Autism

The Latest Research Discoveries

fMRI Imaging Revealed 2 Distinct Autism Subtypes Involving Under- and Over-Connectivity Patterns, with Potential Implications for Therapeutic Targeting

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Posted: May 15, 2026

fMRI Imaging Revealed 2 Distinct Autism Subtypes Involving Under- and Over-Connectivity Patterns, with Potential Implications for Therapeutic Targeting

Some Genetic Mutations Implicated in Autism Alter Early Brain Development Through Changes in the Regulation of Gene Expression, Study Shows

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Posted: April 23, 2026

Some Genetic Mutations Implicated in Autism Alter Early Brain Development Through Changes in the Regulation of Gene Expression, Study Shows

Study Finds Evidence of a Molecular Mechanism Underlying Altered Excitatory Neurotransmission in Autism

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Posted: March 19, 2026

Study Finds Evidence of a Molecular Mechanism Underlying Altered Excitatory Neurotransmission in Autism

For the First Time, Researchers Model a Crucial Phase of Early Human Brain Development—the Forging of Connections Across the Developing Spinal Cord

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Posted: December 04, 2025

For the First Time, Researchers Model a Crucial Phase of Early Human Brain Development—the Forging of Connections Across the Developing Spinal Cord

A Proof-of-Concept Test for an RNA-Based Therapy to Prevent Effects of a Devastating Autism-Related Gene Mutation

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Posted: May 08, 2025

A Proof-of-Concept Test for an RNA-Based Therapy to Prevent Effects of a Devastating Autism-Related Gene Mutation

Insights Into Sensory Symptoms in Autism and Other Disorders from Stem Cell-Based Model of Key Human Sensory Pathway

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Posted: May 01, 2025

Insights Into Sensory Symptoms in Autism and Other Disorders from Stem Cell-Based Model of Key Human Sensory Pathway

Digital App May Significantly Boost Ability to Detect Autism at ‘Well-Child’ Pediatric Visit

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Posted: August 01, 2024

Digital App May Significantly Boost Ability to Detect Autism at ‘Well-Child’ Pediatric Visit

A Stem Cell-Based Therapeutic “Rescue Strategy” is Developed for Timothy Syndrome, an Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Posted: May 30, 2024

A Stem Cell-Based Therapeutic “Rescue Strategy” is Developed for Timothy Syndrome, an Autism Spectrum Disorder

Four Subtypes of Autism Spectrum Disorder Are Distinguished, Helping to Explain Individual Differences in Symptoms

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Posted: May 04, 2023

Four Subtypes of Autism Spectrum Disorder Are Distinguished, Helping to Explain Individual Differences in Symptoms

Study Suggests Why Cannabidiol (CBD) Can Help To Reduce Epileptic Seizures in Severe Cases

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Posted: March 29, 2023

Study Suggests Why Cannabidiol (CBD) Can Help To Reduce Epileptic Seizures in Severe Cases

Pregnant Mice on High-Fat Diets Have Gut Microbe Deficiencies That Perturb Social Behavior Across Generations of Offspring, Study Finds

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Posted: March 09, 2023

Pregnant Mice on High-Fat Diets Have Gut Microbe Deficiencies That Perturb Social Behavior Across Generations of Offspring, Study Finds

A Potential Neural Source of Social Communication Difficulties in Autism Is Identified

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Posted: January 23, 2023

A Potential Neural Source of Social Communication Difficulties in Autism Is Identified

Genetic Data Suggest How Immune Abnormalities May Help Cause Psychiatric Illness, Across Multiple Disorders

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Posted: January 19, 2023

Genetic Data Suggest How Immune Abnormalities May Help Cause Psychiatric Illness, Across Multiple Disorders

Study Reveals How Gene Regulation Helps Determine Brain Development, Shedding Light on Neurodevelopmental Disorders

