An experimental drug prevents seizures and improves memory in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome, according to a new study1. The drug selectively blocks an enzyme that is overactive in the brains of people with fragile X and could offer a potential treatment for the condition. “It’s truly a novel t…

Autistic people tend to have trouble shifting their gaze to take in all the details of a scene, according to a new study1. Previous studies have found that these rapid shifts in gaze, called saccades, are altered in people with autism under certain viewing conditions. The new study is the first to s…

A new analysis links individual mutations in a gene called PTEN to a person’s odds of having autism, cancer or other conditions1. The findings may help clinicians and researchers predict the effects of various mutations in the gene. PTEN controls cell growth and regulates the strength of connections…

Autism can affect anyone, and yet there are stark disparities in how children of different races, ethnicities and income level are diagnosed and treated1. Latino children are often overlooked in the United States. They comprise one-fourth of all children in the country under age 18 and are expected …

Dampening overactive brain circuits alleviates social and spatial memory problems in a mouse model of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, according to a new study1. The findings hint at the possibility of novel treatments for some difficulties associated with the syndrome. Deletions of DNA in a chromosomal r…

Toddlers with autism have unusually strong connections between sensory areas of the brain, according to a new study1. And the stronger the connections, the more pronounced a child’s autism traits tend to be. Overconnectivity in sensory areas may get in the way of an autistic child’s brain developmen…

Most toddlers who screen positive for autism do not receive the recommended referrals for follow-up tests and therapies, a new study of nearly 4,500 children suggests1. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that doctors screen all children for autism starting at 18 months of age and refer ch…

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Should neuroscientific evidence influence courtoom decisions? Inform public policy? Should insurance companies have access to a client’s autism diagnosis or any other mental condition? How should adolescents who run into trouble with the law be treated? ‘Neurolaw’ is a growing field of interdiscipli…

Autistic girls may find social interaction more rewarding than autistic boys do, according to a new study focused on the brain’s reward system1. “It may be a critical variable that can influence the way girls with autism present as opposed to boys,” says lead investigator Mirella Dapretto, professor…