Mutations in a set of 35 genes linked to autism affect both neurons and glial cells in developing mice, according to a study published today. The study is the first to screen multiple autism-gene mutations, one by one, in living mice and analyze their effects in individual brain cells. About 100 gen…

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…

The post Owen’s odyssey: A year and a half after an autism diagnosis appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News

It’s that time of year again when autism parents all over the world start to panic. What on earth am I going to buy my kids for Christmas this year? Often our children are unable… The post 22 Christmas Present Ideas For Autistic Children appeared first on Stories About Autism. Source: …

Spectrum is covering the 2020 International SYNGAP1 Scientific Conference, which took place virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. Here we’re highlighting researchers’ reactions to noteworthy presentations. Drug test: A new assay allows researchers to test thousands of candidate drugs for th…

Last year, we completed a project to determine whether psychoeducational therapies for young autistic children are effective. Initially, we were excited: We had been able to track down 150 studies completed over the past five decades comparing treatment and control groups. Locating such a large numb…

When Chris Nikic was only five months old, he underwent open-heart surgery. The operation left him so weak... The post Chris Nikic Becomes First Person With Down Syndrome to Complete Ironman Triathlon appeared first on The Autism Site News. Source: The Autism Site

By Megan Amodeo I need absolutes and hard facts. I need a specific date and time. I realize that everyone wants to know when this pandemic virus will run its course. The thing is, I need to know now. I am autistic. I know that is not breaking news. “I know that, to most people, autism does not…

Mice with mutations in the autism-linked gene SYNGAP1 have trouble sensing touch, which may stem in part from brain-circuit alterations and dulled alertness. The findings could help explain the high pain threshold and other sensory-processing problems seen in people with mutations in the gene. Resea…

The story of an all-deaf football team delivers a compelling portrayal of how deaf individuals view their identity. Watch the film here. By Nils Skudra This afternoon I took the opportunity to watch a truly amazing short documentary entitled All American-Family, directed by Andrew Jenks. This film…

Young people without ASD are the best at perceiving others' thoughts and emotions, but this skill declines over time for neurotypical people. The post The Ability to Understand What Others Are Thinking Diminishes with Age, But Not for Autistic People appeared first on The Autism Site News. Source: T…

He knows so much about cars that he can identify any make and model based on a photo. The post 12-Year-Old Boy With Autism Can Name Any Car Ever Made appeared first on The Autism Site News. Source: The Autism Site

Mutations in a top autism gene called SYNGAP1 slow the rate at which zebrafish digest food and pass waste. The findings may explain why some people with SYNGAP1 mutations have gastrointestinal (GI) problems. Researchers presented the unpublished work on Tuesday and Wednesday at the 2020 Internationa…

Autism with intellectual disability is less heritable than autism alone, according to a new study of how the conditions run in extended families. About a third of autistic people have intellectual disability (ID) — an intelligence quotient (IQ) of 70 or less. Autistic people with lower IQs are more …