News
Infection during pregnancy may alter expression of autism genes
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A mother’s immune response to a severe infection during pregnancy disrupts the expression of autism genes in her child, a rat study suggests.
TOPIC
Environment
From parental age to infection during pregnancy, environmental elements can influence autism risk.
News
Maternal infection may alter neuronal signals, connections
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Pups born to pregnant mice infected with a mock virus are known to show changes in their immune system. These effects may in turn impair proper brain signaling, according to results presented Saturday at the 2013 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in San Diego.
News
Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy tied to autism risk
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Children born to women who had low blood levels of vitamin D while pregnant double their risk of autism.
News
Smoking during pregnancy may up autism risk in grandchildren
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A woman who smokes while pregnant may increase autism risk in her daughter’s children.
May 2017
Features / Special Reports
Untold stories of adults with autism
A severe infection during pregnancy disrupts the expression of autism genes in the child, a study in rats suggests1. The findings may help to explain why maternal infections boost autism risk by as much as 37 percent. Infections set off an immune reaction involving molecules that can enter the womb. The new work shows that […]
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News
Parents’ ages influence autism traits in general population
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Children born to parents who are unusually young or old stand an increased chance of having features of autism or other psychiatric conditions.
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April 2017
Opinion / Viewpoint
Romanian orphans reveal clues to origins of autism
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Understanding autism features in children who were deprived of social contact as infants could offer clues to the condition.
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News
Trio of studies cast doubt on link between autism, antidepressants
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Increased autism risk among children exposed to antidepressants in utero may be related less to the medications than to the mothers’ depression.
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March 2017
News
Difficulties with pregnancy, labor may raise child’s autism risk
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A large study finds that certain health complications during pregnancy or delivery increase the chances of having a child with autism by 26 percent or more.
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News
‘Triple-hit’ study may help explain autism’s male bias
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The absence of an autism-linked gene, combined with exposure to a mock infection, produces social deficits in mice — but only in males.
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February 2017
Features / Deep Dive
This is a story of autism in small-town America
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Rural living can be wonderful: community, friendly faces, a slower pace of life. But when there’s autism in the family, it can be tough.
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January 2017
News
Exposure to feces in womb tied to autism risk
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Babies who have their first bowel movement before birth have a slightly increased risk of autism, according to a study of nearly 10 million people.
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Opinion / Q&A
Questions for Daphna Joel: Brain sex differences may be mirage
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Instead of simply listing sex differences in the brain, researchers should consider how sex interacts with other factors to affect the brain, Joel says.
