All articles tagged with #autism
Kari Burroughs Kraakevik and her husband Joshua, a musical duo known as Take Two, gained over 100,000 followers on TikTok by posting unpolished piano performances. Despite Kraakevik’s history of masking her autistic traits to fit societal norms, her authentic, imperfect videos resonated deeply with young viewers, who described her as comforting and 'real' amidst a digital landscape dominated by curated perfection.
A 607-page UK government review led by Prof Peter Fonagy finds that while mental health distress is genuinely rising among youth, ADHD and autism diagnoses are likely outpacing true prevalence rates. The report urges a shift from diagnostic gatekeeping to functional support, criticizing long NHS waits and unregulated private assessments.
A 607-page government review in England warns that rising diagnoses of ADHD and autism may be outpacing true prevalence, risking over-diagnosis. It highlights severe NHS waiting lists, with over 800,000 people awaiting assessments, and criticizes the reliance on formal diagnoses to access support. The report recommends shifting to a 'needs-led' system, tightening regulation of private clinics, and addressing the root causes of youth distress, such as economic uncertainty and social media.
A pilot study from the University of Texas at San Antonio found that baby teeth from children with autism contain significantly higher levels of 19 potentially toxic chemicals compared to controls. The research suggests children are chronically exposed to developmental toxicants and endocrine disruptors from everyday products, though it does not prove causation.
A large-scale Swedish study published in JAMA Pediatrics indicates that children born with congenital TORCH infections face a significantly elevated risk of autism and intellectual disability. Analyzing 3.7 million births between 1987 and 2021, researchers found that infected infants were three times more likely to be diagnosed with autism and up to 30 times more likely to have severe intellectual disabilities compared to the general population. The study highlights cytomegalovirus (CMV) as a primary driver, accounting for half of observed cases, and suggests that vaccination could prevent a subset of autism cases. While the absolute population impact remains small due to the rarity of these infections, experts emphasize the need for broader CMV screening and vaccination efforts in the United States to mitigate these neurodevelopmental risks.
A new review of 134 scientific studies involving over 151,000 participants finds that the term 'neurodivergent' is used inconsistently in academic research. While the term often groups conditions like autism and ADHD, it also includes anxiety, depression, and neurological injuries, or is used without any specific diagnosis. Researchers argue that this lack of standardization hampers clinical clarity and may obscure the distinct needs of individuals with specific diagnoses.
At a Senate confirmation hearing, Dr. Nicole Saphier, Trump’s pick for surgeon general, faced tough questions from Sen. Bill Cassidy about whether the MMR vaccine causes autism. She says there is no credible evidence that vaccines cause autism and emphasizes that vaccines save lives, a heated exchange that has spread widely online amid ongoing vaccine debates and rising measles cases.
During the confirmation hearing for surgeon general nominee Dr. Nicole Saphier, lawmakers pressed whether vaccines cause autism. She said she has not seen credible evidence that vaccines cause autism and affirmed that the MMR vaccine is a crucial tool against measles, highlighting ongoing public debate and vaccine hesitancy amid rising measles cases.
An investigative report finds private equity-backed ABA therapy centers have driven Medicaid autism spending to nearly $7 billion from 2019–2024, often at the expense of effective or humane care and school-based services, with audits flagging improper payments and lax oversight; the result is consolidation into large networks and calls for greater accountability and potential liability reform.
Dr. Nicole Saphier, Trump’s third surgeon general nominee, faced stiff questions on childhood vaccines at her confirmation hearing, insisting she does not believe vaccines cause autism and calling the MMR vaccine a key tool against measles, while noting the administration’s efforts to review vaccine guidance and address hesitancy. She pledged to follow the law and said she would divest from conflicting holdings, including dropping ties to DropRx, if confirmed; her Senate vote remains pending as lawmakers weigh public‑health policy and potential conflicts of interest.
A Medicaid-based study of people with autism spectrum disorder finds an average life expectancy of about 65 years—roughly 14 years shorter than the general population—driven mainly by influenza- and pneumonia-related deaths, with malnutrition, pneumonitis, non-vehicle accidents, and drowning also contributing. Although life expectancy for autistic individuals on Medicaid rose slightly from 2000–2019, the disparity remained and fell further in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors say better social support, primary care, and community-based services could close much of the mortality gap, though socioeconomic factors may bias estimates.
An observational Australian study (Barwon Infant Study) of 847 mother–baby pairs found that higher prenatal exposure to DEHP, a common plasticizer, was associated with DNA methylation changes in cord blood and more autism- and ADHD-related behaviors at ages 2 and 4, especially in boys. Exposure was estimated from a urine sample at 36 weeks; methylation patterns at about 531 genes and 1,000 sites mediated about 21% of the link. The researchers caution that this is correlation, not causation, and that parent-reported behaviors are not clinical diagnoses. The findings invite further research and support for precautionary health measures for pregnant women.
A large Medicaid/CHIP analysis (2000–2020) found that people with autism have a life expectancy at birth of 64.9 years—about 5.6 years shorter than other Medicaid recipients and 13.8 years shorter than the general population. Excess mortality centers on preventable causes like influenza, malnutrition, drowning, and pneumonia. While overall life expectancy rose during the study period, the gap persisted. The researchers urge better health care, vaccinations, nutrition support, and community-based services to reduce these deaths.
A TikTok creator recounts a date in which his match repeatedly described him as 'interesting' and, after pressing for clarity, asked if he had autism. He says he doesn’t have autism (though he notes he might have traits), and the video has sparked discussion online; the Daily Dot notes it could not be independently verified.
A large Nature Neuroscience study analyzed exome data from roughly 4,000 individuals with OCD and/or chronic tic disorders (CTD) and found 36 high-impact risk genes, with substantial overlap between OCD and CTD and links to autism and schizophrenia. The researchers mapped these genes to brain circuits, notably the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical loop, showing prenatal and postnatal expression in the cortex, striatum, thalamus, and cerebellum, and suggesting networks of genes rather than single culprits. This expanded set of targets could guide future therapies tailored to neural pathways across neurodevelopmental conditions.