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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Author

Jessica Wright

Jessica Wright was senior news writer at Spectrum from 2010 to 2019. Her writing has also appeared in Nature and Scientific American.

Jessica has a Ph.D. in biological sciences from Stanford University.

August 2018

Beyond the bench: A conversation with Mu Yang

by  /  21 August 2018

Mu Yang spends her days watching mice and her evenings building muscle.

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Collage illustration shows sun rising behind medicine dropper with marijuana leaves growing out of it.

Drug approval could boost research on marijuana treatment for autism

by  /  16 August 2018

The United States has approved a compound derived from marijuana as a treatment for certain types of epilepsy. The ruling may spell good news for autism research.

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One gray mouse sniffs another in an enclosure.

Study revives serotonin as target for autism treatments

by  /  8 August 2018

Boosting the levels of the chemical messenger serotonin makes mice that model autism more social — and brings new hope to a shelved theory in autism.

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July 2018

Machine rapidly sorts cells after learning their shape

by  /  27 July 2018

Researchers have developed a way to quickly sift through thousands of cells, isolating only those of interest.

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Studies unveil hidden ties between epilepsy gene and autism

by  /  23 July 2018

Over the past year, HNRNPU, a gene well known for its link to epilepsy, has emerged as a new autism candidate.

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Seizures may damage learning capacity of rodent brains

by  /  12 July 2018

Seizures early in life may render brain circuits incapable of supporting learning during critical developmental periods.

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New approach predicts impact of mild mutations in autism

by  /  11 July 2018

A new method enables researchers to assess the biological impact of thousands of subtle mutations.

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a particle of gold and a protective shell nable CRISPR to traverse safely into the brain.

Gene editing via nanoparticles may treat autism syndromes

by  /  5 July 2018

A miniature particle delivers the gene-editing tool CRISPR into the brains of fragile X mice.

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June 2018
Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Lactobacillus reuteri. Lactobacillus reuteri, a probiotic bacterium, is found in breast milk and the human gastrointestinal tract. It is also found in cattle, pigs, chickens, turkeys, mice, hamsters, gerbils, ostriches and rats. This Lactobacillus produces reuterin which suppresses pathogens in the guts.

Autism mutation alters balance of gut bacteria in mice

by  /  28 June 2018

Mice with a mutation in a top autism gene may have altered levels of certain gut bacteria; feeding the mice one of these bacterial species eases some of their troubles.

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New restrictions on epilepsy drug may do more harm than good

by  /  21 June 2018

A partial ban in Europe on the use of a drug called valproate during pregnancy could deny women effective treatment for serious conditions.

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