Special Reports | Spectrum | Autism Research News

Special Reports Curated collections of articles on special topics in autism.

Autism 101

Previous Special Reports

The DSM-5’s take on autism:
Five years on

It’s been five years since the autism community agonized over the debut of a new iteration of a diagnostic manual that set out to rewrite the definition of autism.

Social communication on the spectrum

It’s been five years since the autism community agonized over the debut of a new iteration of a diagnostic manual that set out to rewrite the definition of autism. In this special report, we revisit the concerns and controversy over the fifth edition of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-5). The concept […]

Spotlight on mouse models of autism

Mice of myriad strains and designs have helped scientists understand autism, but they have limitations as autism models. This report describes what scientists can hope to learn from old and new mouse models of autism.

Where autism and attention deficit meet

Autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder often co-occur. Researchers are examining when and why these conditions may overlap.

2017: Year in review

Sleepless on the spectrum

Many people with autism have trouble falling asleep, or wake up too early or for extended periods during the night.

Anxiety in autism

Researchers are devising better ways to detect and treat the anxiety that can accompany autism.

Sibling studies

Studies of infants at risk for autism have not yielded a test to predict who will eventually be diagnosed. But they have transformed our understanding of the condition.

Regression in autism

The loss of abilities that besets some toddlers with autism is probably less sudden and more common than anyone thought.

The genetics of autism

In the past 10 years, scientists have identified some 65 genes tied to autism, and the list continues to grow. Many of these genes play key roles in the brain.