1. Arabi SM, Saberi Kakhki A. Comparing the effects of fine, gross, and fine-gross motor exercises on the motor competence of 6-12 year-old autistic children: A quasi-experimental study with a follow-up test. Acta Psychol (Amst);2025 (Feb 28);254:104842.

PURPOSE: It has been reported that most of the autistic children suffer from developmental delays in motor skills. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of Fine, Gross, and Fine-Gross Motor Exercises on the gross and fine motor skills and the motor competence of 6-12 year-old autistic children. METHOD: 60 autistic children were included in the study and randomly divided into three experimental groups and one control group. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Competence was conducted in three stages: pre-test, post-test, and follow-up (two months later). The experimental groups received the intervention of their group in three sessions per week for three months, 30 sessions, each lasting for 45 min. RESULTS: motor competence score in the gross-fine motor and gross-motor groups improved significantly in the post-test. In addition, the gross-fine motor group received significantly a higher score in post-test and follow up. This improvement in the gross-fine motor group resulted from improving gross and fine motor skills, while the gross-motor group only improved gross motor skills. CONCLUSION: Overall, the gross-fine motor exercise probably positively affected the motor abilities underlying gross and fine motor skills. Hence, this type of exercise program is suggested to be used for autistic children.

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2. Blackhurst T, Warmelink L, Roestorf A, Hartley C. Exploring lie frequency and emotional experiences of deceptive decision-making in autistic adults. Autism;2025 (Mar 3):13623613251315892.

Lying, a universal social behaviour, is frequent in everyday communication. Due to differences in social communication and experiences, autistic and non-autistic adults may react differently in situations where they must decide whether to lie or tell the truth. We investigated whether autistic and non-autistic adults differ in their general lying behaviour (e.g. how often they lie) and their likelihood of lying in a range of hypothetical social scenarios with different motivations (why people lie – to benefit or protect) and orientations (who people lie for; themselves, other, a group). We also examined participants’ emotional experiences of lying and truth-telling. We found that autistic and non-autistic adults’ general lying frequencies and emotional experiences were similar. However, the social scenario responses revealed that autistic adults would be less likely to lie to benefit or protect a social group they are part of. Moreover, autistic adults indicated that they would find lying more difficult across all social scenarios, experience more guilt, and would be less confident that their lie would be believed. This research highlights how autistic adults’ lying may be context-dependent and considers how a reduction in the likelihood of lying for their social group could increase strain on autistic adults’ social relationships.

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3. Bonino AY, Goodwich SF, Mood D. Prevalence and Characteristics of Developmental Disabilities Among Children Who Receive Hearing Health Care. Am J Audiol;2025 (Mar 3);34(1):60-71.

PURPOSE: We aim to determine the prevalence and characteristics of developmental disabilities among the clinical population of children who receive hearing health care in the United States. METHOD: Using electronic health records of 131,709 children (0-18 years), we identified those with a diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, vision differences, cerebral palsy, chromosomal abnormalities, delayed milestones, Down syndrome, or intellectual disability. We determined prevalence, age of first audiology encounter, age of diagnosis for the developmental disability, and hearing status based on the specific disability and the number of diagnoses. Binomial and multinomial logistic regressions were performed. RESULTS: One in four children had a diagnosed developmental disability. The most common disabilities were delayed milestones (11.3%), vision differences (7.4%), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (6.6%), and autism spectrum disorder (6.2%). Half of the children with developmental disabilities had at least one diagnosis before their first audiology encounter. Children with developmental disabilities were more likely to have a reduced hearing or an unknown hearing status than children without developmental diagnoses. For children with reduced hearing, those with developmental disabilities had higher rates of bilateral configurations and poorer hearing severity levels. CONCLUSIONS: Developmental disabilities are common among children who seek hearing health care. Moreover, developmental disabilities often co-occur with reduced hearing. Further research and advocacy efforts are critical for creating clinical practices that are inclusive of, and equitable for, children with complex and diverse developmental profiles. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.27857847.

