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Research by Topic: brain
Guys, we all need exercise
Published July 2, 2019 in ASF PodcastPeople with autism are less likely to be physically active and more likely to be sedentary. A number of studies have looked into different physical activities, both group based and individually, on improvements in health as well as core features of autism, and most have had positive results. New animal model research demonstrates a […]
https://asfpodcast.org/archives/768
Filed under: Autism Research, Autism Science, brain, intervention, motor, physical activity, podcast, social behavior
Yeah, another study about autistic poop
Published July 2, 2019 in ASF PodcastThis week’s podcast includes a summary of the new study, this time in an animal model, looking at microbiome transplantation. Because this was more of an experimental model, the researchers could be more rigorous in their design and look at things like behavior, brain activity, and specific biological pathways. While a mouse does not have […]
https://asfpodcast.org/archives/764
Filed under: adaptive behavior, animal model, Autism Research, Autism Science, AutismBrainNet, brain, BSRC, complementary and alternative medicines, Day of Learning, Genetics, micro biome, neurotypical, podcast, prevention, Repetitive Behavior, Screening, social behavior, Toddlers
An update on females with autism, on the double
Published July 1, 2019 in ASF PodcastFemales with autism are different than males with autism in a lot of ways. This week, researchers used twins to examine the differences between males and females with autism in their brain structure and how it’s associated with autism traits, not a diagnosis. To do this, researchers in Sweden turned to twins. As it turns […]
https://asfpodcast.org/archives/713
Filed under: Autism Research, Autism Science, brain, dults, podcast, sex difference, Uncategorized
Autism spectrum disorders underneath a bigger umbrella: more data from the brain
Published July 1, 2019 in ASF PodcastThere is demonstrated genetic overlap between many neurodevelopment disorders including ASD, ADHD, and schizophrenia, and now there is data showing similarities in the structure and size of the brains in people with autism and those with ADHD. These differences depend on how severe social difficulties are, but the similarities are seen with ASD and ADHD, […]
https://asfpodcast.org/archives/702
Filed under: Adults, Autism, Autism Research, Autism Science, brain, employment, podcast, sex differences, Social Skills, Uncategorized, women
Genes and Environment, Genes and Environment. Go together like aging and retirement
Published July 1, 2019 in ASF PodcastTwins with autism, where either one or both is diagnosed, is crucial to understand the role of genetics and the environment to both autism diagnoses and now, autism traits. In a study this week, researchers using data from the California Twins Study examined the genetic and environmental influences of brain development in multiple regions and […]
https://asfpodcast.org/archives/693
Filed under: animal model, Autism Research, Autism Science, brain, brainwave, Environment, gene x environment, gene x environment interactions, podcast
Understanding the hard to research
Published July 1, 2019 in ASF PodcastWhat do Princess Kate and Amy Schumer have in common, and what does it have to do with autism? The answer: Hyperemesis Gravidum. It’s linked to autism, but not strongly, but it does show more evidence of significant overlap between many neuropsychiatric issues and disorders. More importantly though, those with low verbal ability and low […]
https://asfpodcast.org/archives/683
Filed under: anxiety, Autism Reseach, Autism Science, brain, cognitive ability, gene x environment, overlap, podcast, Uncategorized, verbal ability, women
Neuron numbers increase in the human amygdala from birth to adulthood, but not in autism
Published June 26, 2019 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of AmericaRemarkably little is known about the postnatal cellular development of the human amygdala. It plays a central role in mediating emotional behavior and has an unusually protracted development well into adulthood, increasing in size by 40% from youth to adulthood. Variation from this typical neurodevelopmental trajectory could have profound implications on normal emotional development. We […]
https://www.pnas.org/content/115/14/3710.long
Filed under: autism brainnet, Autism Research, Autism Science, brain, neuron
Podcast: From cells to anxiety
Published October 29, 2018Dr. Inna Fishman from San Diego State University explains how findings from brain tissue helps scientists interpret data which studies how brain regions connect to each other and why this is important for understanding autism subgroups. Also, researchers from the Karolinska Institutet examine ADHD diagnosed in adults, and find it is similar to autism. Listen […]
Filed under: ADHD, Adults, ASD, asf, Autism, brain, Diagnosis, featured, Inna Fishman, Karolinska Institute, podcast, research, San Diego State University, science, SDSU
Podcast: The waterbed around your brain (and its role in sleep)
Published October 22, 2018This week, Dr. Mark Shen from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill explains new findings looking at the fluid around the brain. It’s now seen in families even without a family history of ASD, the finding has now been seen in different independent studies, including those at the UC Davis MIND Institute in […]
Filed under: ASD, asf, Autism, Biomarkers, brain, cerebrospinal fluid, Chapel Hill, featured, Mark Shen, podcast, research, science, UC Davis MIND Institute, UNC
Spring 2018 Autism BrainNet newsletter available now
Published April 27, 2018The Spring 2018 issue of the Autism BrainNet newsletter is out now! Among other news, it highlights recent research using its donated brain tissue resources in autism genetics and neuroanatomy, the science campaign Brain Awareness Week, and outreach efforts through Autism Speaks walks around the country. You can view and read this issue here.
