autism

Researchers discovered how valproic acid, a medication commonly used to treat epilepsy, migraines, and bipolar disorder, causes birth defects when taken during pregnancy.Researchers determined that valproic acid prevents nervous system cells from properly developing and dividingWhen used during pregnancy, the drug valproic <span class="glossaryLink" aria-describedby="tt" data-cmtooltip="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>acid</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>Any substance that when…

When it comes to neurodevelopmental conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the earlier and more accurate the diagnosis the better – it means more time for treatment and symptom management, and often a diagnosis provides people with a far better understanding of themselves.  However, ADHD and ASD – like many mental disorders – require criteria to be diagnosed, and exist on a nuanced spectrum. There's no one test that can identify what's going on. New research…

Autism and ADHD are becoming better understood, but clinicians can still find the two conditions difficult to tell apart. Now, South Australian researchers say they've identified biomarkers that could allow these two conditions to be diagnosed and distinguished from one another using a simple eye test.Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the more common of the two conditions, affecting some 5-8 percent of children, primarily boys, and often lasting into adulthood. It carries a relatively broad range of…

Ling Shao’s 3-year-old autistic son struggles to communicate. “My youngest son, he has almost a calcified part of his forehead because he bangs it on the floor so much because he’s frustrated, and he can’t communicate what he wants,” she says. “It’s heartbreaking.”Shao, who is the mother of four children with autism spectrum disorder, is a health industry veteran. She has held executive leadership roles at insurer UnitedHealth, healthcare services giant Optum, and digital healthcare startup Buoy Health. But she grew…

Bullying can lead to long-term psychological and physiological symptoms. Credit: Shutterstock Children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, experience various types of challenges at school. This might be due to communication, and also relationships with other children. …

Making use of artificial intelligence, a team of scientists from the Boston College have shed light on the differences in the behaviour of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and its link with neuroanatomy. Autism or ASD is a complicated condition that is characterised by difficulties with communication and behaviour including problems with social interaction, and restricted and repetitive patterns in interests and activities. The condition affects people differently, both in terms of neuroanatomy and symptoms.…

According to a new study, babies who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at 24 months had differences in the visual processing areas of the brain at 6 months old.Infants who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at 24 months old had differences in the visual processing areas of the brain that were apparent at 6 months old, according to a research study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The scientists theorized that disruption in visual processing could interfere with how infants see…

Scientists have uncovered changes in neurological structure that could underlie the autism spectrum disorder known as Pitt Hopkins syndrome, thanks to the help of lab-grown brains developed from human cells.  Furthermore, the researchers were able to recover lost genetic functions through the use of two different gene therapy strategies – hinting at the possibility of treatments that could one day give those with the condition new options in improving their quality of life.Pitt Hopkins syndrome is a neurodevelopmental…