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4. Chan HW, Hsu LSJ, Shum KKM. Exploring the Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) for Children with ASD Across Countries: A Systematic Review. J Autism Dev Disord;2025 (Mar 3)

Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) has been widely adopted as an approach to enhance the well-being of children with ASD, who often experience significant social impairments, emotional dysregulation, and other daily challenges. Given the potential variation of HAI across countries, there is a particular need to explore this phenomenon within different cultural contexts and to illuminate directions for facilitating positive HAI among children with ASD. The purpose of this review is to systematically synthesize the current knowledge of HAI as applied to children with ASD and to discuss possible variations across different cultural contexts. A systematic database search was conducted to synthesize HAI characteristics from existing studies that met the selection criteria. The results highlighted that most of the selected studies (N = 97) were conducted in Europe or the United States. The most common format of HAI identified was animal-assisted intervention, followed by pet ownership. Dogs and horses were the primary animals involved in HAI for children with ASD, while the majority of HAI occurred in home settings and at horse riding or training centres. To conclude, this review provides a more comprehensive lens for understanding the phenomenon of HAI for children with ASD across different countries and discusses cultural variations in terms of the companion animals involved, the formats, and the settings of HAI. It also offers therapeutic insights into the multicultural aspects of HAI, which may shed light on future interventions for children with ASD through HAI in more diverse settings.

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5. Chen Y, Du X, Zhang X, Li F, Yuan S, Wang W, Zhu Z, Wang M, Gu C. Research trends of inflammation in autism spectrum disorders: a bibliometric analysis. Front Immunol;2025;16:1534660.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation has been recognized as a significant factor in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which have garnered increasing scholarly attention over the past few decades. This study aims to explore research trends related to inflammation and ASD through bibliometric analysis. METHOD: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) on August 28, 2024. This study was restricted to literature published in English. The bibliometric analysis utilized VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package « bibliometrix » to visualize collaborations, keyword co-occurrences, and emerging research trends. RESULTS: A total of 1,752 articles addressing inflammation and ASD were published, demonstrating a consistent upward trend in research output. The United States emerged as the country with the highest volume of publications. Saleh A. Bakheet was identified as the most prolific authors, significantly contributing to the literature with 54 publications. The University of California System was recognized as the most productive institution in this area of study. The journal of Brain Behavior and Immunity was noted as a prominent venue for publication in this field, exhibiting high citation metrics that reflect its considerable influence. The keyword « children » was the most frequently occurring term, with other significant terms including « oxidative stress » and « brain. » The keyword burst analysis revealed notable periods of increased research focus on topics such as « inflammatory bowel disease, » « cytokine production, » « neurodevelopmental disorders, » and « microbiota. » CONCLUSION: This bibliometric analysis highlights the growing scholarly attention devoted to the relationship between inflammation and ASD. Significant contributions and emerging trends emphasize the pivotal role of neuroinflammation in ASD, indicating a necessity for further exploration in this domain.

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6. Desarkar P. Neuroplasticity-based novel brain stimulation support intervention options for autistic population. Front Hum Neurosci;2025;19:1522718.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), introduced in 1985, has become a vital tool for investigating brain-behaviour relationships and therapeutic interventions. Repetitive TMS (rTMS) as a therapeutic tool has shown promise for various neuropsychiatric conditions, including autism, which affects approximately 1% of the global population. Evidence suggests that atypical neuroplasticity characterizes the neurobiology of autism. Recent studies using TMS paradigms like theta-burst stimulation (TBS) indicate an excessive neuroplasticity or hyper-plasticity in the form of an excessive long-term potentiation (LTP) in the motor cortex of autistic adults compared to neurotypical controls. Hyper-plasticity may negatively impact cognitive and behavioural outcomes. Our proposed neuroplasticity-based rTMS intervention protocols aim to address motor function, sensory sensitivities, and executive function difficulties in autistic adults. We present a testable framework to evaluate neuroplasticity in the motor, sensory, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices, hypothesizing the presence of hyper-plasticity in autistic adults. We anticipate that this hyper-plasticity underpins motor, sensory, and executive function difficulties in autistic adults. Additionally, we propose investigating the efficacy of bilateral rTMS to reduce hyper-plasticity and improve these functions in autistic adults. This approach not only seeks to enhance therapeutic options but also provides biological insights into the brain mechanisms underlying some of the common autism-associated difficulties.

