autism spectrum disorders

New research investigates inherited causes of autism
02/04/2013 - 10:41

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are among the most heritable of all neuropsychiatric conditions. Yet, most genetic links to ASD found in recent years have involved de novo mutations, which are not passed from parent to child, but instead arise spontaneously. While these mutations help explain how ASD develops in a fraction of cases, they don’t help us understand why autism so often runs in families.

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Little evidence supports medical treatment options for adolescents with autism
09/24/2012 - 12:07

Vanderbilt University researchers are reporting today that there is insufficient evidence to support the use of medical interventions in adolescents and young adults with autism. Despite studies that show that many adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorders are being prescribed medications, there is almost no evidence to show whether these medications are helpful in this population, the researchers said.

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Study reveals how common gene mutation affects kids with autism spectrum disorders
09/14/2012 - 10:03

Over the past decade, researchers have made great strides in identifying genes that lead to an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which result in a continuum of social deficits, communication difficulties and cognitive delays. But it's still critical to determine how exactly these genetic risk factors impact the brain's structure and function so that better treatments and interventions can be developed.

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Oxytocin improves brain function in children with autism
05/19/2012 - 21:48

Preliminary results from an ongoing, large-scale study by Yale School of Medicine researchers shows that oxytocin — a naturally occurring substance produced in the brain and throughout the body— increased brain function in regions that are known to process social information in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

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Scientists Find Unexpected New Autism Gene
04/09/2012 - 21:50

Scientists from the Keck School of Medicine of USC have discovered the first gene associated with autism that has genome-wide significance. The discovery, detailed in the April 4 edition of the journal Science Translational Medicine, may allow researchers to more effectively study the causes of autism and develop new treatments for the disorder.

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Spontaneous gene glitches linked to autism risk with older dads
04/04/2012 - 15:10

Researchers have turned up a new clue to the workings of a possible environmental factor in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs): fathers were four times more likely than mothers to transmit tiny, spontaneous mutations to their children with the disorders. Moreover, the number of such transmitted genetic glitches increased with paternal age. The discovery may help to explain earlier evidence linking autism risk to older fathers.

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