Community Shares | May 20th 2024
Heather Volk, Ph.D., an NIEHS grant recipient and associate professor at Johns Hopkins University, is advancing the understanding of how environmental factors like air pollution and genetic mutations contribute to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. Her research, inspired by an NIEHS grant for postdoctoral training, explores how prenatal exposure to pollutants combined with specific […]
Study Links Prenatal Pesticide Exposure to Lower IQ in Elementary-Aged Children
UC Berkeley Researchers Find Association Between Residential Proximity to Pesticides and Cognitive Decline A new study from UC Berkeley researchers has investigated the impact of prenatal residential proximity to agricultural pesticide use on the neurodevelopment of 7-year-old children in the Salinas Valley of California. Using data from the CHAMACOS study, researchers assessed the association between […]
New Connection Discovered Between PTSD and Autism Traits
Mild Stress Can Trigger PTSD-Like Memories in People with Autism, Highlighting Need for Targeted Stress Management and Early Intervention A recent study published in iScience has revealed a critical link between PTSD-like memory formation and core traits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The authors found that even mild stress could cause PTSD-like memories in mouse […]
Community Shares | May 13th 2024
Researchers have discovered a breakthrough in treating brain cells affected by Timothy syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that can lead to severe developmental issues. Through the use of antisense oligonucleotides, clusters of human neurons carrying the Timothy syndrome mutation were able to develop normally, offering hope for potential treatments not only for Timothy syndrome but […]
In Utero Preeclampsia Exposure Related to Higher Autism Risk in Children
Most Significant Risk of the Disorder Linked to Early Pregnancy Exposure A retrospective population-based clinical cohort study investigated the association between maternal preeclampsia and the risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children. By analyzing data from over 364,000 mother-child pairs, researchers found that preeclampsia, especially when occurring earlier in pregnancy, was linked to a […]
New Research Shows Near-Infrared Light Stimulation Improves Autism Symptoms in Children
Treatment Targets Specific Brain Areas without Any Adverse Reactions A recent study has investigated transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM), a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that delivers near-infrared (NIR) light stimulation to the brain. The research demonstrated that pulsed NIR light stimulation of specific brain areas significantly improved autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms in children aged two to six. […]
