Autism News From Medical News Today

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental disabilities that can cause considerable social, communication and behavioral challenges. People with ASD often have issues with social, emotional, and communication skills. They might repeat certain behaviors and might not be comfortable with change occurring in their daily activities. Many people with ASD also have different ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to things. There is currently no cure for ASD. However, research shows that early intervention treatment services can improve a child’s development.

• The 10 best autism blogs

  Autism affects everyone differently depending on its severity. We have found the best autism blogs that support individuals, families, and carers.

• What is stimming?

  Stimming is a common symptom of autism. Learn more about it here, including the different types of behavior that can occur, and what can be done to help.

• Could multivitamin use in pregnancy protect children from autism?

  A new study published in The BMJ suggests that children born to mothers who use multivitamins during pregnancy may be at lower risk of autism.

• How does oxytocin control the brain's social reward circuit?

  New research sheds light on the mechanisms behind the brain's social reward circuitry. Results point to oxytocin as the "gatekeeper" to prosocial behavior.

• Folic acid may mitigate autism risk from pesticides

  Researchers at UC Davis and other institutions have shown that mothers who take recommended amounts of folic acid around conception might reduce their children's pesticide-related autism risk.

• Flat affect: Psychological symptoms and treatment

  Flat affect is characterized by a lack of reaction to emotional stimuli, and can include a monotone voice or lack of expression in the face. Learn more.

News-Medical.Net Aspergers Syndrome News Feed

Latest Aspergers Syndrome News and Research

• First in-car study of rush hour pollution finds alarming results

  The first in-car measurements of exposure to pollutants that cause oxidative stress during rush hour commutes has turned up potentially alarming results.

• Developmental Split-Brain syndrome discovery

  Our group describes a new entity, which we refer to as “Developmental Split-Brain syndrome” which we discovered affected four individuals from three unrelated families. All affected individuals showed disruption of communicating tracts between the right and left side of the brain which meant that there is lack of coordination and communication between the two sides of the brain.

• Researchers discover 'Developmental Split-Brain syndrome' caused by biallelic mutations in DCC gene

  In a study published in Nature Genetics, Dr Saumya Jamuar, co-founder of Global Gene Corp and a visiting scientist at Harvard Medical School, under the supervision of Prof Christopher Walsh and A/Prof Timothy Yu of Harvard Medical School, reports on a new disease entity that they discovered in their quest to map novel human disorders related to brain development.

• Augmented reality improves mental abilities of children with autism

  Augmented reality is of considerable help to children with disabilities and children with special educational needs (SEN) - autism, Asperger's syndrome, ADHD, and others. So says Veska Aleksieva, an experienced educational expert, regarding the products of Duard, a European-based company specialising in augmented reality

• Vanderbilt engineers develop virtual-reality driving environment to help teenagers with ASD

  Astronauts and pilots use them. So do truck drivers and Formula One race-car drivers.

• University of Derby introduces new MOOC to provide better knowledge on autism, Asperger’s and ADHD

  A new Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) to educate anyone interested in learning more about autism, Asperger’s and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been launched by the University of Derby.