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Posted: December 14, 2022

Study Reveals How Gene Regulation Helps Determine Brain Development, Shedding Light on Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Analysis of Brain Scans Reveals Differences in Brains of Boys and Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Posted: December 14, 2022

Analysis of Brain Scans Reveals Differences in Brains of Boys and Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The Neurobiology Behind Young People’s Shift in Interest From Mother’s Voice to Those of Non-Family Members

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Posted: December 13, 2022

The Neurobiology Behind Young People’s Shift in Interest From Mother’s Voice to Those of Non-Family Members

Maternal Sleep Apnea in Pregnancy Is Linked in Animal Model With Autism-like Behavioral Impacts in Offspring

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Posted: December 13, 2022

Maternal Sleep Apnea in Pregnancy Is Linked in Animal Model With Autism-like Behavioral Impacts in Offspring

Lab-Grown Human Neurons Transplanted into the Rat Brain Grew, Connected, and Promise to Shed Light on Psychiatric Illness

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Posted: December 12, 2022

Lab-Grown Human Neurons Transplanted into the Rat Brain Grew, Connected, and Promise to Shed Light on Psychiatric Illness

Using Brainwave Patterns to Predict and Understand Psychiatric Disorders

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Posted: May 05, 2021

Using Brainwave Patterns to Predict and Understand Psychiatric Disorders

Researchers Discover a Role for Immune Cells Called Microglia in Inhibiting Brain Activity and Regulating Behavior

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Posted: October 29, 2020

Researchers Discover a Role for Immune Cells Called Microglia in Inhibiting Brain Activity and Regulating Behavior

Genome Engineering Combined with Stem Cell Technology Provide Insights on Disruptions in Brain Development

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Posted: April 23, 2020

Genome Engineering Combined with Stem Cell Technology Provide Insights on Disruptions in Brain Development

Taking the Next Step in Understanding the Genetic Roots of Mental Illness

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Posted: March 31, 2020

Taking the Next Step in Understanding the Genetic Roots of Mental Illness

Connecting the Dots, From Genes to Brain Biology to Disorders

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Posted: March 31, 2020

Connecting the Dots, From Genes to Brain Biology to Disorders

Maternal Inflammation Early in Pregnancy May Raise Offspring’s Psychosis Risk

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Posted: February 20, 2020

Maternal Inflammation Early in Pregnancy May Raise Offspring’s Psychosis Risk

Higher Maternal Choline Levels in Pregnancy Had Protective Role in Infant Brain Development

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Posted: January 09, 2020

Higher Maternal Choline Levels in Pregnancy Had Protective Role in Infant Brain Development

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Posted: June 30, 2019

A New Way to Diagnose and Treat Autism

Over-sensitivity to Sound, Smell, Touch, or Taste in Preschoolers Predicted Higher Risk for Anxiety at Age 6

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Posted: June 03, 2019

Over-sensitivity to Sound, Smell, Touch, or Taste in Preschoolers Predicted Higher Risk for Anxiety at Age 6

Some Pathologies in Autism are Traced to Stem Cells in the Developing Brain

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Posted: March 29, 2019

Some Pathologies in Autism are Traced to Stem Cells in the Developing Brain

Study Scrutinizes How Autism Impacts Cognition in Adults

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Posted: January 22, 2019

Study Scrutinizes How Autism Impacts Cognition in Adults

Areas Regulating Genes Contribute to Autism’s Cause

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Posted: April 25, 2018

Scientists Discover That Areas Regulating Genes Contribute to Autism’s Cause

Large Gene Expression Study Sheds Light on Causal Factors in Five Brain Disorders

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Posted: April 03, 2018

Large Gene Expression Study Sheds Light on Causal Factors in Five Brain Disorders

