Spectrum: Autism Research News

Depression may influence how people with autism perform on tests of social function.

Autistic infants who have extreme responses to sights, sounds or textures tend to harm themselves as toddlers.

Autistic children are more likely to have gastrointestinal problems than typical children are, but no more so than children with other brain conditions.

Two drugs that alter the activity of the hormone vasopressin seem to improve social communication in autistic people, but some experts question the findings.

Serotonin, the brain chemical best known for its link to depression, may also be involved in autism.

Nearly all children who lose their autism diagnosis have other conditions, such as anxiety and language and behavioral disorders.

People with autism who avoid social interactions or have troubles with daily living skills may be at increased risk of an early death.

Children in families with a history of brain conditions may be at increased odds of being autistic.

Australia has become the latest country to establish guidelines for diagnosing autism, but getting clinicians to comply may be difficult.

The brains of autistic children show few differences from those of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or even of controls.