Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects communication, social skills and other behaviours. Characteristic of some cases in both children and adults is repetitive movements or unusual behaviour – stereotyped movements. A research team from France and Morocco describe in the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, an automated detection system...
Tag: <span>Autism</span>
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Too many children with autism are let down by schools and end up in prison
For many young people, school can be a difficult place. And for some, it can be just about impossible. Negative experiences in school can have harmful long-term effects on pupils with autism spectrum conditions. Credit: shutterstock Official figures show that children, are increasingly being suspended or expelled from school because of “behavioural problems” – many...
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Stem Cell–Derived Neurons from People with Autism Grow Differently
Changes in gene expression also hint at how the brains of people with ASD develop differently from those of other people. Neurons derived from the skin cells of people with and without autism spectrum disorder exhibit different patterns of growth and development, according to a study published this week (January 7) in Nature Neuroscience. Cortical neurons derived from skin cells of a person...
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Adults with autism can read complex emotions in others
Psychologists at the University of Kent used eye-tracking technology to monitor participants as they read stories in which a character made a decision then experienced a positive or negative outcome. New research shows for the first time that adults with autism can recognise complex emotions such as regret and relief in others as easily as those without the condition. The lead author Professor Heather Ferguson,...
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Can a video game-based ‘digital medicine’ help children with autism and co-occurring ADHD?
CHOP researchers evaluate feasibility, safety and benefit potential of project: EVO Platform CHILDREN‘S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia, January 3, 2019–Researchers at Children‘s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) evaluated a digital medicine tool designed as an investigational treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and co–occurring attention/deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The results of the study, published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, confirmed the acceptability, feasibility, and...
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Autism behaviors show unique brain network fingerprints in infants
The findings help pinpoint brain regions involved in particular aspects of ASD and provide clues as to how the characteristic behaviors–known as restricted and repetitive behaviors–develop in the brain from an early age. “This study is the first to investigate which patterns of brain functional connectivity underlie the emergence of these behaviors in infancy,” said...
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Drug candidate may recover vocal abilities lost to ADNP syndrome
Protein snippet normalizes disrupted neural connectivity caused by genetic disorder, Tel Aviv University researchers say AMERICAN FRIENDS OF TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY Activity-dependent neuroprotective protein syndrome (ADNP syndrome) is a rare genetic condition that causes developmental delays, intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder symptoms in thousands of children worldwide. There is no known remedy for the disorder. A...
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Autism is associated with zinc deficiency in early development — now a study links the two
Researchers have discovered a mechanistic link between zinc, autism risk genes and abnormal neuronal connections associated with autism spectrum disorders FRONTIERS The emergence of autism in children has not only been linked to genes encoding synaptic proteins – among others – but also environmental insults such as zinc deficiency. Although it is unclear whether zinc deficiency...
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Brainwave activity reveals potential biomarker for autism in children
Kanazawa, Japan – Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can impair communication ability, socialization, and verbal and motor skills. It generally starts in early childhood and is diagnosed through behavior observation. This means of assessment can be imprecise, which is especially problematic when early identification is vital for developmental follow up. A...
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New autism guidelines aim to improve diagnostics and access to services
You can’t test for autism with a simple blood test or scan, which can make the diagnostic process difficult and dependent on the skill and experience of the clinician. Credit: altanaka/Shutterstock New Australian autism guidelines, released today, aim to provide a nationally consistent and rigorous standard for how children and adults are assessed and diagnosed with...