Spectrum: Autism Research News

Research roundup

• Any of three second-choice drugs may be helpful for many people whose seizures do not respond to initial treatment. The New England Journal of Medicine
• Autistic people perceive social information from others’ physical movements differently than typical people do, although this difference diminishes with age. Molecular Autism
• Autism prevalence among 5- and 6-year-olds in Canada varies greatly by neighborhood, province and territory. SSM – Population Health
• Children with Phelan-McDermid syndrome, a genetic condition related to autism, tend to tend to show more severe traits of the syndrome in adolescence and adulthood. Molecular Autism
• Atypical neuronal activity between seizures may cause memory deficits in people with epilepsy; researchers have identified individual neurons in the hippocampus that may be responsible. Journal of Neuroscience
• Parents of autistic children in Sweden do not refrain from having more children, according to a study of 2.5 million families. Molecular Autism
• The mutation that causes Timothy syndrome, a rare condition associated with autism, affects neuronal development. eLife
• To be more inclusive of autistic people, building standards should go beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act’s requirements and consider sensory issues. Health Environments Research & Design Journal
• Being young, white or depressed are risk factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in adults with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
• Obesity-related genes are found in many people with mental health diagnoses, such as schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. JAMA Psychiatry
• Prenatal detection of the gene that causes Angelman syndrome could open the door to treatments delivered in utero. Autism Research

Science and society

• A burgeoning New York City program called ASD Nest uses two specialized teachers per classroom to support autistic children in mainstream classes. The Atlantic
• Genetic mutations that originate in fathers’ sperm appear to contribute to autism in their children. Time
• Virologist Roberto Burioni’s punchy rejoinders to anti-vaccination arguments have made him a media personality in Italy. Science
• Spelling words by pointing at letters may help some nonverbal autistic children communicate. USA Today
• A new supportive housing development for adults with autism has opened in Orleans, Massachusetts, and includes a community center. CapeCod.com
• Caroline Stevens, who leads the National Autistic Society in the United Kingdom, calls for that country’s current government to honor their promises to improve community-based healthcare. The Guardian
• Emotional burnout and social isolation are common among caregivers of children with autism. Futurity
• U.S. presidential candidate Andrew Yang says he used his personal experience as the father of an autistic child to inform his policy proposals. NPR

Autism and the arts

• A new television show, “Everything’s Gonna Be Okay,” features a main character with autism, played by an autistic actor. Disability Scoop