Filed under: ABN, advocacy, Autism, autism brainnet, brain, Brain Awareness Week, brain tissue, donation, featured, Genomics, research, science
Podcast: Loss of skills in autism partially explained
Published March 19, 2018On this week’s ASF podcast, regression—what is it and who can see it? Using the right tools, both parents and clinicians can see that many more children with autism than thought show regression, a gradual decline or loss of skills starting at around 12 months of age and showing continual declines until 36 months of […]
Filed under: asf, brain, communication, featured, NIMH, podcast, regression, Sally Ozonoff, Social Skills, UC Davis
Podcast: Commonly used drugs that may help autism
Published March 5, 2018On this week’s podcast, Dr. Alycia Halladay overviews three new studies looking at commonly used drugs that may help autism not just by improving behavior, but also by how they impact the brain. Plus, a fun study about social media.
Filed under: Autism, Behavior, brain, drugs, featured, social media
The latest on understanding the brains of people with autism
Published October 23, 2017In a new blog post, ASF CSO Alycia Halladay explains the newest research in understanding the brains of people with autism.
Filed under: aging, autism brainnet, brain, Epigenetics, featured, prenatal, research
Podcast: Brain tissue: what has it done for autism lately?
Published June 12, 2017In order to ensure that researchers have enough brain tissue to understand autism spectrum disorders, the education and outreach campaign of the Autism BrainNet is being expanded past families to doctors and professionals that have access to tissue. One of these groups is neuropathologists. At their annual meeting this past week in Los Angeles, an […]
Filed under: Autism, brain, featured, neuropathology
ASF Fellow Featured in “Scientific American”
Published May 22, 2017Dr. Donna Werling from UCSF, Autism Science Foundation fellow, was featured in “Scientific American” for her recent study on the differences between male and female brain development. Click here to learn more.
Filed under: Autism, brain, featured
Podcast: To see differences in the brains of males and females with autism, you have to look at the brains of males and females with autism
Published February 27, 2017Last month, UC Davis researcher Dr. Cyndi Schumann used resources from the Autism BrainNet to look at what causes differences in the rates of diagnosis between males and females. Consistent with other studies on this topic, males and females do not show differences in the rates of autism genes, but rather in the way that the […]
Filed under: Autism, brain, featured, herpes
Autism BrainNet family’s brave decision featured on CNN
Published September 16, 2016Released September 15, 2016, this new report on CNN highlights the importance of brain donation and brain tissue research. To learn more about the Autism BrainNet, click here.
Filed under: Autism, Autism News, Autism Science, brain, featured
Brain tissue is used to identify commonalities across neuropsychiatric disorders
Published May 25, 2016In a recent study published in Nature, Dr. Shannon Ellis looks past the sequence of genes and uses gene expression profiling to understand the similarities between autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Using brain tissue from people affected with these disorders provided through the Autism BrainNet, she demonstrates a common decrease in gene expression relating to […]
Filed under: autism brainnet, brain, gene expression, neurodevelopment, Schizophrenia
ASF podcast summarizes the NIH workshop on regression
Published February 23, 2016On Friday, February 19, the NIH organized a workshop on regression in autism. It included autism researchers as well as neurobiologists studying regression in other disorders, specifically Rett Syndrome. Rett Syndrome is characterized by a regression in symptoms around 18-30 months of age but is the result of a known genetic mutation. Because the genetic mutation […]
Filed under: brain, featured, neuron, regression, Rett Syndrome