIH Pediatric Research Consortium brings together leaders from the NIH’s 27 institutes and centers. L…

By Megan Amodeo Another Halloween is fast approaching and it brings me to the kind an evening I faced with trepidation as a child of the 1970’s and ‘80’s. Before cell phones, social media and selfies, we dressed up like goblins and ghosts and our parents took pictures with cameras with film that too…

Autistic Author Interview Travis Breeding Travis Breeding has written over 15 books about his experiences with autism. Writing is a special interest and hobby for Travis. He feels it is important that people on the autism spectrum use their knowledge and talent to communicate what it feels lik…

By: Nicole Gorden, M.S., BCBA, LBA During the summer break, parents and providers of children with autism may seek guidance on effective strategies to keep them engaged and occupied during this time. Fortunately, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) research provides valuable insights and evidence-bas…

A new test claims to assess a child’s risk of autism based on abnormal folds in the placenta, and is being offered to pediatricians in the U.S. But with little evidence to support its use, experts say the test is premature and unethical. Yale University researcher Harvey Kliman introduced the Placen…

If you ever get a chance to hang with Finley, you may notice that she sometimes “looks” at you peripherally. Particularly when the situation is intense. Doctors have asked us to work with Finley to “let us see her eyes” to help facilitate communication. And this has always bo…

The child was trapped in a parking lot in the school transportation van for four hours.Source: The Autism Site

Two imaging techniques together reveal architectural features of the brains of preterm infants of various ages1. The results hint at a pattern that could serve as a benchmark for typical brain development; deviations could raise a red flag for conditions such as autism. The fetal brain undergoes rap…