That’s a wrap: Mice that produce high levels of the molecule 4EPS (top) have atypically sparse brain myelin — the fatty substance that sheathes axons and conducts neuronal signals — compared with controls (bottom). Mice chemically coaxed to produce high levels of an autism-linked gut molecule have anxiety-like behavior and unusual patterns of brain connectivity, […]
Confounding question: Environmental, not genetic, factors may explain the link between eating disorders and having a child with autism. Vasileios Economou/Getty Images Women with anorexia nervosa before or during pregnancy have an increased chance of having a child with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to a new study. About 20 percent of people […]
Problem solving: Therapies that address inflexible thinking styles could alleviate mental health problems in some young autistic adults. chpua / Getty Images Autistic teenagers with cognitive inflexibility, a rigid thinking style that makes it difficult to switch tasks or adjust goals, are prone to emotional and behavioral problems as young adults, according to a new […]
Gene-free zone: Mutations in promoters, stretches of non-coding DNA that modulate the expression of genes, contribute to autism in some people. CRAFTSCI / Science Photo Library Mutations in non-coding parts of the genome contribute to autism in at least 3 percent of people with this condition. The mutations affect regions that help regulate known genes […]
Gymnastics Visual / Getty Images About 1 in 15 men carries genetically damaging mutations – some linked to autism or congenital heart disease – only in their semen, a small study suggests. An advanced DNA sequencing technique detected the “mosaic” mutations in 25 men in the general population. Mosaic mutations arise after conception and therefore […]
Lost Sleep Costs: Autistic children are prone to persistent sleep problems that can affect their executive function. Sally Anscombe / Getty Images Sleep problems in young children with autism are linked to behavioral regulation difficulties in later childhood, according to a new longitudinal study. The result shows the importance of helping families with sleep problems […]
