Autism

New research identifies distinct bacterial profiles in autistic individuals, their siblings, and unrelated controls. The study found that specific gut bacteria are associated with reduced social impairment and fewer emotional problems.

Infants with consistently small or large head circumferences during their first year had three times the odds of an autism diagnosis, a new study finds. For those in the most extreme percentiles, the odds were up to ten times higher.

New research finds that while autistic traits predict discomfort with eye contact, this uneasiness does not cause slower emotion recognition. The findings suggest these are distinct cognitive issues rather than a cause-and-effect relationship.

An analysis of Medicaid data reveals that ADHD affects 26.7% of autistic adults without intellectual disability and 40.2% of those with it, rates far higher than the general population’s 2.7%.

A large-scale analysis reveals that while most autistic preschoolers gain language skills through therapy, a distinct subgroup does not. Researchers identified lower motor imitation skills as a key predictor for limited progress.

A new study suggests that a specific cocktail of dietary supplements may alleviate behavioral challenges associated with autism. The research provides evidence that mixing low doses of nutrients improves social behaviors and brain connectivity in mice.

A longitudinal study suggests the developmental window for complex language comprehension closes much earlier in autistic children. Findings indicate learning rates decline exponentially starting around age two, emphasizing the urgency of early intervention.

A new study shows UK non-autistic adults struggle to understand autistic people, but this communication gap was absent in Japanese participants. The findings suggest cultural context significantly shapes social understanding and "mentalizing" abilities.

New research suggests that the way brain networks reorganize moment-to-moment predicts autism severity. Children who spent less time in a highly connected brain state showed lower cognitive scores, highlighting a potential new biological marker.

When telling stories, autistic people and their siblings are less likely to explain why events happen or describe characters’ feelings. A new study links these narrative patterns to shared attentional mechanisms in families.

Autistic workers may possess a distinct advantage. New research shows they are less likely than non-autistic colleagues to overestimate their competence, sidestepping the cognitive bias known as the Dunning-Kruger effect.

Many organizations use “neurodiverse” to describe individuals, but research shows this often frustrates the very people they claim to support.

While most people become less generous towards strangers, autistic adults maintain high levels of prosocial behavior regardless of social distance. New research confirms this generosity is intentional, not a byproduct of repetitive responding.

A new study identifies unique gut bacteria patterns in children with autism, ADHD, and anorexia nervosa. Researchers also found altered levels of appetite-regulating hormones, suggesting a link between gut health and these complex conditions.

Children whose mothers had COVID-19 during pregnancy showed a 29% higher odds of neurodevelopmental diagnoses by age three, particularly males and those exposed in the third trimester.