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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Author

Jessica Wright

Jessica Wright was senior news writer at Spectrum from 2010 to 2019. Her writing has also appeared in Nature and Scientific American.

Jessica has a Ph.D. in biological sciences from Stanford University.

September 2020
Children scattered around a grid with a beam counting them

Autism prevalence in the United States, explained

by  /  3 September 2020

The bulk of the increase in autism prevalence stems from a growing awareness of the condition and changes to the diagnostic criteria.

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January 2020
Diagram statistics

Analysis of sequences pegs 102 top autism genes

by  /  24 January 2020

The number of top autism genes has risen from 65 to 102, based on an analysis of more than 35,000 sequences. And researchers are seeing the first hints of autism risk variants in the regions between genes.

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Two twin girls wearing blue kneeling down on the ground.

Early life experiences may shift severity of autism

by  /  17 January 2020

A child’s environment exerts a strong influence on the severity of her autism, a study of identical twins suggests.

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October 2019
a human brain model made of springs is shaking on its spring base

The link between epilepsy and autism, explained

by  /  21 October 2019

Autism and epileptic seizures often go hand in hand. What explains the overlap, and what does it reveal about autism’s origins?

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September 2019
medical personnel in operating theater during brain surgery

Can preventing seizures alter the course of autism?

by  /  18 September 2019

Experimental surgeries to prevent seizures may help scientists understand the link between autism and epilepsy.

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July 2019
proteins up close

Study hints at dietary chemical as therapy for type of autism

by  /  1 July 2019

A compound derived from cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and kale, might limit the impact of certain mutations in an autism gene.

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June 2019

Netherlands law limits children’s access to autism services

by  /  24 June 2019

A law implemented four years ago has made it difficult for Dutch children in some regions to have access to mental health care.

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children standing in a line, oldest to youngest

Timing of autism treatments may be key to their success

by  /  20 June 2019

The timing of treatment is crucial for conditions related to autism — and more so for some conditions than for others.

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fMRIs of monkey brains in a grid of 6 show highlighted areas.

Monkeys with autism mutation show condition’s key traits

by  /  12 June 2019

Researchers have engineered two generations of monkeys with mutations in SHANK3, a top autism gene. The first generation shows traits reminiscent of the condition.

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Goofy portrait of Adam Guastella at his desk in shorts and jacket with tie

Beyond the bench: A conversation with Adam Guastella

by  /  11 June 2019

Clinical psychologist Adam Guastella is driven to develop treatments that work for all autistic people — and to throw birthday parties for a few of those people.

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