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7. Donahue MM, Robson E, Colgin LL. Hippocampal place cell sequences are impaired in a rat model of Fragile X Syndrome. J Neurosci;2025 (Mar 3)

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can cause impairments in spatial cognition and memory. The hippocampus is thought to support spatial cognition through the activity of place cells, neurons with spatial receptive fields. Coordinated firing of place cell populations is organized by different oscillatory patterns in the hippocampus during specific behavioral states. Theta rhythms organize place cell populations during awake exploration. Sharp wave-ripples organize place cell population reactivation during waking rest. Here, we examined the coordination of CA1 place cell populations during active behavior and subsequent rest in a rat model of FXS (Fmr1 knockout rats). While the organization of individual place cells by the theta rhythm was normal, the coordinated activation of sequences of place cells during individual theta cycles was impaired in Fmr1 knockout rats. Further, the subsequent replay of place cell sequences was impaired during waking rest following active exploration. Together, these results expand our understanding of how genetic modifications that model those observed in FXS affect hippocampal physiology and suggest a potential mechanism underlying impaired spatial cognition in FXS.Significance Statement Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can cause impaired memory and atypical spatial behaviors such as « elopement » (i.e., wandering off and becoming lost). Activity in the CA1 subregion of the hippocampus supports spatial memory and spatial cognition, making it an important candidate to study in the context of FXS; however, how neuronal population activity in CA1 is affected by FXS is poorly understood. In this study, we found that the coordination of populations of CA1 neurons during active behavior and waking rest was impaired in a rat model of FXS. These results reveal hippocampal physiological deficits that may contribute to cognitive impairments in FXS.

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8. Du J, Wang S, Chen R, Wang S. Improving fMRI-Based Autism Severity Identification via Brain Network Distance and Adaptive Label Distribution Learning. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng;2025;33:162-174.

Machine learning methodologies have been profoundly researched in the realm of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Nonetheless, owing to the ambiguity of ASD severity labels and individual differences in ASD severity, current fMRI-based methods for identifying ASD severity still do not achieve satisfactory performance. Besides, the potential association between brain functional networks(BFN) and ASD symptom severity remains under investigation. To address these problems, we propose a low&high-level BFN distance method and an adaptive multi-label distribution(HBFND-AMLD) technique for ASD severity identification. First, a low-level and high-level BFN distance(HBFND) is proposed to construct BFN that reflects differences in ASD severity. This method can measure the distance between the ASD and the health control(HC) on the low-order and high-order BFN respectively, which can distinguish the severity of ASD. After that, a multi-task network is proposed for ASD severity identification which considers the individual differences of ASD severity in communication and society, which considers the individual differences in language and social skills of ASD patients. Finally, a novel adaptive label distribution(ALD) technique is employed to train the ASD severity identification model, effectively preventing network overfitting by restricting label probability distribution. We evaluate the proposed framework on the public ABIDE I dataset. The promising results obtained by our framework outperform the state-of-the-art methods with an increase in identification performance, indicating that it has a potential clinical prospect for practical ASD severity diagnosis.

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9. Ferguson AS, Nishino T, Girault JB, Hazlett HC, Schultz RT, Marrus N, Styner M, Torres-Gomez S, Gerig G, Evans A, Dager SR, Estes AM, Zwaigenbaum L, Pandey J, John TS, Piven J, Pruett JR, Jr., Todorov AA. Statistical properties of functional connectivity MRI enrichment analysis in school-age autism research. Dev Cogn Neurosci;2025 (Feb 22);72:101534.

Mass univariate testing on functional connectivity MRI (fcMRI) data is limited by difficulties achieving experiment-wide significance. Recent work addressing this problem has used enrichment analysis, which aggregates univariate screening statistics for a set of variables into a single enrichment statistic. There have been promising results using this method to explore fcMRI-behavior associations. However, there has not yet been a rigorous examination of the statistical properties of enrichment analysis when applied to fcMRI data. Establishing power for fcMRI enrichment analysis will be important for future neuropsychiatric and cognitive neuroscience study designs that plan to include this method. Here, we use realistic simulation methods, which mimic the covariance structure of fcMRI data, to examine the false positive rate and statistical power of one technique for enrichment analysis, over-representation analysis. We find it can attain high power even for moderate effects and sample sizes, and it strongly outperforms univariate analysis. The false positive rate associated with permutation testing is robust.

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10. Glanville B, Oates J, Foley KR, Hurem A, Osmetti L, Allen K. Harmonizing Identities: A Scoping Review on Voice and Communication Supports and Challenges for Autistic Trans and Gender Diverse Individuals. J Autism Dev Disord;2025 (Mar 3)

