NEWS

Nearly one-third of autistic young people put themselves or others in danger in any given three-month period.

The drug popularly known as ecstasy may boost sociability through brain circuits distinct from that underlying its ‘high.’

Extra copies of a gene called BOLA2 predispose people to autism and may protect against iron deficiency.

Neurons in mice that lack an autism gene called CNTNAP2 do not differentiate well between social and nonsocial smells — an issue that seems to stem from haphazard neuronal firing.

The hemispheres in autistic people’s brains are more symmetrical than those of their typical peers, but it is unclear what this difference means.

How well autistic children perform daily-living tasks tracks with their language skills and autism traits.

Pregnant women’s use of acetaminophen may increase the odds of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in their children.

Blocking one form of an enzyme implicated in autism eases unusual behaviors and seizures in mice missing a top autism gene.

Children born with high blood levels of vitamin D have 25 percent decreased odds of autism compared with those born with low levels.

A collection of rare genetic variants associated with autism and schizophrenia also seem to increase a person’s odds of having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.