Spectrum: Autism Research News

Autism is more common among children who have undergone open heart surgery for a congenital heart condition than it is in the general population.

Autistic children may be more likely than their unaffected siblings to carry mutations in genes linked to sleep.

Researchers are studying how a combination of genetic ‘hits’ may contribute to autism’s diversity.

Genetics may govern a person’s ability to pay attention to social cues.

Lilia Iakoucheva spends her days running outdoors and solving the molecular complexities of autism, sometimes at the same time.

No genetic test can say whether a person has autism, but it may point to a cause for the condition or for any related complications.

Parents of children with rare autism-linked mutations are banding together for support and to join forces with scientists, accelerating the pace of research.

Two new studies point to the possibility of detecting autism mutations before birth — along with all the ethical and logistical problems that may bring.

Depression may show up in children with autism in an unusual way — most commonly as insomnia and restlessness.

Certain repeated stretches of DNA that are linked to the expansion of the primate brain may also enhance autism traits.