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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: metabolism

April 2023
Research image of the blood-brain barrier.

Rare autism-linked mutation starves growing neurons of essential nutrients

by  /  10 April 2023

The mutation prevents certain amino acids from entering neurons, causing the cells to die early in development.

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February 2023
A photograph of an infant's foot.

Dietary changes ease traits in rare autism-linked condition

by  /  21 February 2023

Early treatment with nutritional supplements and a high-protein diet forestalls some neurodevelopmental problems for children with BCKDK deficiency.

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September 2022
An adult administers a medication to an infant.

Experimental drug shows promise for autism-linked syndromes

by  /  2 September 2022

The drug quells seizures in children with Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

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June 2022
Brain made up of two different medicines

Meet the company trying precision medicine for autism

by  /  27 June 2022

Swiss biotech Stalicla hopes to bring precision medicine to autism. Experts praise efforts to identify autism subgroups, but evidence to support the company’s claims has yet to be seen.

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April 2022

Altering metabolic pathway spurs neuronal, behavioral changes in mice

by  /  5 April 2022

Overexpressing genes involved in the pathway, which regulates protein quality, changes repetitive behaviors in the animals.

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November 2021
Pink, blue and purple illustration shows a cell with mitochondria.

Mitochondria: An energy explanation for autism

by  /  22 November 2021

People with autism have more mutations than others do in both mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA that affects mitochondrial function.

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Stylized illustration combines flat color and 3D forms make up a mitochondria with human heads inside it.

Meet the ‘mitomaniacs’ who say mitochondria matter in autism

by  /  22 November 2021

Clues that problems with mitochondria contribute to autism have been accumulating for decades. In the past five years, a mutant mouse and a flurry of findings have energized the field.

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December 2019
Illustration shows boy with bag of oranges, in landscape of food with DNA trailing around him

Diets may help autistic children with certain genetic profiles

by ,  /  17 December 2019

No diet is likely to treat autistic people on a large scale, but diets based on a genetic profile may bring big benefits to a few.

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August 2019

Levels of brain chemicals may reflect severity of autism traits

by  /  19 August 2019

The levels of four chemicals in the brain may distinguish autism and vary with its severity, according to a new study.

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March 2019

Researchers pan blood test for autism as premature for clinical use

by  /  4 March 2019

Doctors can now order a blood test that its makers say may help flag autism, but experts say the test is not appropriate for use in clinics.

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