Each month our editorial team sifts through hundreds of papers and curates notable findings—for practitioners and informed readers who want to stay current with the evidence. Subscribe to the monthly Research Digest for expert analysis and concise summaries of key papers.
20 papers
The study introduced the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), a short self-test that gives a score from 0 to 50 to measure autistic traits in adults with normal intelligence. The researchers tested four groups (58 adults with Asperger/high-functioning autism; 174 random controls; 840 Cambridge students; and 16 math Olympiad winners) and found…
This review looked at brain studies of how people with autism sense sounds, touch, and sights. It notes that unusual sensory reactions are very common in autism (reported in over 96% of children) and that brain measures (like ABR, EEG, MEG, and fMRI) often show differences in early auditory pathways…
This CDC report looked at how common autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was in 2022 at 16 U.S. sites and how early children were identified. Across those sites, 8-year-old children had ASD at a rate of 32.2 per 1,000 (about one in 31). The report found big differences by sex, race…
Researchers tested the 80-question Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R) in 779 adults at nine centers on three continents. The tool showed large score differences between 201 people with confirmed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and 578 comparison participants, and the authors concluded it is a useful tool to help clinicians…
This review looked at eye-tracking studies of infants, toddlers, and young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or at risk for ASD. Eye tracking is a non-invasive way to record where children look, and studies show early differences: reduced looking at people and faces and trouble shifting attention can appear…
We provide the first evidence of a strong persistence into adulthood of a distinctively complex and impairing deprivation-related variant of ADHD. Our results confirm the powerful association of early experience with later development in a way that suggests a role for deep-seated alterations to brain structure and function.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects how people communicate, socialise and behave. It usually starts in early childhood (often before school and sometimes not noticed until 18 months or older) and varies a lot between people — some need little support and others need a…
The authors reviewed 73 mass shooting events (75 shooters) from the Mother Jones database to look for signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They found tentative evidence of ASD in 6 of 75 shooters (8%), plus 16 other cases with some indication; the 8% figure is called a conservative estimate…
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a label used in the UK for people who show a persistent, strong resistance to everyday demands. It is linked to autism but the label is controversial and is not an official clinical diagnosis. Research on demand avoidance is very limited and mostly low quality,…
This chapter explains how autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed and treated today. Doctors mostly use observations and screening tools (like DSM-5 criteria and M-CHAT) to judge social and communication skills because there are no reliable biological tests. Treatments range from behavior programs to medicines and supplements, but no treatment…
RE-STAR tested a new way of doing research that puts young people with ADHD and/or autism at the centre of the research team. Over 24 months, a Youth Researcher Panel of ten people (aged 18–25 at recruitment) moved from giving advice to becoming co-researchers involved across the project. The team…
This retrospective study asked 85 people with ADHD and/or autism who had been prescribed weighted blankets about their sleep and daily routines. The participants reported that the blankets helped them fall asleep, sleep through the night, and relax during the day. Many also said their morning and evening routines (going…
