Autism, features and articles | Educational Science

May 31, 2017

Can a Drug That Fights Parasites Also Help with Autism?

A 101-year-old drug that is often used to treat people in Africa with parasitic infections may help ease some of the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children, a new study finds. However, researchers are urging caution about the preliminary results of the drug, called suramin. The study was...

Jun 7, 2017

AI Predicts Autism Based on Infant Brain Scans

Brain scans, analyzed using a type of artificial intelligence, can reveal whether 6-month-old babies are likely to develop autism, a new study shows. The study examined 59 infants who were at high risk of developing autism; that is, each had an older sibling with autism. The artificial intelligence predicted with...

Apr 26, 2018

What's Behind the Recent Rise in Autism in the US?

The percentage of kids with autism in the United States continues to rise, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report found that, in 2014, an estimated 1 in 59 children had autism, up from 1 in 68 children in 2012, and...

May 2, 2018

Can Marijuana Treat Autism? These Clinical Trials Aim to Find Out

A growing number of clinical trials are looking into whether compounds in marijuana can be used to treat some of the symptoms of autism. One of these clinical trials was just announced at the University of California, San Diego, and others are slated to take place in New York at...

Aug 16, 2018

Autism Risk May Increase If Child's Mother Has High DDT Exposure

Pregnant women who have high levels of a byproduct from the banned insecticide DDT in their bodies may be more likely to have a child with autism, a new study finds. Researchers looked at nearly 800 mothers from Finland who had children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and found...

Mar 4, 2019

Confirmed: No Link Between Autism and Measles Vaccine, Even for 'At Risk' Kids

Children who receive the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are not at increased risk for autism, and that includes children who are sometimes considered to be in high risk groups for the neurodevelopmental disorder, a massive new study finds. The new study, published today (March 4) in the journal...

Mar 29, 2023

Rates of autism diagnosis in children are at an all time high, CDC report suggests

The rate of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States has reached an all time high, a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed. However, the sky-high rate is likely due to improved screening and diagnosis, not an epidemic of new cases, the...

Jan 26, 2024

'Butterfly effect' may explain some genetic causes of autism

A butterfly effect may help explain how autism-related genes in DNA get switched on. A new study suggests that, through this complex ripple effect, mutations in genes unrelated to autism end up influencing the activity of genes tied to the disorder. How does this work? DNA contains genetic material called...