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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Author

Emily Willingham

Science writer, Spectrum

Emily writes frequently about autism and related issues, and her work has appeared in print or online at Discover, New York Times, Slate, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, and others. Emily has a B.A. in English with minors in German and History and a Ph.D. in biological sciences, both from The University of Texas at Austin. She also completed postdoctoral work at the University of California, San Francisco and has taught graduate and undergraduate biology for many years.

April 2018
Week of AprilApr
9th
2018

Fragile X checklist; France plays catch-up; bar-coded neurons and more

by  /  13 April 2018

A checklist for fragile X syndrome could help identify people with the condition in low-resource settings, France unveils a plan for early diagnosis and education of children with autism, and virally inserted ‘bar codes’ help track individual neurons.

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Week of AprilApr
2nd
2018

Budget boom; CRISPR retraction; basketball benefit and more

by  /  6 April 2018

With one exception, budget allocations are booming for U.S. science agencies, a CRISPR paper that shook faith has been retracted, and professional basketball teams build sensory rooms for fans on the spectrum.

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March 2018
Week of MarchMar
26th
2018

Late-life diagnosis; narrated brain stimulation; microglia movie and more

by  /  30 March 2018

Women describe relief at finally learning they have autism, a man with epilepsy narrates during stimulation of his brain, and the brain’s immune cells are caught on film nibbling at neuronal connections.

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Week of MarchMar
19th
2018

Activists arrested; poop cult; ‘landmark’ movie and more

by  /  23 March 2018

Activists are arrested while protesting the use of electroshock devices, a Facebook group claims cabbage slurry can prevent autism, and a movie features romance — and actors — on the spectrum.

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Week of MarchMar
12th
2018

Early theory of mind; bizarre book defense; fake news and more

by  /  16 March 2018

Theory of mind develops surprisingly early, a book publisher doubles down in defense of a controversial author, and false vaccine news gets a correction.

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Week of MarchMar
5th
2018

Reproductive choice; controversial behavior; twice-exceptional struggle and more

by  /  9 March 2018

A woman with autism had to fight for her sterilization surgery, a mother’s tactics with her son on the spectrum generate controversy, and gifted students with autism have unique struggles.

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Week of FebruaryFeb
26th
2018

Marketing oils for autism; pruning principle matures; mouse manual and more

by  /  2 March 2018

Autism parents fall for the marketing of essential oils, the pruning hypothesis of brain development matures, and an online manual classifies mouse behavior.

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February 2018
Week of FebruaryFeb
19th
2018

Fake autism claim; knocking out anesthesia; haunting milestone and more

by  /  23 February 2018

Despite social media rumors, a British children’s television show does not cause autism; childhood anesthesia is not tied to autism risk; and an adult on the spectrum reaches a haunting milestone

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Week of FebruaryFeb
12th
2018

Ultrasound exposure; maternal age; ‘special’ interests and more

by  /  16 February 2018

Autism is not associated with ultrasound frequency or duration, maternal age and education affect autism odds, and people on the spectrum benefit from their ‘special interests.’

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vasopressin crystal

Optimism, confusion greet federal fast track for autism drug

by  /  12 February 2018

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted a rare ‘breakthrough therapy’ designation for a drug that may ease some features of autism.

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