Clinical trials for fragile X drugs should include a behavioral therapy component, says a parent of a child with the disorder.

Researchers have identified deletions in SHANK1 — the third member of a gene family that is closely linked to autism — in five men with the disorder, they reported 4 May in the American Journal of Human Genetics. This is the first study linking SHANK1 mutations to people with autism.

A genetic defect in the synthesis of carnitine, a molecule that is essential for proper mitochondrial function, might slightly increase risk for autism in some children, according to research published 8 May in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Propranolol, a drug used to treat heart disease and anxiety, might improve memory and attention deficits in autism, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.

Identifying genetic and other factors that protect children at risk of autism from developing the disorder could provide new avenues for treatment.

The brains of individuals with autism have higher-than-typical levels of the precursor to a neuronal growth factor called BDNF, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology. The results suggest a mechanism for altered brain development in autism.

As the use of induced pluripotent stem cells grows, researchers are searching for ways to make them behave more predictably. 

Multiple levels of complexity make it challenging to develop drugs to treat autism.

A fraction of children with autism show significant improvements in social and communication skills over time compared with their peers with the disorder, according to a study published 2 April in Pediatrics.

Large-scale swapping of genetic material between chromosomes may play an important role in autism, according to a study published 27 April in Cell.