New Technique Lets Researchers Watch Human Brain Circuits Begin to Wire-Up

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Posted: July 18, 2017

New Technique Lets Researchers Watch Human Brain Circuits Begin to Wire-Up

Rett Syndrome Shows How Adult Learning Can Be Impaired

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Posted: June 06, 2017

Mouse Model of Rett Syndrome Shows How Adult Learning Can Be Impaired

Critical Connections Are Built in Early Brain

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Posted: January 27, 2017

Mouse Study Reveals How Critical Connections Are Built in Early Brain

New Technique Recreates Large-Scale Genetic Errors

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Posted: September 30, 2016

New Technique Recreates Large-Scale Genetic Errors Linked to Neurodevelopmental Disorders

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Posted: September 09, 2016

In Children with Autism, Metformin May Reduce Weight Gains Associated with Risperdal and Abilify

Abstract Creative Concept of the Human Brain

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Posted: August 30, 2016

Study Finds Some Autism and Schizophrenia Related Genes May Also Be Involved in Bipolar Disorder

Researchers Identify Gene Variations Specifically Associated with Intellectual Disability

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Posted: August 10, 2016

Researchers Identify Gene Variations Specifically Associated with Intellectual Disability

Women Have More Gene Copy Number Variations Than Men

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Posted: July 27, 2016

Women Have More Gene Copy Number Variations Than Men, But This Doesn’t Increase Schizophrenia Risk as Expected

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Posted: July 26, 2016

Cell Signaling Defect May Be Linked to Overgrowth of Neurons Seen in Autism

Doubt is Cast on the Contribution of Older Fathers’ Gene Mutations to Increased Mental Illness Risk in Their Children

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Posted: July 19, 2016

Doubt is Cast on the Contribution of Older Fathers’ Gene Mutations to Increased Mental Illness Risk in Their Children

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Posted: July 13, 2016

Infections During Pregnancy Could Cause Developmental Disorders in Children

Gut Bacteria’s Vital Role in Prefrontal Cortex, Brain’s White Matter

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Posted: June 09, 2016

Gut Bacteria's Vital Role in Prefrontal Cortex, Brain's White Matter

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Posted: May 13, 2016

Some Autism-Like Behaviors Disappear in Adult Mice After Switching on the Shank3 Gene

Photo credit: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

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Posted: April 18, 2016

Mouse Study Links Abnormal Social Behavior to Critical Prenatal Period of Brain Development

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Posted: March 07, 2016

Abnormalities in a Highly Duplicated Genome Region May Reveal Continuities in Symptoms of Schizophrenia and Autism

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Posted: February 16, 2016

Signaling Defects Discovered in Cells of People with Autism

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Posted: January 29, 2016

Mouse Research Points Toward Deep-Brain Stimulation as Possible New Autism Treatment

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Posted: January 20, 2016

New Research May Help Explain the Dramatic Rise in Autism Diagnoses

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Posted: January 15, 2016

In Mouse Model of Autism, Atypical Vocalizations Reduce Maternal Care

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Posted: January 05, 2016

Brain Imaging Reveals Indicator of Future Behavior Changes for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Posted: October 30, 2015

New Evidence that a Faulty Gene Impairs Nerve Cell Communication in Autism

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Posted: August 14, 2015

Watching Patient-Derived Brain Cells Take Shape in the Lab Reveals Autism Defect

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Posted: June 01, 2015

Large-Scale Gene Mutation Disrupts Brain Development During Key Period

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Posted: May 12, 2015

In Autistic Children, Brain Activity Linked to Differences in Language Development

Autism-Associated Genes Linked With Slight Boost in Cognition

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Posted: May 04, 2015

Autism-Associated Genes Linked With Slight Boost in Cognition in People Without Autism

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Posted: April 03, 2015

Brain Connection Patterns Linked With Autism Change Over Time

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Posted: March 24, 2015

“Systems Approach” for Integrating Autism Study Data Yields Unique Insights

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Posted: March 09, 2015

The Smallest Gene Segments May Play a Big Role in Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Posted: March 02, 2015

