By Dana Reinecke, PhD, BCBA-D Resistance to change and preference for sameness are core features of autism.  It can be natural to avoid new things, especially if change is overwhelming. While this may be more comfortable for the individual in the short term, there are long-term consequences, incl…

Five autism-linked genes widely known as chromatin regulators appear to also shape the cell’s internal skeleton. The post Autism-linked chromatin regulators may moonlight as microtubule influencers appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News

Exposing neurons to valproic acid, a well-known environmental risk factor for autism, disrupts their ability to generate different proteins from the same gene. The post Chromatin remodeling tied to altered splicing in autism model appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum N…

By Nils Skudra This poem is dedicated to Obie Nash, a very close friend of mine in California who served in World War II and brought home a German war bride. I have since lost contact with him but deeply cherish the time spent with him, listening to his war stories and his insights. I feel honored t…

High school interns don’t just gain new skills — they also form a pipeline of future scientists. The post <em>Spectrum</em> Launch: What the earliest early-career researchers contribute to the autism field appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum Ne…

Connections between 13 autism-linked proteins and their binding partners in excitatory neurons implicate a new molecular pathway. The post Fishing for protein partners nets clues to autism appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News

Discussion among autism researchers on Twitter this week swirled around how well pediatricians assess the condition, how it affects cognitive aging and how it alters cardiometabolic disease risk. The post Community Newsletter: Autism assessment; cognitive aging; metabolic diseases appeared first on …

Glen Lake Elementary School in Hopkins, MN has several students with physical disabilities that are unable to use playground equipment during recess. Troubled by the lack of adaptive playground equipment for their disabled classmates, the 5th grade class too matter in their own hands and through var…

The Art of Autism asked artist Ronaldo Byrd to share some portraits of people he admires for Black History Month. Ronaldo Byrd “Ida B. Wells” Ida B. Wells was a civil rights activist, journalist and educator. I admire her because she was one of the founders of the National Association fo…

The findings put genetic background forward to help explain autism’s heterogeneity. The post CHD8 mutation in 33 mouse strains yields range of traits appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News

Here is a roundup of news and research for the week of 30 January. The post Spotted around the web: Brain morphology; mild 22q11.2 effects; eugenics apology appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News

Elsevier’s retractions focus on peer review and conflicts of interest. The post Prolific autism researcher has two dozen papers retracted appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News

This week, Different Roads is proud to share some tips from Nancy Hammill and Understood on the dos and don’ts of fidgets, both in the classroom and at home! Fidgets, like squeeze balls and key chains, are self-regulation tools that promote movement and tactile input. They can be great for kids w…

The gene, linked to a little-known condition called Weiss-Kruszka syndrome, prevents embryonic stem cells from deviating from their neuronal destiny. The post Autism-tied gene ZNF462 keeps developing neurons on track appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News