Autism spectrum disorders articles from across Nature Portfolio

Here authors demonstrate embryonic disruption of Notch signaling impairs the development of specific inhibitory neuron subtypes, leading to autism-like behaviors. Modulating aberrant Notch activity restores circuit balance and behavior.

PACS1 (p.R203W) recruits HDAC6 and BICD2 to disrupt dynein motility and impair organelle positioning. Lis1 or HDAC6 inhibition rescues these deficits, revealing a pathogenic mechanism and placing PACS1 syndrome among the microtubule trafficking disorders.

Most research on autism focuses on younger people, but some studies suggest older adults face increased risks — and perhaps benefits.

Using a new approach to control for genetic and environmental confounders, a review and meta-analysis finds no link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children.

A common pain reliever taken in pregnancy might raise the risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to research in the past decade. But proof of cause and effect remains elusive.

Evidence from national medical records of over 8 million people in the Netherlands shows that autism is associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic conditions. These associations emerged in adolescents and young adults, suggesting earlier onset of such conditions in individuals with autism than in individuals without it.

Developmental trajectories and genetic architectures differ between inidividuals with autism who are diagnosed early or later in life, new research has shown.