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Spectrum: Autism Research News

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Science & Society

From funding decisions to scientific fraud, a wide range of societal factors shape autism research.

May 2014

Clinical research: Angelman gene variants alter symptoms

by  /  30 May 2014

The nature of the mutation that leads to Angelman syndrome — a disorder characterized by speech impairment and developmental delays — affects the disorder’s presentation, reports a study published 19 March in Research in Developmental Disabilities.

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State laws for autism coverage are uneven across U.S.

by  /  23 May 2014

States with the weakest infrastructure for diagnosing children with autism often lack laws requiring compensation for treatment costs, finds an analysis published 30 April in the journal Autism.

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Takeaways from IMFAR 2014

by  /  22 May 2014

A focus on adults with autism and on junior researchers in the field were two of the themes at the 2014 International Meeting for Autism Research in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Environment, genetics may contribute equally to autism risk

by  /  22 May 2014

A large study of autism in Swedish families suggests that about half of the risk for autism comes from genetics and the other half from environmental factors, researchers reported 7 May in The Journal of the American Medical Association. However, the mathematical model the study used may not be appropriate for evaluating autism risk, experts say.

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Paternal age’s link to autism remains murky

by  /  20 May 2014

In the past few years, several studies have implicated fathers’ age more strongly than mothers’ in increasing autism risk. Although older fathers have more spontaneous mutations in their sperm than younger fathers do, no one has shown that these accumulating mutations contribute to autism risk in their children, argues Daniel Weinberger.

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Distinct differences mark male, female autism brains

by  /  20 May 2014

Male and female preschoolers with autism have distinct sets of brain regions that distinguish them from typically developing controls, according to unpublished research presented Saturday at the 2014 International Meeting for Autism Research in Atlanta.

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Twin study set to explore autism, attention deficit overlap

by  /  16 May 2014

A Swedish twin study plans to search for the shared genetic and environmental origins of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which are often mistaken for each other.

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Reactions from IMFAR 2014

by  /  16 May 2014

Daily updates and reactions from attendees at the 2014 International Meeting for Autism Research in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Analysis finds high rates of gut problems in autism

by  /  15 May 2014

Children with autism are about four times more likely to experience gastrointestinal distress than are their typically developing peers, reports a large review published 28 April in Pediatrics.

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Prenatal antidepressant use may up autism risk in sons

by  /  9 May 2014

Women who take antidepressants such as Prozac while pregnant may increase their sons’ risk of autism and developmental disability, reports a study published 14 April in Pediatrics. But, like other studies before it, the study leaves room for doubt.

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