Increasing or reducing the levels of the UBE3A gene, which is associated with autism and autism-related syndromes, results in altered patterns of synaptic pruning — a process that snips away brain cell connections.

The mutation increases the activity of an autism-linked protein and leads to social difficulties and other behavioral differences in mice.

The result raises hopes for an ongoing clinical trial in people — and offers fresh insight into the biology of imprinting and the UBE3A antisense transcript.

The treatment eases the animals’ sleep troubles, suggesting it has clinically meaningful effects beyond what was thought to be a critical window in early life.

The people-focused researcher shares her secrets to carving out time for grant writing, creating work-life balance and letting go of unread emails.

Roche’s gene therapy drug Rugonersen boosts expression of the protein missing in the syndrome in mice and monkeys, but whether it works in people remains to be seen.

Interim results from the previously paused trial suggest that doses of the experimental gene therapy drug GTX-102 are well tolerated in children with the autism-linked condition.

Model animals don’t develop the usual behavioral and motor problems when reared in an enclosure containing exercise wheels, toys and treats.

A potential new gene therapy delivered via a single injection mimics ratios of proteins normally found in cells.

These short reports from Spectrum journalists highlight some of the autism-related findings that caught our attention at the meeting this past week.