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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.

April 2012

Analysis of new diagnostic criteria for autism sparks debate

by  /  2 April 2012

A new analysis of proposed changes to the diagnostic criteria for autism suggests that the revision could exclude a substantial number of people with high-functioning autism. But critics say the study is fundamentally flawed.

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March 2012

Researchers make neurons from blood cells

by  /  28 March 2012

Researchers have generated neurons from the blood cells of individuals with autism, according to a study published 7 March in Neuroscience Letters.

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Uncommon testing

by  /  27 March 2012

A new study published in the Journal of Genetic Counseling confirms the relative infrequency of genetic testing for autism.

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Researchers seek ‘active ingredients’ of early intervention

by  /  26 March 2012

Early intensive intervention is the only therapy that has been shown to be effective in young children with autism, according to a 2011 review of autism treatments commissioned by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. But researchers are just beginning to tease out what they refer to as its ‘active ingredients:’ why the treatment works, which elements are essential and why it fails to help some children.

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Big neuroscience

by  /  23 March 2012

Two large-scale neuroscience projects aim to integrate many different types of information about the brain into cohesive models and to share resources with the research community. 

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Genetics: Autism risk higher in full than in half siblings

by  /  23 March 2012

Full siblings are twice as likely as half siblings to share a diagnosis of autism, according to a short report published 28 February in Molecular Psychiatry. The results suggest that genetic factors play an important role in the risk of developing autism, the researchers say.

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Online tool can predict effects of genetic variants

by  /  21 March 2012

Researchers have developed a tool that can predict whether DNA mutations that change a single base pair are likely to alter RNA splicing, a process that modifies the sequence of mRNA, the genetic message that codes for protein. The results were published 10 February in Bioinformatics.

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Incidental findings

by  /  16 March 2012

A survey asks clinical geneticists what type of incidental findings should be returned to people who have their genomes sequenced.

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More sensitive prenatal tests detect autism-linked variants

by  /  12 March 2012

Prenatal genetic tests that can detect copy number variations, including those linked to autism, could raise tough questions for doctors and parents.

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Clinical trials for autism treatments go online

by  /  8 March 2012

A new clinical trial, conducted entirely online, could provide a model for how to quickly and efficiently test some potential treatments for autism.

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