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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Author

Chloe Williams

Chloe Williams is a former intern at Spectrum. She is a science journalist based in New York City, covering health and the environment. She is also a graduate student in the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program at New York University.

August 2022
Illustration of a cassette tape with the tape replaced by a DNA double helix

‘Retro-Cascorder’ tracks gene-expression timing

by  /  19 August 2022

The new tool may help researchers reconstruct the sequence of biological events that underlie development.

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Conceptual illustration of a DNA double helix

Scans of sundry variant types uncover autism-linked genes

by  /  18 August 2022

Troves of sequencing data reveal genes tied to autism through different variant types, providing a more complete picture of the condition’s genetic roots and new clues to its heterogeneity.

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July 2022

Plethora of protein-making machines in neurons may underlie fragile X

by  /  21 July 2022

An overabundance of ribosomes drives an imbalance of proteins produced from long and short genetic transcripts in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome.

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New resource maps gene expression, regulation in neuron subtypes

by  /  1 July 2022

The catalog could help researchers understand the effects of autism-linked DNA variants that fall outside genes.

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June 2022
Illustration of two figures in a field of black circles representing genetic risks. The circles surround the figure on the left and stay farther away from the figure on the right.

Common inherited variants tied to autism show sex bias in families

by  /  23 June 2022

Siblings of autistic females are more likely to have autism than siblings of autistic males are, and mothers of autistic children carry more common, autism-linked variants than fathers do.

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Two top autism-linked proteins connect to build cell ‘skeleton’

by  /  9 June 2022

ADNP and SHANK3 proteins may bind together and alter a neuron’s internal scaffold, hinting at a mechanism that, when disrupted, may underlie several forms of autism.

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May 2022
MRIs

Growth charts map brain changes across lifespan

by  /  12 May 2022

The new resource is the first to chart human brain development from before birth to 100 years of age.

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April 2022

Histone-modifying drug improves autism-like behaviors in mice

by  /  18 April 2022

The experimental compound, called GSK-LSD1, enhances social preferences and reduces repetitive grooming in mice, according to a new study.

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March 2022
A family of Macaques aat the Yerkes National Primate Research Center Field Station, Lawrenceville, Georgia.

Macaques’ social skills tied to variation in autism-linked genes

by  /  7 March 2022

Genetics strongly influences some aspects of the monkey’s social behavior, including tendencies to solicit grooming and sit or play alone.

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February 2022
Conceptual illustration of child sleeping under blanket with multiple EEG waves overlaid on top and a window on left showing it is daytime and window on right showing nighttime.

Cracking autism’s sleep conundrum

by  /  25 February 2022

Sleep problems may contribute to or derive from autism traits — or both. After decades of work, researchers are beginning to uncover the biological connections between the two conditions, revealing new paths to potential treatments.

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