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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Opinion /

Q&A

Conversations with experts about noteworthy topics in autism.

Previous articles
February 2022

Your questions about the Lancet Commission and ‘profound autism,’ answered

by  /  15 February 2022

Tony Charman and Catherine Lord answer questions from Spectrum’s webinar on the Lancet Commission’s recommendations for autism research.

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Real-world data on Rett syndrome: Q&A with Jana von Hehn

by  /  8 February 2022

The Rett Syndrome Global Registry is gathering data from people around the world with the rare condition to support clinical trials.

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January 2022

Reimagining the newborn screening system: Q&A with Don Bailey

by  /  27 January 2022

The current system to approve genetic and metabolic conditions for newborn screening can’t keep pace with research on new therapies. Don Bailey wants to bring it up to speed.

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Rethinking the origins of neurons: Q&A with Tomasz Nowakowski

by  /  20 January 2022

Excitatory and inhibitory neurons can derive from the same cellular source in the developing human brain, a new study suggests, overturning a 20-year-old hypothesis. Tomasz Nowakowski discusses the finding’s implications for autism research.

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December 2021
Parent with toddler and clinician with clipboard.

Reimagining autism screening: A conversation with Roald Øien

by  /  21 December 2021

The questionnaires used to screen for autism are far from perfect, and tweaking them may not be enough. Roald Øien wants researchers to find better solutions.

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A loose grid of same-sized colored cubes, at different angles, representing data comparison.

Pitfalls in using autism claims data: Q&A with Lindsay Shea

by  /  14 December 2021

Insurance claims data are useful for autism research, but the field needs to standardize how they are mined, Shea says.

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November 2021
An illustration shows mother and child facing a grey monolithic shape that breaks apart to reveal a bright monitor that signifies remote assessments.

Rethinking autism assessments in the time of COVID-19: Q&A with Bishop, Zwaigenbaum

by  /  2 November 2021

Moving most clinical assessments online during the coronavirus pandemic has created a digital divide while closing some geographical ones, say Somer Bishop and Lonnie Zwaigenbaum.

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October 2021
Illustration of large globe shaped like a brain sitting in center of room and showing Latin America prominently.

Diversifying autism brain banks: Q&A with Verónica Martínez-Cerdeño

by  /  25 October 2021

The postmortem brain tissue available for autism research is overwhelmingly from people of Western European heritage. Verónica Martínez-Cerdeño and her colleagues are working to change that.

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September 2021

Q&A with W. David Lohr: Antipsychotics, polypharmacy among autistic preschoolers

by  /  21 September 2021

Hundreds of preschool-aged children in Kentucky began taking antipsychotic medicines in 2012, according to an analysis of Medicaid records. Lohr discusses what it will it take to get them behavioral therapies instead.

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August 2021
Young patient speaking to counselor.

Q&A with Brenda Finucane: Building pipelines for genetic tests for autism

by  /  17 August 2021

Most autistic people do not receive the medically recommended genetic tests for autism. Brenda Finucane and her colleagues want to change that.

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