Autism spectrum disorder

Obesity before pregnancy, not just during, may shape a child’s brain and raise the risk of autism, a new study has found. Epigenetic changes in eggs triggered gene shifts linked to autism-like behaviors, revealing a critical window for prevention.

We know autism is not a single, homogeneous condition. Instead it's shaped by different traits, genes, and life experiences. Scientists have now discovered four distinct types of autism, each with its own biological signature.

Tiny 3D organs connected themselves in a lab dish, forming a replica of the human pain pathway, in a new study. The discovery allows scientists to better understand chronic pain and offers an animal-free method of testing pain treatments.

After recording kids copying the dance moves of an on-screen avatar for just a minute, an innovative tool can accurately distinguish neurotypical children from those with autism. It can even tell autism from ADHD, conditions that commonly overlap.