Spectrum: Autism Research News

Research roundup

• Aggressive behaviors in autistic children under 4 years old are associated with nausea. Frontiers in Psychiatry
• Genetic variants associated with autism may influence both neuronal communication and gut dysfunction. Autism Research
• A new 3D model enables researchers to simulate the moment in development when a human embryo shows features of future body parts. Nature Cell Biology
• CAS9, the enzyme that cuts DNA in the CRISPR gene editor, can be used to tamp down gene activity. Molecular Cell
• Exposure to solvents in the workplace during pregnancy may increase the risk of autism in the child. Occupational & Environmental Medicine
• Mutations in the gene MEMO1 may be associated with neurodevelopmental conditions. Neuron
• Being bullied as a child may increase the risk of depression in later life in those genetically predisposed to the condition. JAMA Network Open
• Chemical tags on messenger RNA are key to brain development, including neuron formation and memory. Science

Science and society

• U.S. presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg proposes recruiting volunteers to address gaps in mental health care. The New York Times
• Facebook is curbing posts that promote ‘miracle cures’ for medical conditions. The Hill
• Exposure to a common food preservative in utero may be linked to elevated autism risk. WebMD
• Having a child with autism has influenced U.S. presidential candidate Andrew Yang’s views and his platform. Heavy
• A study that described a method to reanimate pigs’ brains after death raises ethical questions. The New York Times
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration compliance and enforcement actions have fallen dramatically during the Trump administration. Science
• At least four doctors are under investigation in California for issuing suspect medical exemptions for vaccinations. Kaiser Health News
• A mother calls for better teacher training after her son was singled out in school for having autism. BBC News
• South Asian countries should work together to boost scientific collaborations in the region, two researchers argue. Science
• Women give fewer talks and ask fewer questions during others’ talks than expected at the American Society of Human Genetics annual meeting. American Journal of Human Genetics
• Emergency room staff need better training to help individuals with psychiatric issues. STAT

Autism and the arts

• “Pablo,” a children’s television show voiced and co-written by autistic people, is available on Netflix. Netflix

Publishing

• Some leading psychologists don’t disclose income from speeches about their work and relevant consulting gigs in their published papers. Nature
• To combat publishing fraud in India, the country’s academic regulator has issued a new list of 815 ‘quality’ Indian journals. Nature

Job moves

• Rebecca Jones is leaving her post as assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine to join Imagen, an artificial-intelligence company focused on health. Imagen