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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Opinion /

Q&A

Conversations with experts about noteworthy topics in autism.

Previous articles
October 2019
Cerebellum brain cells, light micrograph.

U.S. initiative grapples with ethical questions on brain research

by  /  19 October 2019

Khara Ramos explains how the Brain Initiative incorporates the emerging field of ‘neuroethics’ into the research it funds.

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black and blue striped dress on pregnant woman shows DNA helix

Rare access to fetal tissue yields valuable insights into autism

by  /  15 October 2019

Molecular biologist Jonathan Mill is probing gene expression’s role in autism in uncharted territory — the fetal human brain.

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September 2019
Colorful figure with a circle shape (a pill) and an orange X in the background symbolizing Fragile X

Diabetes drug delivers multiple benefits for people with fragile X syndrome

by  /  17 September 2019

Researcher Randi Hagerman is a big proponent of metformin — a diabetes drug that she is testing in people with fragile X syndrome. In fact, Hagerman takes the drug herself as a preventive measure against cancer.

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February 2019
Pattern of eyes making eye contact and looking away

Analysis offers new hope for failed fragile X drug

by  /  26 February 2019

Eye tracking shows that mavoglurant, a once-abandoned experimental drug for fragile X syndrome, enters the brain and boosts social interest, says Elizabeth Berry-Kravis.

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December 2018

Science serves up inspiration for Katie Carey’s whimsical artwork

by  /  21 December 2018

Katie Carey, who has illustrated several Spectrum articles, reveals her creative process and her strategies for pushing past mental blocks.

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August 2018
Drawing shows scientists measuring three identical sets of objects, each arranged in a different way.

Inconsistent prevalence estimates highlight studies’ flaws

by  /  28 August 2018

How researchers design autism prevalence studies has a significant impact on the results, says Eric Fombonne.

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April 2018

Autism genes assign starring role to support cells in brain

by  /  24 April 2018

Genes linked to autism are critical to the development of star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes, suggesting a key role for the cells in the condition.

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February 2018

‘Baby sibs’ who evade autism remain at risk for attention deficit

by  /  13 February 2018

Sally Ozonoff is looking for early signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in videos of hundreds of younger siblings of children with autism.

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U.S. agency backtracks on broad interpretation of ‘clinical trial’

by  /  6 February 2018

Autism researchers need no longer worry that their basic research will become entangled in the red tape associated with clinical trials.

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January 2018

Repeat scans of individual brains may reveal lessons for autism

by  /  2 January 2018

Scanning the brains of a single individual over months to years may illuminate daily fluctuations in activity relevant to conditions such as autism, says Russell Poldrack.

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