An Old Drug Provides a New Clue to Autism’s Cause

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Posted: February 18, 2015

Oxytocin––the “Love Hormone”––Improves Social Interaction in a Mouse Model of Autism

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Posted: February 10, 2015

Even Within Families, Gene Variations Differ Among Siblings With Autism

Researchers Reverse Engineer Schizophrenia “in a Dish”

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Posted: January 22, 2015

To Better Understand Mental Disorders, Researchers Reverse Engineer Schizophrenia “in a Dish”

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Posted: November 17, 2014

A Discarded Baby Tooth May Unlock Causes and Treatment for Atypical Autism

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Posted: November 04, 2014

Two Major Papers Point to Many New Gene Mutations Capable of Causing Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Posted: October 28, 2014

Foundation-Funded Research Uncovers Cause of Rare Neurodevelopmental Disorder

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Posted: October 20, 2014

New Research by Foundation Outstanding Achievement Prizewinner Suggests “Spectrum” Attention Disorder

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Posted: September 22, 2014

New Technique Successfully Identifies Hard-to-Find Genetic Mutations Linked to Brain Disorders

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Posted: September 11, 2014

Identifying Brain Activity Underlying Symptoms of Autism May Lead to Better Treatments

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Posted: August 22, 2014

New York Times Article Features Research Showing an Excess of Synapses in Autism

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Posted: August 15, 2014

Foundation-Funded Researcher Identifies Brain “Switchboard” that May Malfunction in Autism, Schizophrenia

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Posted: August 08, 2014

Foundation-Supported Research Finds “Helper” Cells in Brain Actually Support Memory Function

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Posted: August 01, 2014

Common Gene Variants Found To Account for Most Genetic Risk in Autism.

Stem Cell Technology Offers Rare Inside View of Brain Development and Schizophrenia

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Posted: July 15, 2014

Stem Cell Technology Offers Rare Inside View of Brain Development and Schizophrenia

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Posted: July 14, 2014

NARSAD Grantee Identifies How Genetic Disorder Disrupts Brain Development

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Posted: May 15, 2014

Impeded Development of “Information Highway” in the Brain Linked to Autism

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Posted: April 24, 2014

New Class of Medications May Treat Type of Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Posted: January 06, 2014

New Insights Offer Potential for Better Treatments of Rett Syndrome

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Posted: December 17, 2013

NARSAD Grant Furthers Exploration of Link between Older Fathers and Mental Illness

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Posted: December 12, 2013

Chicken or Egg? New Research Shows Men and Women’s Brains are Wired Differently

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Posted: December 05, 2013

New York Times Reports that the “Love Hormone”―Oxytocin―May Help Treat Autism

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Posted: December 03, 2013

First-time Recordings of Single Neurons Could Lead to More Precise Treatments for Autism

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Posted: September 19, 2013

Why Social Interaction is Pleasurable: Implications for Treatment of Autism

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Posted: September 10, 2013

Early Brain Developmental Process Linked to Autism, Schizophrenia and Epilepsy

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Posted: August 16, 2013

Researchers Uncover New Schizophrenia Warning Sign and Discover Link with Fragile X Syndrome

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Posted: July 26, 2013

2013 Freedman Prize Honorable Mention: Hiroki Taniguchi, Ph.D.

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Posted: July 26, 2013

2013 Klerman Prizewinner: James McPartland, Ph.D.

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Posted: July 18, 2013

Genetic Sequencing Technology Helps Uncover New Potential Causes of Schizophrenia

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Posted: July 15, 2013

NARSAD Grantees Find In-Utero Exposure to Antibodies May Cause Autism

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Posted: June 21, 2013

NPR Reports: NARSAD Grantee Helps Uncover Why Voices Aren’t Pleasurable in Autism

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Posted: June 04, 2013

NARSAD Grantee Helps Identify Anxiety Treatment Target to Boost Extinction Therapy

