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Spectrum: Autism Research News

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Treatments

Efforts to ease the symptoms of autism are beginning to ramp up, with promising candidates in various stages of testing.

July 2019
proteins up close

Study hints at dietary chemical as therapy for type of autism

by  /  1 July 2019

A compound derived from cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and kale, might limit the impact of certain mutations in an autism gene.

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June 2019
Giant helminth flies over figure with glowing gut and microbiome

Supplements, worms and stool: How families are trying to game the gut to treat autism traits

by  /  26 June 2019

Scientists are playing catch-up as microbiome-based treatments for autism proliferate.

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Illustration shows variety of stimming behaviors: hand flapping, muttering, rocking, doodling.

Stimming, therapeutic for autistic people, deserves acceptance

by  /  25 June 2019

Repetitive behaviors such as hand-flapping and spinning may give autistic people a sense of control; instead of discouraging these behaviors, therapists should address triggers upsetting to autistic people.

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Pregnant woman studies the label on medicine bottle while on the phone.

Interactive chart yields risk scores for seizures during pregnancy

by  /  21 June 2019

A new tool calculates the chances of having a seizure in pregnant women who have epilepsy.

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Statin pill rests on blister pack

Popular statin shows promise for treating fragile X syndrome

by  /  17 June 2019

Lovastatin, a drug that lowers cholesterol levels, prevents memory and learning problems in a rat model of fragile X syndrome.

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Mouse neurons in a grid show differences

Autism mutation may disrupt brain structure by disabling mitochondria

by  /  13 June 2019

Mice that lack a segment of chromosome 22 — a mutation associated with autism — have unusually sparse connections between brain regions.

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Illustration shows the legs of a boy and a spine levitating through a hoop, as in a magic show

Straightening out chiropractic’s claim as a treatment for autism

by ,  /  12 June 2019

Some chiropractors advertise that they can treat autism, but there’s no evidence to back that claim.

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May 2019

‘Zombie’ pig brains fire hours after death

by  /  31 May 2019

A new method restores blood flow and some functions in pig brains four hours after the animals have died.

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Gut microbes from autistic children may alter behavior in mice

by  /  30 May 2019

Mice colonized with gut microbes from some autistic boys show behaviors like those of the boys.

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Brown and black mice in a cage, socializing

Drug may deliver ‘ecstasy’ of social interactions to autistic people

by  /  23 May 2019

The ability to learn from social experiences wanes by adulthood, at least in mice — but the recreational drug ecstasy may bring it back.

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