Visual cues: Sensory neurons in the retina display altered structure and function in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome, according to a new study. Retinal ganglion cells—homologous to primate ganglion cells—received more inhibitory input and were less responsive to light in mice lacking the gene FMR1 compared with the same cells in wildtype mice. […]
Low genetic diversity across a person’s genome predisposes those with PTEN variants to neurodevelopmental conditions, a new study suggests. The findings may explain why people carrying the same PTEN variant often experience different clinical outcomes. Among people with neurodevelopmental conditions and PTEN variants, increased homozygosity—which occurs when a person carries the same variant in both […]
Content Note: Mention of death and of a deceased person Can we talk about the term “low support needs”? It looks like you all just took the term “high functioning,” switched “high” with “low,” and added two different words at the end. The problem is ableds read these terms the same way. I know you […]
You want to feel close. You want to be present during sex. But instead, your brain won’t stop buzzing. You’re thinking about your to-do list, or that weird sound the fan is making, or how your bra strap suddenly feels like a vice grip. Your brain might obsessively loop on whether you’re “doing it right” […]
Sex specifics: Social and externalizing traits may be linked in distinct ways to people with XXY (or Kleinfelter) syndrome as opposed to those with XYY syndrome, according to a new study. For example, people with XYY syndrome tend to have attention, impulsivity and social problems, whereas those with XXY syndrome tend to have social problems […]
The International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) is pausing its annual INSAR Institute for the year, it announced last week. The institute, a series of webinars about autism research that are designed to be accessible to students, early-career investigators and non-experts, has been held in June and July since its start in 2015. The popular […]
What is ABA therapy, or Applied Behavioral Analysis? Why is it an inappropriate therapy for autistic kids? How did Ivar Lovaas convinced parents that ABA was better for their autistic kids than other options? How did ABA edge out other autism approaches? We recently sat down with Anne Borden King to discuss her new book […]
This collection of Spectrum articles from the past 12 months highlights expert perspectives on autism’s heritability and its link to biological sex, the value of transdiagnostic frameworks, and the field’s future, among other topics.
Content note: This article discusses sexual violence and suicide. What is it like to be autistic and bipolar? How can we better support neurodivergent people who require significant supports, like medication or inpatient mental health care, especially when they are also at university? We talked with Dr. Elliot Gavin Keenan, a postdoctoral fellow at the […]
Guidance counseled: Less than 26 percent of U.S. children with autism and intellectual disability on Medicaid receive genetic testing for the conditions, according to a new study. The study cohort, which included 241,060 children, tracked Medicaid claims from 2008 to 2016. The rate of genetic testing is low, considering that since 2010 the American College […]
We recently talked with Dr. Meng-Chuan Lai, current INSAR Science Chair and a researcher and clinician who focuses on understanding and improving the mental health and wellbeing of autistic and other neurodivergent people, across sexes and genders, as well as their supporting families and developing context-focused support for autistic people. Dr. Lai discussed the overlap […]
Balancing motherhood and personal aspirations is no small feat. When I started Momlifeandlifestyle.com, I was a mother of two toddlers, seeking a creative outlet amidst the chaos of parenting. Blogging became my sanctuary—a space to share, reflect, and connect. Finding My Passion Through Writing Writing has always been my stress-free zone. In my post Finding […]
