Two candidate genes have risen to the top, and may help scientists understand what autism really is.

Children missing a stretch of DNA on chromosome 16 show worsening motor and social skills in the first eight years of life; those with an extra copy of the region do not show this decline.

Children with autism inherit a greater burden of common genetic variants associated with autism than would be expected by chance. These variants combine with rare, spontaneous mutations to boost autism risk.

A February study that tied several new genes to autism contained a large statistical error, according to a report from 14 independent researchers; the original team is working on issuing a correction.

The idea that one residential model is appropriate for the entire spectrum of intellectual and developmental disability is patently absurd.

Mutations in a gene called TRIP12 — which is involved in tagging proteins for destruction — can lead to intellectual disability, language delay and autism.

Young adults with autism face many new expectations and challenges — with none of the support that is available during high school.

Conventional wisdom holds that people with autism don’t get hooked on alcohol or other drugs, but new evidence suggests otherwise.

A massive sequencing study spanning seven countries links 38 new genes to autism and developmental delay.

About one in four children with autism hit, scratch or otherwise hurt themselves, suggests an analysis of school and medical records for more than 8,000 children.