Tag

Autism

All articles tagged with #autism

health2 days ago•3 min saved

Means Walks a Fine Line on Vaccines in Senate Hearing

During a Senate confirmation hearing, surgeon general nominee Casey Means said vaccines save lives and supports vaccination but did not unequivocally urge people to get vaccinated, instead emphasizing individuals should discuss medical decisions with their doctors and signaling a broader focus on chronic disease; she avoided firm stances on vaccine recommendations and acknowledged ongoing autism research while facing questions from lawmakers.

via Axios|

#autism #casey-means #confirmation-hearing

health3 days ago•11 min saved

RSD: The intense, rapid pain of rejection tied to ADHD

Explores rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), an intense, instantaneous distress to perceived rejection often co-occurring with ADHD (and sometimes autism). Through Jenna Turnbull's experiences and expert insights, it shows how RSD can trigger chest tightness, panic and avoidance, and discusses treatments such as therapy and ADHD medications, highlighting the growing recognition and ongoing stigma surrounding the condition.

via The Guardian|

#adhd #autism #health

health4 days ago•1 min saved

Preconception Health May Shape Autism Risk, Researchers Say

Some researchers argue that health and environmental factors during a 1,300-day window—from before conception through a child’s second year—could influence autism risk by subtly shaping eggs or sperm, prompting efforts to reduce toxins, stress, and infections and educate prospective parents.

via The Boston Globe|

#autism #health #maternal-health

science4 days ago•8 min saved

Brain-Gene Signatures Blur the Lines Between Autism and ADHD

A new study finds autism symptom severity, not diagnostic labels, maps to shared brain-network connectivity and gene-expression patterns linked to autism and ADHD, suggesting a common biology across neurodevelopmental conditions.

via SciTechDaily|

#adhd #autism #biomarkers

science5 days ago•6 min saved

Sensitive Infants Sleep Shallowly: Deep Sleep Less Restorative in Highly Sensitive Babies

A University of East Anglia study using brainwave monitoring shows eight- to eleven-month-old infants with high sensory sensitivity spend similar amounts of time in deep sleep as peers, but their deep sleep is shallower with weaker slow waves, making it less restorative; while noise worsens sleep disruption, these babies remain lighter sleepers even in quiet environments, suggesting an intrinsic sensory wiring difference that could relate to autism traits and early brain development.

via Neuroscience News|

#autism #brain-development #infants

health5 days ago•18 min saved

Could autism be preventable in some cases through early-life exposures?

Some scientists are exploring whether avoiding environmental exposures before conception and in early life—the so‑called 'trimester zero' window—could lower autism risk in some children. While still in early stages, obstetricians like Jeanne Conry point to a 1,300‑day window (from preconception through a child’s second birthday) during which nutrition and lifestyle may influence autism risk, suggesting potential, non-guaranteed prevention rather than definitive outcomes.

via The Washington Post|

#autism #developmental-disorders #health

science10 days ago•12 min saved

Aging with autism: health risks and the need for inclusive research

Older autistic people face higher risks of mood disorders, epilepsy, and age-related conditions such as osteoporosis, heart disease, Parkinson’s and dementia, with many remaining undiagnosed; brain-imaging hints at mixed aging patterns, and experts urge inclusive, long-term research to improve diagnosis and health support for this growing population.

via Nature|

#aging #autism #dementia

gaming14 days ago•5 min saved

Indie Cat-Breeding Roguelike Elevates Neurodiversity to Gameplay Spotlight

Mewgenics, a long-gestating indie game by Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel, has emerged as a surprise hit—a roguelike about breeding cats with 100+ mutations, including autism and ADHD—released on PC in 2026 and quickly topping Steam as developers report strong early sales; McMillen says the game invites players to 'read between the lines' and celebrate neurodiversity, drawing on his own family life after years of development.

via The Verge|

#adhd #autism #cat-breeding

science22 days ago•6 min saved

Parity by adulthood: Sweden study suggests autism affects boys and girls nearly equally

Analyzing 2.7 million Swedes, the study finds autism diagnosis rates between males and females level to near parity by about age 20, implying women are not less likely to have autism but are diagnosed later, highlighting diagnostic biases and the need for revised screening practices.

via ScienceAlert|

#autism #bmj #diagnosis

health23 days ago•4 min saved

Autism in girls often diagnosed later, study finds

A Swedish study of 2.7 million people born 1985–2020 found 2.8% diagnosed with autism between ages 2 and 37. By age 20, male and female diagnosis rates were nearly equal, though boys were diagnosed earlier (median 13.1) than girls (15.9). The findings suggest underdiagnosis or later diagnosis in females, highlighting potential biases in diagnostic tools and the need for better recognition and support for autistic girls and women.

via The Guardian|

#adolescence #autism #diagnosis-delay

health-policy24 days ago•7 min saved

Senate presses NIH director on vaccines and funding upheaval

During a Senate HELP hearing, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya faced tough questions on vaccine safety messaging and sweeping funding disruptions that terminated or paused hundreds of grants and trials, including cancer and HIV research. He reaffirmed that vaccines do not cause autism, cited public mistrust as a contributing factor, and said NIH is moving to fill leadership vacancies and restore advisory councils, while avoiding a firm commitment on disruption impact analyses.

via Fierce Biotech|

#advisory-councils #autism #health-policy

politics24 days ago•63 min saved

NIH Director Refutes RFK Jr.'s Autism-Vaccine Claims at Senate Hearing

At a Senate hearing, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya testified that vaccines do not cause autism, saying he has not seen any study proving a single vaccine triggers autism — a stance that contrasts with HHS Secretary RFK Jr.'s anti-vax positions and his overhaul of autism-research panels. Bhattacharya also emphasized that vaccines remain the best tool to address measles outbreaks.

via The Daily Beast|

#autism #bernie-sanders #national-institutes-of-health

health29 days ago•13 min saved

HHS Adds 21 Experts to Autism Coordinating Committee to Accelerate Research and Policy

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the appointment of 21 new members to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, led by Secretary Kennedy, to advance autism research, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention and to align federal policy with the latest science; the diverse group includes physicians, researchers, advocates, and family members.

via HHS.gov|

#autism #autism-research #health

science1 month ago•96 min saved

Diverse autism mutations converge on a shared chromatin-regulation network in stem-cell–derived human cortex

A large hiPSC-based study generated cortical organoids from eight ASD-risk mutations, idiopathic ASD, and controls, profiling gene expression across 25–100 days. Early mutation-specific changes give way to convergent transcriptional and chromatin-regulatory disruptions enriched for ASD risk genes, including SWI–SNF components. CRISPRi validation supports key regulators driving this convergent network, suggesting that diverse genetic risks in ASD propagate through shared transcriptional pathways that affect early neurodevelopment, while idiopathic cases show less convergence.

via Nature|

#autism #crispr #ipsc

society1 month ago•5 min saved

Trailblazing autism advocate who built UK's first autism school and residential community

London solicitor Michael Baron co-founded the National Autistic Society in 1962 and led campaigns that expanded understanding and services for autism, including creating the UK’s first autism-specific school in 1965 and the first autism residential community in 1974. He helped push the Education (Handicapped Children) Act 1970, earned an MBE in 1980, and dedicated his life to improving opportunities for autistic people and their families. He died aged 96 in 2025.

via The Guardian|

#autism #education-act-1970 #michael-baron