The diagnostic criteria for autism have evolved, but two trends have persisted across studies: a higher prevalence in boys relative to girls and a substantially high heritability.

By Sneha Chaturvedi, John Constantino, Natasha Marrus, Sven Sandin and Benjamin Yip

https://www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/autism-is-more-heritable-in-boys-than-in-girls/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20240919-more-heritable

Lawmakers are ironing out the next major tranche of federal funding for autism research in the United States, hoping to renew critical legislation—the Autism CARES Act—before it expires on 30 September.

By Rachel Zamzow

https://www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/in-updated-u-s-autism-bill-congress-calls-for-funding-boost-expanded-scope/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20240905-autism-bill

The Transmitter rounds up efforts to improve equity and diversity both within the field and in research projects.

By Daisy Yuhas

https://www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/creating-a-more-inclusive-autism-research-community/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20240822-creating-inclusive

The authors of a 2022 auditory perceptual learning paper retracted their study last month after other researchers identified methodological errors.

By Shaena Montanari

https://www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/task-swap-prompts-data-do-over-for-autism-auditory-perception-study/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20240822-task-swap

A new clinic is assessing children who have a genetic predisposition for autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions—sometimes before traits appear.

By Lauren Schenkman

https://www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/a-genetics-first-clinic-for-catching-developmental-conditions-early-qa-with-jacob-vorstman/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20240815-jacob-vorstman

A 15-item test could strengthen research on early behavioral interventions for autism by enabling head-to-head comparisons of different approaches.

By Sarah DeWeerdt

https://www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/sensitive-test-of-autism-treatment-effects-could-enable-comparison-of-different-interventions/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20240808-sensitive-test

@cathleenogrady sat down with Tony Charman to discuss an autism research registry and how a purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost.

https://www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/building-an-autism-research-registry-qa-with-tony-charman/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20240725-research-registry

Shafali Spurling Jeste discusses using the power of community to strengthen clinical trials for rare genetic syndromes.

By Shafali Spurling Jeste

https://www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/leveraging-the-power-of-community-to-strengthen-clinical-trials-for-rare-genetic-syndromes/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20240711-leveraging-community

July is Fragile X Awareness Month, and in this roundup we highlight some of our coverage of the condition.

By Daisy Yuhas

https://www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/understanding-fragile-x-syndrome/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20240704-understanding-fragile-x

Listen to the newest episode of “Synaptic,” in which So Hyun “Sophy” Kim talks about being mentored by renowned autism researcher Catherine Lord, how her grandparents fled North Korea after the Korean War, and her journey to study in the United States.

By Brady Huggett

https://link.chtbl.com/synapticep15?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20240701-diagnosing-autism