The investigational drug arbaclofen improves auditory hypersensitivity in rats missing the autism-linked gene CNTNAP2, according to a new unpublished study. The compound appears to right an imbalance between inhibitory and excitatory signaling in the rats’ brains, which is thought to play a role in …

Girls and women with mutations in the autism-linked gene DDX3X may be particularly vulnerable to anxiety and self-harm. Researchers presented the unpublished findings virtually today at the 2021 International Society for Autism Research annual meeting. (Links to abstracts may work only for registere…

For years, autism research has been mostly male-centric. This resulted in boys and men receiving autism diagnoses much... The post 19-Year-Old Woman with Autism Creates Viral TikTok Videos to Spread Awareness About ASD appeared first on The Autism Site News. Source: The Autism Site

Hello, and welcome to the Community Newsletter! I’m your host, Chelsey B. Coombs, Spectrum’s engagement editor. Before we get into the meat of this week’s newsletter, we want to let you know that we will be covering the International Society for Autism Research conference virtually next week and wan…

By Tyler Cordeiro A poem about having to leave college because of my improperly accommodated disabilities. Wanderlust of the Solo-cup Beer Droplet Just like you expected, you Leave pirate themed college party Early First day Bathroom stall. Knees to chin. Voice echo soundwave Of friendly frat boys …

This is an exciting week for all of us. Why you ask? Microsoft Ability Summit 2021 is this week, that’s why! The two day virtual event will bring all sorts of diverse people together and enable them to “Imagine, Build, Include, and Empower” and create an inclusive future for everyone. Abili…

Mice missing DYRK1A, a top autism candidate gene, in the cerebral cortex have unusually small brains, a new study shows. But using a genetic approach or an existing drug to restore cell growth pathways in the mice rescues their brain size. Many people with a mutated copy of DYRK1A have autism and in…

The post Spotted around the web: FOXP1 syndrome, personal space, autism gene therapies appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News

A brain circuit that connects the amygdala to the hypothalamus is essential for deriving pleasure from social interactions, according to a new study in mice. Alterations in this circuit may help explain why autistic people tend to have less social motivation than their non-autistic peers. The releas…

A drug that prevents an enzyme from breaking down a key molecule involved in learning and memory improved cognition and behavior in a small phase 2 study of men with fragile X syndrome. The findings were published today in Nature Medicine. Showing the cognitive boost in adults “is very, very excitin…

Welcome to the first edition of the By the Numbers Newsletter! At Spectrum, we do our best to summarize the latest autism research findings — and sometimes the best summary comes in the form of a chart or map. In this newsletter, we boil down interesting new research that is conveyed most succinctly…

Autistic Author Interview N.E. McMorran N.E. McMorran is a debut children’s climate-fiction (cli-fi) author, visual artist, educator, and researcher turned writer and publisher. We caught up with her to talk about her book, Moojag and the Auticode Secret and her open invitation to help other n…

A technique that expands tissue before spotting and sequencing RNA — the molecular messenger for DNA — enables researchers to see where particular genes are expressed. The method could shed light on the mechanisms by which single neurons form multiple different connections in the brain. To gauge gen…

Mice and rats typically give birth to 6 to 12 animals per litter. Some scientists treat this as a benefit, because a large number of animals can be produced with a small number of matings. In reality, though, this is of no benefit at all, especially when you consider a fact that is well known in the…