Journalist Sarah Kurchak begins her memoir, “I Overcame My Autism and All I Got Was This Lousy Anxiety Disorder,” with a disclaimer: “I do not speak for all autistic people. I will not try to. I do not want to.” With that out of the way, what follows is a superb ‘autiebiography’ — an autobiography w…

Women who receive epidural anesthesia during labor seem to stand an increased chance of having a child with autism, a new study has found1. But the study was not designed to prove cause and effect and does not suggest that epidurals cause autism. The prevalence of autism among the children of women …

Neurons derived from people with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, a genetic condition linked to autism, show deficits in electrical activity and calcium signaling, according to a new study1. A single gene appears to be largely responsible for these defects, the study shows. Up to 20 percent of people who …

Memory Haven,  a soon to be launched app created by three teenage girls, will help people with dementia engage in daily activities easily in the future through its six features. The app can be used by patients and caregivers. Memory Haven has face and voice  recognition abilities to help patients…

The repetitive behaviors seen in autism may originate in the striatum, a cluster of neurons involved with initiating and executing movements. Studies also hint that this ‘reward hub’ in the center of the brain underlies some of the condition’s social difficulties and is essential f…

The more autistic children tune in to and communicate with others as toddlers, the stronger their conversation skills are later in childhood, according to a new study1. The findings lend support to the social motivation theory of autism, which posits that some autistic children do not prioritize soc…

Dan Burger's interactive software allows NASA to manipulate large amounts of data until visual patterns show up. The post Man with Autism Invents Interactive Software to Help NASA Analyze Complex Data appeared first on The Autism Site News. Source: The Autism Site

By Megan Amodeo Some people have given up on the whole idea, but I am still maintaining as much social distancing as possible. I do have several chronic health conditions that put me at a higher risk if I get COVID-19, but I worry more about my family becoming ill. There is always this anxiety lu…

A new telehealth test offers researchers a way to measure a child’s development and detect signs of atypical behavior remotely1. It could help them recruit more people for their studies and adjust their methods to a socially distant world. Autism researchers generally assess children in person. This…

Adolescents with autism are more likely than their neurotypical peers to experience bullying1. They are also more likely to have suicidal thoughts and behavior2. We know that bullying contributes to suicidality in typically developing adolescents. When the news covers a young person’s tragic death b…

Neil was wearing a sunflower lanyard from the train company as a sign of his invisible disabilities, but the conductor ignored it. The post Man with Autism & Asthma Humiliated for Not Wearing Face Mask on Train, Forced to Sit Facing Wall appeared first on The Autism Site News. Source: The Autis…

The protective dog clearly made an impression on the toddler, who kept repeating “puppy, puppy” when he was reunited with his father. The post Missing Toddler Found Safe In Care Of Loving Pit Bull appeared first on The Autism Site News. Source: The Autism Site

Mice missing the autism gene CNTNAP2 sleep more at night, when they should be active, and groom themselves more than usual when exposed to light at night, according to a new study. Both disruptions disappear when the mice are given the sleep hormone melatonin1. The findings suggest alterations in th…

Cognoa, a company that makes digital therapeutics and diagnostic tools, recently submitted a new tool to FDA that could help pediatricians and parents identify children with Autism at a much younger age, enabling them to get the care and assistance they need much sooner. If and when there’s a concer…