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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: immune system

June 2017

Maternal infection may alter neuronal signals, connections

by  /  9 June 2017

Pups born to pregnant mice infected with a mock virus are known to show changes in their immune system. These effects may in turn impair proper brain signaling, according to results presented Saturday at the 2013 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in San Diego.

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Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy tied to autism risk

by  /  8 June 2017

Children born to women who had low blood levels of vitamin D while pregnant double their risk of autism.

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May 2017

Controversial trial of cord blood therapy for autism forges ahead

by  /  31 May 2017

A trial of umbilical cord blood as a treatment for autism has passed a critical safety test, but many researchers remain skeptical of the approach.

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Infection during pregnancy may alter expression of autism genes

by  /  22 May 2017

A mother’s immune response to a severe infection during pregnancy disrupts the expression of autism genes in her child, a rat study suggests.

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Brain’s immune cells may explain sex bias in autism

by  /  11 May 2017

A boost in the activity of microglia, the brain’s immune cells, during gestation may predispose boys to autism.

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March 2017

‘Triple-hit’ study may help explain autism’s male bias

by  /  20 March 2017

The absence of an autism-linked gene, combined with exposure to a mock infection, produces social deficits in mice — but only in males.

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New method taps family trees for clues about conditions

by  /  10 March 2017

Asking participants in genetic databases about their family’s medical history can help researchers uncover genetic variants tied to conditions such as autism.

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January 2017

Diverse causes of autism converge on common gene signature

by  /  23 January 2017

The brains of people with autism show a distinct molecular signature that reflects alterations in how genes are pieced together and expressed.

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December 2016

Spectrum of color: Our favorite photos from 2016

by  /  26 December 2016

Peruse our picks for the best science photos published on Spectrum this year.

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Heavy pill on scale

Hot topics of 2016

by  /  26 December 2016

These five trending topics hint at important discoveries to come.

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