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Spectrum: Autism Research News

News Archive

March 2024
Two people sit on opposite edges of a cliff.

Spectrum 10K consultation report delayed

by  /  7 March 2024

The U.K.-based genetics study launched the consultation more than a year ago in response to fierce criticism from autistic self-advocates.

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February 2024
A research image of autism-linked genes.

Autism-linked perturbations converge on cell skeleton and RNA-binding proteins

by  /  29 February 2024

The findings solidify the idea that autism-linked mutations affect brain activity by way of several key shared mechanisms.

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A stack of papers with red tape.

Autism journal retracts speech-recognition paper, pauses special issue

by  /  29 February 2024

The journal’s publisher flagged problems in 11 papers that were part of a special issue on assistive technology in special education.

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A woman sits on the edge of her bed in a darkened room.

Life expectancy lags for autistic people in United Kingdom

by  /  15 February 2024

The finding confirms past research that links autism to early death, but it also suggests that the life expectancy gap may be smaller than previously thought.

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A diagram of autism-linked genes.

Autism-linked proteins mingle with other molecules in overlapping networks

by  /  8 February 2024

A massive new set of interaction maps illuminates especially high convergence in protein networks related to autism and shows how mutations could disrupt those networks.

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January 2024

Top autism-linked genes join forces to shape synaptic plasticity

by  /  29 January 2024

The protein products of ANK2 and SCN2A interact to regulate dendritic excitability.

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Two hands hold a mouse.

Noisy brain may underlie some of autism’s sensory features

by  /  18 January 2024

Random fluctuations in neuronal activity are more variable in a fragile X mouse model than in wildtype mice.

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A research image of a mouse brain.

Immune-activation model mice escape infantile amnesia, retain early memories

by  /  11 January 2024

Male pups born to mothers treated with immune-stimulating molecules show autism-like behaviors and, unlike wildtype animals, do not lose memories formed during early life.

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A child uses a tablet device

New tablet-based tools to spot autism draw excitement — and questions

by  /  4 January 2024

Handheld devices promise to bring autism detection home, but many researchers urge caution.

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December 2023
Three groups of people meet and mix at a crossroads.

Year in Review: Spectrum’s best in 2023

by  /  28 December 2023

Here are five must-reads from our coverage of autism research over the past 12 months.

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