Autistic trans and gender diverse (TGD) individuals face unique voice and communication challenges compounded by minority stressors, impacting wellbeing and access to care. Speech pathologists are crucial in providing gender-affirming and neurodiversity-affirming support; however, guidance for working with this intersectional population remains limited. This scoping review mapped current knowledge on voice and communication challenges, identifies available supports, and demonstrates the limitations of existing guidance for speech pathologists. This review draws on 40 sources, including 29 peer-reviewed articles, 8 clinical guidelines, 2 books, and 1 position statement, identified through comprehensive searches of databases such as CINAHL, ERIC, Medline, APA PsycINFO, and grey literature in May 2024. Findings indicated that 96.8% of identified challenges pertained to communication, while fewer (3.2%) focused on voice-specific issues. Similarly, supports primarily addressed communication (91.3%), with 8.7% targeting voice needs. Communication challenges included barriers faced by autistic TGD individuals and those interacting with them, including healthcare professionals, peers, and family. Supports were identified as strategies and resources to enhance service delivery and client wellbeing, such as using visual aids or offering multiple communication options. However, significant gaps remain in addressing the unique voice and communication needs of this population, particularly regarding voice dysphoria, camouflaging versus identity disclosure, and communication within healthcare settings. Autistic TGD individuals represent a unique population whose needs are not sufficiently addressed by current guidance. This review highlights significant gaps in research and clinical practice and calls for improved clinical guidelines and specialized training for speech pathologists to enhance care.

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11. Ji B, Peng X, Hong L, Shimpuku Y, Teramoto C, Chen S. Does Attending Mainstream School Improve the Social Inclusion of Children on the Autism Spectrum and their Parents? A Cross-Sectional Study in China. J Autism Dev Disord;2025 (Mar 1)

This study investigated whether attending mainstream school is associated with improved social inclusion among children on the autism spectrum and their parents. The cross-sectional study took place from July to August 2023 at 30 rehabilitation centers for children on the autism spectrum in Hunan Province, China. Participants included 860 children aged 3-14 years, with autism history receiving outpatient rehabilitation services, and their primary caregiver parents aged 23-54 years. Social inclusion among children on the autism spectrum was evaluated using the Chinese version of the social inclusion subscale of the KidsLife-ASD Scale. Parental social inclusion was assessed using the Chinese version of the Social Inclusion Scale. Linear mixed models were used to explore the association between attending mainstream school and social inclusion. Among children on the autism spectrum, 36.2% attended mainstream school. These children showed significantly higher levels of social inclusion compared to non-attenders. Subgroup analysis based on the severity of autism symptoms revealed that the significant association remained in both the mild and moderate/severe subgroups, being more pronouced in the mild subgroup (P(for interaction) < 0.001). Parents of children attending mainstream school reported greater social inclusion levels than those whose children did not; however, after adjusting for severity of autism symptoms and other factors, this association became non-significant. Our study demonstrates a positive association between attending mainstream school and social inclusion for children on the autism spectrum, highlighting the critical role of mainstream school education in fostering social opportunities and providing diverse learning resources. It also underscores the need for targeted support strategies for parents.

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12. Karimi M, Emarati A, Nafei Z, Shamsi F, Gashty Mazar N, Akbarian E. Unveiling developmental delays in early childhood: insights from a comparative study of the Bayley Scales (BSID-III) and the ASQ-3 in Iran. BMC Pediatr;2025 (Mar 1);25(1):158.

BACKGROUND: Developmental delay in early childhood is a significant concern with multifaceted causes and implications. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III) is widely used for developmental assessment, but its use in Iranian children has been understudied. This study aimed to evaluate the developmental delays of Iranian children aged 1 to 42 months, investigate the association between parental education and these developmental outcomes, and compare developmental outcomes between the BSID-III and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3). These findings contribute to informing clinical practices, policy makers, and early intervention programs aimed at promoting optimal development for all children. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 707 Iranian children from Yazd, Iran, with suspected developmental delays were recruited from two health centers. Trained examiners administered the Persian-adapted and validated version of the BSID-III following standardized procedures. We hypothesized differences in BSID-III scores compared to normative samples, considering age, gender, and parental education. Additionally, comparisons between BSID-III scores and the validated Iranian version of ASQ-3 outcomes were explored to gain further insights. RESULTS: The study sample exhibited varying rates of developmental delays across Cognitive (15.8%), Receptive Communication (20.1%), Expressive Communication (18.4%), Fine Motor (13.6%) and Gross Motor (15.7%) domains. Additionally, Age-related differences were observed, particularly in Receptive and Expressive Communication, where older children showed higher rates of delays. Gender differences were also significant in the Language Scale, with females showing slightly higher rates of normal development. Moreover, parental education emerged as a significant factor, with higher levels associated with a reduced occurrence of developmental delays. Furthermore, comparisons between BSID-III results and ASQ-3 outcomes highlighted discrepancies, suggesting an imperfect alignment between measures. The analysis demonstrated fair agreement for Cognitive-Problem Solving and Gross Motor development, but poor agreement for Fine Motor development, highlighting the complexity of developmental assessment and the need for cautious interpretation of test results. CONCLUSIONS: This study enhances our understanding of developmental assessment in Iranian children with suspected delays by emphasizing culturally sensitive adaptations for assessment tools alongside recognizing how parental education influences developmental trajectories. Future research with diverse, longitudinal samples is warranted to gain a more comprehensive picture.

