Something wicked this way comes ― and aptly, enough, from the United Kingdom.

One of the most startling statistics in autism is the prevalence: 1 in 150 children. That number is routinely cited to make the case that autism is now an epidemic, and that it is swiftly on the rise.

One out of four babies born extremely premature goes on to display behaviors associated with autism, according to a study published yesterday.

If you’ve noticed a flurry of attention to autism in the past few days, it’s because today, April 2, is World Autism Awareness Day.

The first indication that autism has genetic origins came from twin studies. Ditto for schizophrenia and many other diseases.

Itʼs been clear for decades that there is no one gene that causes schizophrenia. Rather than being result of any one mutation, it turns out that schizophrenia is the unfortunate outcome of many different deletions and duplications that cause the developing brain to go awry.

There has been a flurry lately of papers identifying genes that might be important in autism. But what effect do mutations in these genes have clinically?

A new mouse model of autism shows many of the symptoms associated with autism, including problems socializing with peers and repetitive behavior, according to a new study published in the March issue of Behavioral Brain Research.

Autism is caused by poor parenting, particularly by ‘frigid’ mothers who reject their children. Such a statement would seem bizarre today. But 30 years ago parents, especially mothers, were blamed for their childrenʼs autism. But then in 1977, one study, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, single-handedly turned the field around to recognize the importance of genetics.

The human brain is inarguably the most complex system that has ever faced the er, human brain.