Brain waves: Excess GABA-A receptor function contributes to the phenotypes seen in children with dup15q syndrome, including autism traits, epilepsy and intellectual disability, according to a new paper. The duplicated stretch of chromosome 15 in people with the syndrome includes several genes, including UBE3A and three GABA-A receptor submit genes. Investigators recorded EEG activity—specifically, they […]
Immune power: Maternal-fetal type 1 interferon may be a key factor in the association between maternal infection during pregnancy and having an autistic child, according to a new mouse study. Maternal immune activation, modeled in mice, increased interferon 1, which, in offspring, altered excitatory synapse function and reduced a microglial regulator of synapse formation. Further, […]
Like many others, I learned that Alysa Liu had ADHD after her captivating, joyful free skate performance at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics that earned her gold. Better yet, I learned that she’s really open about her diagnosis. She told ESPN: “I have ADHD, and I love situations that I’m not expecting. It gives me […]
Essential workers: A new study details the molecular pathways that connect cortical interneuron dysfunction to neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and epilepsy. Variants of the ARX gene, which encodes a transcription factor, lead to impaired cell cycles and altered migration of interneurons. The LOM1 gene, a downstream target, plays a role in how ARX affects […]
Pregnant pause: Gestational diabetes increases the chances of having a baby girl with autism, according to a new study. The case-control study in 4,546 mother-child pairs examined relationships between glucose intolerance during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental conditions in children; no relationship was found for baby boys. Another population study found a relationship between pre-pregnancy body mass […]
Pregnant pause: Gestational diabetes increases the chances of having a baby girl with autism, according to a new study. The case-control study in 4,546 mother-child pairs examined relationships between glucose intolerance during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental conditions in children; no relationship was found for baby boys. Another population study found a relationship between pre-pregnancy body mass […]
1 INTRODUCTION On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) elevated the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis to global pandemic status. Since then, the virus has continued to spread rapidly across the globe, infecting more than 188 million people and causing more than 4.05 million deaths at the time this paper was submitted (October […]
WATERLOO — Jared Smith didn’t have to think long about whether he’d be up to the task of leading a racially and ethnically diverse district like Waterloo Community Schools, where the majority of students are from low-income families. As superintendent of South Tama County Community Schools since 2018, he’s already doing that. “Demographically, it’s almost […]
From 2006, the Indian government introduced the Agreement Act with the Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise MSME Development Act. These companies deal with the production, manufacture, preservation and processing of goods and everyday objects. Along with agriculture, they are considered to be the backbone of the country. As they play an important role in countries’ […]
Introduction Background The reported study is one of an ongoing series of small-scale collaborative research projects undertaken by researchers at the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter that focus on exclusionary practices in schools in England and the perspectives of varied stakeholders on illegal exclusionary practices (Done & Knowler, 2020a, 2020b, 2020c, 2021; Done et al., […]
The gut microbiome is having a moment. An explosion of research over the past decade has delved into a possible connection between the microbiome and brain conditions, including autism. Once-fringe microbial treatments for autism, such as fecal transplants and probiotic pills, are receiving serious scientific attention and funding. It’s still an open question, however, whether […]
Family Matters: Spontaneous genetic mutations are much more likely to contribute to autism in children whose siblings are unaffected than in children whose siblings do. Imimimagery / Adobe Stock Spontaneous genetic mutations contribute to autism in 30 to 39 percent of people with the condition, an increase from previous estimates, according to a new study. […]
