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Spectrum: Autism Research News

News Archive

May 2023
Speech bubble formed by a network of communication

Community Newsletter: ‘Scammer participants’; dopamine receptor structures

by  /  28 May 2023

A potential threat to the integrity of data collected online and an analysis of the structure and function of dopamine receptors caught researchers’ attention on social media this week.

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A patient fills out a form in a doctor's office waiting room

Medicaid waivers curb disenrollment among autistic young adults

by  /  26 May 2023

Autistic people tend to drop out of Medicaid once they reach adulthood in states that don’t waive the income restrictions on enrollment.

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Research image of oligodendrocytes in mice treated with clemastine compared to untreated mice.

Antihistamine aids myelination in Pitt-Hopkins mice

by  /  25 May 2023

The drug clemastine and other compounds that fortify the protective sheath around neurons may prove therapeutic for some genetic neurodevelopmental conditions.

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A hand lifts a line graph off of a page and into the air.

Nerve regeneration paper retracted over faked data

by  /  24 May 2023

The paper marks the second retraction for one of the co-authors.

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Illustration of DNA methylation.

‘Polygenic risk scores’ for autism, explained

by  /  23 May 2023

These scores — composite measures of a person’s autism-linked common genetic variants — cannot predict an autism diagnosis but could help researchers better understand the condition’s underlying biology.

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A stack of papers sits on a blue table.

Neuroscience journal retracts 13 papers at once

by  /  22 May 2023

The papers were flagged by a method that has now been called into question.

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Many mouths making conversation, with speech bubbles in red and blue.

Community Newsletter: 3D motion tool; Imaging Neuroscience announcement

by  /  21 May 2023

This week on social media, scientists discussed a new tool to quantify motion in 3D and responded to the announcement of the launch of Imaging Neuroscience.

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Composite research image of organoids at several stages of development.

Genetic background sways effects of autism-linked mutation

by  /  18 May 2023

Experiments offer clues to why certain mutations are associated with autism in some people and not others.

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Illustration of hybrid objects: part light bulb, part lab vial, some in blue and some in red to signify null and replicated results.

Null and Noteworthy: Arbaclofen results; another oxytocin edition

by  /  17 May 2023

New data from clinical trials of arbaclofen and oxytocin underscore the murkiness of null results. Plus, researchers seek clarity on the neurodevelopmental effects of oxytocin during childbirth.

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A father and son play with a wooden toy horse on the floor.

Autism intervention before age 2 may aid social, language skills

by  /  16 May 2023

Autistic toddlers who receive a personalized intervention at about 18 months of age gain more abilities than those who start the therapy nine months later.

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