How is autism diagnosed? What explains the rise in autism’s prevalence? How much do genes contribute to the condition? What about the environment? This section provides answers to these and other questions.

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.

Problems with verbal and nonverbal communication — such as prosody, grammar, facial expressions and eye contact — contribute to the social difficulties individuals on the spectrum experience.

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.

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

Take a look back at 2017’s most notable papers and memorable quotes.

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

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

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.

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