Autism Spectrum Disorders News

Between 2009 and 2017, approximately one in six children aged 3 to 17 years in the United States had a diagnosed developmental disability, according to updated prevalence estimates published in Pediatrics. Researchers noted increases specifically in the prevalence of ADHD, autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability.

Fine motor skills were a key predictor of language outcomes in two longitudinal cohorts of language-delayed preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, according to findings published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

Researchers developed a technique for analyzing children’s gazes that may help identify whether they have autism spectrum disorder, according to an analysis recently published in Computers and Biology in Medicine.

Maternal anemia in early pregnancy appeared to be linked to greater risk for autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and intellectual disability among offspring, findings published in JAMA Psychiatry revealed.

Offspring born via cesarean delivery were at increased risk for autism spectrum disorder and ADHD compared with those born by vaginal delivery, findings published in JAMA Network Open revealed.

Diagnosing young children soon after symptom emergence expedites the start of interventions for autism spectrum disorder, and can help prepare children and their parents, according to a JAMA Network Insight published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Using population data from five countries, researchers estimated that the heritability of autism spectrum disorder was about 80%, indicating that inherited genetic influences contributed to most of the variation in ASD occurrence in the population.

Data from two phase 2 clinical trials published in Science Translational Medicine showed that modulating the hormone vasopressin’s biological pathway may improve social functioning in adults and children with autism spectrum disorder.

The FDA has given fast track designation to Finch Therapeutics’ Full-Spectrum Microbiota, or FSM, therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder, according to the company.

Nearly one-quarter of children with autism spectrum disorder have pica — an eating disorder involving the eating of nonfood items — according to research presented at the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service Conference.