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Posted: May 09, 2013

A New Window to Study Mental Illness: Stem Cells Converted to Brain Cells

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Posted: April 23, 2013

NARSAD Grantee Furthers Understanding of Environmental Role in Causing Autism

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Posted: April 18, 2013

Genetic Link to Faulty Brain Signaling Offers Target for Autism Treatment

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Posted: March 28, 2013

NARSAD Grant Research Team Identifies New Genetic Pathway Linked to Autism

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Posted: February 07, 2013

Foundation Grantees Develop Brain Atlas to Aid Understanding of Autism, Schizophrenia

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Posted: January 18, 2013

New York Times Reports that Autism May Not Be a Lifelong Diagnosis

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Posted: December 21, 2012

NARSAD Grantee Furthers Understanding of What Causes Autism

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Posted: December 17, 2012

New Understanding of Fragile X Syndrome Points to New Treatment Possibilities

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Posted: November 12, 2012

NARSAD Grantee Leads Research Finding Potentially Preventable Cause of Autism

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Posted: November 08, 2012

Dr. Matthew State Honored for Outstanding Achievement in Child and Adolescent Research

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Posted: November 02, 2012

NARSAD Grant-Funded Research Identifies Where Empathy Originates in the Brain

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Posted: September 27, 2012

NARSAD Grant-Funded Research Identifies New Target to Treat Autism

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Posted: September 24, 2012

Translating Epigenetics Into Novel Therapies For Autism and Schizophrenia

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Posted: September 24, 2012

Research News Update - Fatherhood Matters

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Posted: August 27, 2012

Does Inflammation Cause Autism? NY Times Article Cites Work of NARSAD Grantee

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Posted: August 23, 2012

NY Times: New Study Confirming Risk of Autism and Schizophrenia Increases with Father’s Age

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Posted: July 05, 2012

NARSAD Grant-funded Research Finds Links Between Schizophrenia, Bipolar and Autism

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Posted: May 25, 2012

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Researchers Discover Oxytocin Increases Brain Function in Autism

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Posted: April 18, 2012

What Do Autistic People See? Understanding Visual Focus in Autism as a Path to Better Diagnosis and Treatment

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Posted: April 06, 2012

NY Times Features NARSAD Grant-Funded Research Findings on Risk for Autism

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Posted: January 16, 2012

New Discovery Improves Capacity to Identify Genetic Susceptibility for Autism and Develop Better Treatments

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Posted: December 23, 2011

New Research Points Toward Early Detection and Intervention for Autism

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Posted: November 30, 2011

A Scientist Writes About Autism, Schizophrenia and their Causes

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Posted: November 21, 2011

New Autism Studies Shed Light on Gene Expression in the Brain

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Posted: October 24, 2011

New Understanding of Autism and Schizophrenia in Adolescence?

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Posted: October 03, 2011

A “GPS” System for Brain Cells is Created by 2011 NARSAD Distinguished Investigator Grantee

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Posted: August 26, 2011

New Discovery on the Brain’s Capacity to Regenerate

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Posted: January 21, 2011

NARSAD-Funded Research, Walking for Your Mental Health and ‘Well’ Blog on Autism

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Posted: November 01, 2010

NARSAD-Funded Research Uncovers Why Boys Are More Susceptible to Autism

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Posted: September 30, 2010

NARSAD-Funded Research Makes Autism Discovery

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Posted: July 29, 2010

DSM-5: Shaping the Future of Psychiatric Diagnosis

1 in 31 children

In the United States, about 1 in 31 children (3.2%) aged 8 years has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to estimates from the Center for Disease Control's ADDM Network.*

* Source: Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

3 : 1

Autism Spectrum Disorder is estimated to be over 3 times more common among boys than among girls.*

* Source: Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

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Stem-cell technology is making it possible, using animal models, to observe the emergence of cell and circuit pathologies in the developing #brain which may be implicated in #autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Tweet

Autism

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