Women whose children are severely autistic have lower serotonin levels than do those whose children have mild or moderate autism traits, a new study suggests1. Serotonin is a signaling molecule in the nervous system. Nearly one in three people with autism has elevated levels of serotonin in his bloo…

By Austin John Jones I want to talk about something very personal to me: relationships. I have had fairly minimal experience with being in relationships. I have had 4 online dating relationships (which didn’t work out), and I would say 2 “serious” real life relationships. One of them is the current …

Genetic factors — not environmental or maternal factors — are the primary cause of autism.Source: The Autism Site

The post Webinar: Raphael Bernier examines CHD8 mutations in autism appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News

Hello, and welcome to this week’s Community Newsletter! I’m your host, Chelsey B. Coombs, Spectrum’s engagement editor. First up this week, we’re focusing on two papers in Stem Cells Translational Medicine that have garnered some attention online. The first, “Ethical issues concerning a pay-to-parti…

Undisclosed financial conflicts of interest and a lack of proper clearance mar a new study that injected four autistic children with stem cells from their own bone marrow, bioethicists say. The study, which was published in October in Frontiers in Pediatrics, did not undergo ethical review and appro…

This year’s Vancouver Pride Parade on Sunday, August 6 will take a new route, nearly twice as long as the previous one, and is designed to be more accessible. The parade will start at Davie and Denman streets, go down Beach Street, and then continue to Pacific Boulevard before ending at Concor…

Here's what to look for.Source: The Autism Site

An analysis of spontaneous mutations in nearly 11,000 individuals with developmental delay or autism implicates 253 genes in one or both conditions; 49 of the genes are new candidates1. The study pools data from individuals with either diagnosis — an approach that increases the numbers, and strength…

A new rule to restrict legal immigration in the United States, published by the Trump administration this month, is sowing confusion and anxiety even among immigrants not directly affected by it, as fear spreads faster than facts, immigration and health policy experts say. The rule would allow the f…

Flu season is upon us, and parents everywhere are looking for ways to keep their kids as healthy as possible this year. Luckily these 7 tips will help.Source: The Autism Site

Nerve fiber tracts in the brains of autistic girls are more fragmented than those of typical girls. By contrast, autistic boys’ brain structure is indistinguishable from that of typical boys, a new study suggests1. The findings come from one of the largest studies to examine sex differences in brain…

Thanks to companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, space travel is becoming more of a reality for regular citizens of our beautiful planet. As companies and space agencies start providing these rides in the future, it is imperative that we make considerations for and provide the right accommodations t…

Autistic people may find eye contact uncomfortable. They may rock back and forth or flap their hands, particularly when they feel anxious. And they sometimes have trouble answering questions — all traits that can confuse and alarm law-enforcement officers, firefighters and ambulance crews who aren’t…