Study Spotlight: GEARS Study
Scientists aim to uncover how genetic and environmental factors might interact to raise risk for autism.
Learn MoreTopic: Autism research
Autism is a complex condition. Researchers across a wide variety of disciplines, from cell biology to education, are providing insights through their work. The articles listed below discuss what autism researchers are learning with the help of all of the research participants in the autism community.
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Finding New Treatments for Autism
Testing new therapies for autism can be a challenge. Psychiatrist Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele reviews available treatments, outlines some promising options on the horizon and describes how to get involved in research.
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Fast Brain Growth and Altered Brain Function in Babies Linked to Autism
Two brain imaging studies suggest it is possible to detect autism in high-risk infants as early as 6 months.
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A View From Both Sides: Scientist and Father
Kevin Pelphrey, director of the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute at George Washington University, reflects on how having two children with autism has shaped his scientific career.
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Researcher Spotlight: Dr. Craig Erickson
Summers spent at a camp for people with disabilities inspired the psychiatrist to focus on autism.
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SPARK Community Update: Diagnosis Stories
We asked SPARK participants to tell us about how they or their family members were diagnosed with autism and what it means to them.
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What Makes an Autism Gene?
Scientists are regularly discovering new genes that might be linked to autism. How do they know when they have found a linked gene?
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Helping Students with Autism Navigate Back-to-School Time
Returning to school after summer vacation can be hard for any child. For a student with autism, this time of year can be especially stressful. Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have trouble adjusting to change. In fact, “insistence on sameness” and “difficulties with transition” are symptoms of ASD. A new classroom, schedule, teachers, classmates, or new school can trigger distress far beyond the typical back-to-school blues.
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Tips for Preventing Wandering
Wandering is a huge safety concern for families with autism, particularly during the warm summer months.
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A Father’s Tale
John Smigle says that participating in typical activities, like boy scouts and baseball, has helped his son Christopher, who has autism, develop social skills.
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