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Spectrum: Autism Research News

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Diagnosis

Diagnosing autism is an evolving science but a crucial first step to understanding the disorder.

March 2022

DSM-5 revision tweaks autism entry for clarity

by  /  17 March 2022

Two new words and a text swap in the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic “bible” are unlikely to affect clinical practice, experts say.

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February 2022
Pregnant woman standing in front of open refrigerator at night.

Anorexia before or during pregnancy linked to having a child with autism

by  /  7 February 2022

The connection is likely mediated by environmental, not genetic, factors, according to a new study.

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January 2022

Autism comorbidities reflect racial, ethnic disparities

by  /  19 January 2022

Autistic people from historically marginalized races and ethnicities are more likely than their white peers to be diagnosed with accompanying health conditions.

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FDA cites hair-based autism diagnostic aid as ‘breakthrough’

by  /  17 January 2022

Despite scant publicly available data, makers of the ‘exposome’-based method say it could help with diagnosing autism and identifying subtypes.

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Adult autism diagnoses don’t routinely follow other diagnoses in childhood

by  /  11 January 2022

Among thousands of Danish adults diagnosed with autism after age 18, less than half were diagnosed with a psychiatric condition as children, a new study shows.

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Motor skills in autism: A missed opportunity

by ,  /  4 January 2022

Motor differences are more relevant than has historically been appreciated for understanding, assessing and supporting people on the spectrum.

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December 2021
wooden pebble shapes stacked on top of each other, at varying heights, and according to colors of the spectrum.

Autism by the numbers: Explaining its apparent rise

by  /  22 December 2021

For Spectrum’s fourth annual book, we offer a guide to prevalence estimates.

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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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Cluster of traits tied to rare mutations in autism-linked gene

by  /  20 December 2021

Developmental delay, intellectual disability and behavioral issues are common among people who have mutations in MYT1L, a gene with strong ties to autism.

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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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