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13. Lai YYL, Zafar S, Leonard HM, Walsh LJ, Downs JA. Access to Oral Healthcare in Individuals With Rett Syndrome: A Qualitative Study of Parent Perspectives. J Intellect Disabil Res;2025 (Mar 3)

BACKGROUND: Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are varied in their nature and presentation. Barriers to oral healthcare are reported in studies of general populations with IDD but these may not reflect the barriers experienced by individuals with rare disorders such as Rett syndrome (RTT). There are also few peer-reviewed studies in the Australian context exploring barriers to dental care access for patients living with a disability. This qualitative study explored caregivers’ perceptions and experiences regarding oral health and access to dental care for those with RTT in Australia. METHODS: Parents of 31 individuals with a confirmed MECP2 mutation were sampled purposively from the Australian Rett Syndrome Database. Interview questions were based on earlier studies used in other disability populations and queried identification and management of dental pain and influence of other comorbidities in their child’s oral care. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using NVivo (Version 12 Plus). Directed content analysis was used to code data to a framework constructed from a literature review of factors affecting access to professional oral healthcare systems and factors affecting access to optimal at-home oral care in disability. RESULTS: The most frequently cited barriers to professional dental care were dentist-related, while caregiver related financial barriers were cited by a minority of families. Dentist-related financial barriers were not present in these data. Most factors affecting access to optimal at-home oral care coded to the existing framework, with further enablers identified under training for the caregiver or parent. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study provide a point of reference to understand factors affecting provision of at-home dental care and professional services to enable optimal oral health in RTT. Future research could explore the provision of targeted oral health information on RTT to carers and clinicians.

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14. Moe AM, Blain SD, Kalathil A, Peltier S, Colombi C, Thakkar KN, Burton CZ, Tso IF. Contributions of the posterior cerebellum to mentalizing and social functioning: A transdiagnostic investigation. Psychol Med;2025 (Mar 3);55:e67.

BACKGROUND: Mentalizing-our ability to make inferences about the mental states of others-is impaired across psychiatric disorders and robustly associated with functional outcomes. Mentalizing deficits have been prominently linked to aberrant activity in cortical regions considered to be part of the « social brain network » (e.g., dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, temporoparietal junction), yet emerging evidence also suggests the importance of cerebellar dysfunction. In the present study-using a transdiagnostic, clinical psychiatric sample spanning the psychosis-autism-social anxiety spectrums-we examined the role of the cerebellum in mentalizing and its unique contributions to broader social functioning. METHODS: Sixty-two participants (38 with significant social dysfunction secondary to psychiatric illness and 24 nonclinical controls without social dysfunction) completed a mentalizing task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. General linear model analysis, latent variable modeling, and regression analyses were used to examine the contribution of cerebellum activation to the prediction of group status and social functioning. RESULTS: Mentalizing activated a broad set of social cognitive brain regions, including cerebral mentalizing network (MN) nodes and posterior cerebellum. Higher posterior cerebellum activation significantly predicted clinical status (i.e., individuals with psychiatric disorders versus nonclinical controls). Finally, cerebellar activation accounted for significant variance in social functioning independent of all other cerebral MN brain regions identified in a whole-brain analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Findings add to an accumulating body of evidence establishing the unique role of the posterior cerebellum in mentalizing deficits and social dysfunction across psychiatric illnesses. Collectively, our results suggest that the posterior cerebellum should be considered – alongside established cerebral regions – as part of the mentalizing network.

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15. O’Shea RT, Priebe NJ, Brager DH. Impaired thalamic burst firing in Fragile X syndrome. bioRxiv;2025 (Feb 22)

The thalamus performs a critical role in sensory processing by gating the flow of sensory information to the neocortex and directing sensory-driven behaviors; functions which are disrupted in people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We have identified cellular changes in thalamic neurons in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome (FX), the leading monogenic cause of ASD, that alter how the thalamus transmits sensory information to neocortical circuits. In awake animals, thalamic relay cells gate input by shifting between two firing modes: burst and tonic. Relay cells in FX mice, however, do not shift between these modes and instead operate primarily in the tonic mode. We demonstrate that the lack of burst mode firing is caused by a shift in the voltage sensitivity for the Ca (2+) -dependent low threshold spike, which underlies normal burst firing.

