Early-Life Sleep Disruption Associated with a Higher Autism Risk
A new study from the Graham Diering Lab at UNC School of Medicine provides critical insights into how early-life sleep disruption can impair brain development and increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Community Shares | October 28th 2024
This Week’s Articles:
- Researchers are investigating how environmental factors, such as exposure to pyrethroid insecticides, may interact with genetic predispositions to increase the risk of ASD.
- A recent meta-analysis highlights that executive function delays—such as difficulties with attention, impulse control, switching focus, planning, organizing, and problem-solving—are common across neurodevelopmental conditions, including ADHD, autism and Tourette’s syndrome.
- A new study has examined the link between prenatal exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) from specific sources and the risk of ASD in over 300,000 mother-child pairs in southern California.
- Don’t miss this opportunity to explore groundbreaking research on the effects of prenatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a common endocrine-disrupting chemical found in plastics, and its potential role in neurodevelopmental disorders like ASD.
New Research Links Y Chromosome to Increased Autism Risk in Males
Findings Challenge Long-Held X Chromosome Theory and Offer New Direction for Autism Research A new study published in Nature Communications by researchers at Geisinger suggests a significant link between the Y chromosome and the increased prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in males, offering new insights into the condition’s genetic roots. Analyzing data from 177,416 […]
Fewer Synapses Found in Brains of People with Autism
A groundbreaking study published in Molecular Psychiatry used PET scans to reveal that adults with autism have 17% fewer synapses—vital connections between neurons—than neurotypical individuals, with fewer synapses correlating to more pronounced traits associated with autism.
Community Shares | October 21st 2024
This week’s articles:
- A new simulation study utilizing US-wide Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program; children with cerebral palsy (CP) have a higher risk of being diagnosed with ASD.
- A new research article reveals that children with cerebral palsy (CP) have a higher risk of being diagnosed with ASD, with about 7% receiving an ASD diagnosis.
- Biotech company MARAbio has raised $19 million in Series A funding to accelerate the launch of a blood test aimed at detecting maternal autoantibody-related (MAR) autism, which affects an estimated 20% of those diagnosed with autism.
- The Social Security Administration announced that individuals receiving Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will see a 2.5% increase in their payments in 2025 due to an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) tied to inflation.
Pathological Demand Avoidance: Understanding Anxiety-Driven Behavior in Autism
Psychology Today article explores the controversial diagnosis of pathological demand avoidance (PDA), a behavioral profile often seen in individuals on the autism spectrum. PDA is characterized by an intense need to avoid everyday demands due to overwhelming anxiety rather than defiance.
