Origins & Research Updates

Amid growing investment in the field, a new paper argues it rests on shaky foundations

There's no scientific evidence that the gut microbiome causes autism, a group of scientists argue in an opinion paper published in Neuron. They point to the fact that conclusions from past research that supported this hypothesis—including observational studies, mouse models of autism, and human clinical trials—are undermined by flawed assumptions, small sample sizes, and inappropriate statistical methods.

A new opinion paper shows no convincing evidence that there is a causal link between gut bacteria and autism, citing weak research and hype that sustained an unproven theory.

Familial genetic factors, confounding may have driven previous outcomes

Blog encouraging critical debate about psychiatry

The autism community finds itself divided over whether creating a 'profound autism’ subtype would help those with the greatest needs, or leave them even more vulnerable.

A debated link between Tylenol and autism has put the neurodevelopmental condition in the spotlight. An expert answers parents’ top questions

A small trial shows behavioral gains with memantine in a subset of youth with autism. While promising, researchers are quick to note that more research is needed.

Clinicians and researchers continue to push back on unsupported claims about the causes of autism while new NIH projects aim to clarify its complex origins.

Clinicians can no longer avoid discussing the potential association between acetaminophen and autism with patients, and transparency is paramount.

Autism diagnosed early differs genetically and developmentally from autism identified later, challenging the theory that it is a single, uniform condition.

The phrases "autism spectrum" or "on the spectrum" have become part of everyday language. They are often used as different ways of referring to someone who is "neurodivergent."

Explore this post and more from the sciences community

On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration published a notice to the Federal Register ahead of a speech by President Donald Trump, approving a version of leucovorin...

Hi! I'm Orion Kelly and I'm Autistic. A groundbreaking new study, “Decomposition of phenotypic heterogeneity in autism reveals underlying genetic programs” (...

Classes of autism are uncovered with a generative mixture modeling approach leveraging matched phenotypic and genetic data from a large cohort, revealing different genetic programs underlying their phenotypic and clinical traits.

Scientists identified four genetic autism subtypes—Social & Behavioral Challenges, Mixed ASD with Developmental Delay, Moderate Challenges, Broadly Affected—linking specific genetic patterns to children's traits and improving personalized care.

Free certificates of participation are available upon successful completion of a brief knowledge quiz at https://autism.org/microbiome_dysbiosis_research/Han...

New research supports a paradigm shift from viewing autistic communication through a deficit model to recognizing it as a difference in communication style.

A research team has unveiled the cause and molecular mechanism of chronic brain inflammation that results in repetitive behavioral disorders. The research team demonstrated that an inflammatory response ...

Standard approaches to mental health issues, designed from within a neurotypical framework, may actually cause harm to Autistic people. We need to update our understanding of the wide spectrum of neurodivergence.

Purpose Black families experience additional barriers to accessing autism-related supports compared to White families. Community organizations can help mitigate the negative impact of systemic inequities and lack of support that Black caregivers of autistic family members experience. Little is known about the types of support Black families seek from these organizations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the support needs of Black families raising autistic children as evidenced by communication patterns in a community-based statewide autism organization. Our research questions were: (1) What are the autism-related support needs of Black families raising autistic children; and (2) How do familial demographics influence these support needs? Methods We explored the support needs of Black caregivers of autistic family members by analyzing a subset of 1,460 entries (16.8% of the total communication entries) within a database of communication entries from a community-based autism organization in one southeastern state in the United States. We analyzed the frequency of support request types and the relationships between support requests and familial demographics (i.e., rurality, gender, age). Results We found that Black families most often requested family or individual support, school-related support, and behavioral support. Families requested support with bullying, social services, and health insurance less often. We found significant interactions between the three most requested services and the rurality, gender, and age of the autistic family member. Conclusion We conclude with suggestions for autism support organizations seeking to better meet the needs of Black families.

Carving up the spectrum allows for more targeted research and interventions. But that only works if everyone does it the same way.

Explore the DSM criteria for autism, changes in diagnosis, and challenges faced in understanding ASD.

Discover the DSM 5 autism diagnosis standards, including criteria changes and severity levels for accurate assessment.

Explore dsm 5 tr autism's diagnostic criteria and its significance for effective advocacy.

Discover the essentials of dsm-5-tr autism, including diagnostic criteria, characteristics, and support strategies.