By the time children reach their third birthdays, their behavior can reliably predict whether they have an autism spectrum disorder.

Mice that lack a key regulatory protein known as Mbd1 show autism-like symptoms and could serve as a model for the disorder, according to a study published online on 1 April.

In the past few years, dozens of research groups have begun studying the younger siblings ― or baby sibs, as they are dubbed ― of children with autism to try to pin down the genetic, developmental and behavioral trajectory of autism and its subtypes. Recognizing symptoms early could also lead to earlier diagnoses and intervention.

Screening for genetic precursors to fragile X syndrome, the most well established genetic risk factor for autism, should be expanded to all women who are pregnant or plan to be, some geneticists say.

For parents of children with autism, bedtime can be a boondoggle.

In the past two weeks, autism researchers and advocacy groups have been agog with news that autism could be linked to an extremely rare group of metabolic diseases.

Following a series of papers in the past two years, what seems irrefutable is that copy number variations ― in which a particular stretch of DNA is either deleted or duplicated ― are important in autism.

Serotonin is most commonly talked about in association with depression and anxiety. But for nearly 50 years, hyperserotonemia ― an elevated level of blood serotonin ― has been noted in roughly a third of autism cases.

For children with autism who have trouble interacting with their peers, virtual characters may be a way to improve language skills ― and perhaps more.

Are older fathers more likely to have children with autism? A series of epidemiological studies is giving credence to the idea, suggesting that, with age, sperm may accumulate damage that increases risk in the next generation.