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16. Palumbi R. Editorial: Autism spectrum disorders: developmental trajectories, neurobiological basis, treatment update, Volume III. Front Psychiatry;2025;16:1563704.

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17. Pan X, Xiu Y, Huang S, Lai J, Wang X, Cao X, Jiang L. A Compound Nutritional Supplement Relieving the Core Symptoms of Autism Rats. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo);2025;71(1):34-45.

Autism, with a global morbidity of approximately 0.6% annually, significantly burdens on families and society. A predominant characteristic among autistic children is intestinal dysfunction, generating nutrient absorption issues. This often causes vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which significantly impacts neurological development. To address this, we have developed a comprehensive nutritional supplement containing compound vitamins, minerals, and gut bacteria. The aim of this study is to investigate the behavioral effects of this supplement on autism rats. The supplement formulated in this study encompasses compound vitamins, minerals, and intestinal bacteria. The autism offspring model (VPA model) was established through intraperitoneal injection of sodium valproate into pregnant rats. Behavioral assessments, gastrointestinal microbiota analysis, and brain development evaluations were conducted to assess the effects of the supplement on VPA offspring rats. A nutritional supplement enriched with vitamins (VB6, VB12, VC, VD, folic acid), minerals (calcium, magnesium), and bifidobacteria was prepared. Open field experiments demonstrated a 3-mo supplementation intervention effectively alleviated anxiety symptoms and enhanced curiosity levels in VPA offspring. The bead embedding experiment revealed the supplementation significantly improved stereotypical behaviors in VPA offspring. The nesting experiment showed a 3-mo supplementation intervention effectively enhanced cognitive abilities in VPA offspring rats. The three-box social experiment demonstrated the supplementation improved social novelty and tendency in VPA offspring. Analysis of gastrointestinal microbiota revealed the supplementation modulated the gut microbiome, promoting better nutrient absorption and overall health. Our findings suggest the comprehensive nutritional supplement, containing compound vitamins, minerals, and gut bacteria, effectively alleviates core symptoms of autism in rats. This study provides valuable insights into the potency of nutritional interventions in improving the quality of life for autistic individuals. Future research is warranted to further explore the mechanisms underlying these observed benefits and to assess the long-term effects of this supplement in larger clinical trials.

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18. Pangrazzi L, Cerilli E, Balasco L, Khurshid C, Tobia C, Dall’O’ G M, Chelini G, Perini S, Filosi M, Barbieri A, Ravizza T, Vezzani A, Provenzano G, Pastore A, Weinberger B, Rubert J, Domenici E, Bozzi Y. The interplay between oxidative stress and inflammation supports autistic-related behaviors in Cntnap2 knockout mice. Brain Behav Immun;2025 (Feb 27)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication deficits and repetitive/restricted behaviors. Several studies showed that oxidative stress and inflammation may contribute to ASD. Indeed, increased levels of oxygen radicals and pro-inflammatory molecules were described in the brain and peripheral blood of persons with ASD and mouse models. Despite this, a potential direct connection between oxidative stress and inflammation within specific brain areas and ASD-related behaviors has not been investigated in detail yet. Here, we used RT-qPCR, RNA sequencing, metabolomics, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry to show that pro-inflammatory molecules were increased in the cerebellum and periphery of mice lacking Cntnap2, a robust model of ASD. In parallel, oxidative stress was present in the cerebellum of mutant animals. Systemic treatment with N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) rescued cerebellar oxidative stress, inflammation, as well as motor and social impairments in Cntnap2(-/-) mice, concomitant with enhanced function of microglia cells in NAC-treated mutants. Intriguingly, social deficits, cerebellar inflammation, and microglia dysfunction were induced by NAC in Cntnap2(+/+) animals. Our findings suggest that the interplay between oxidative stress and inflammation accompanied by genetic vulnerability may underlie ASD-related behaviors in Cntnap2 mutant mice.

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19. Patrick ME, Williams AR, Shaw KA, Durkin M, Hall-Lande J, Vehorn A, Hughes M. Social Vulnerability and the Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder among 8-year-old Children, Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 2020. Ann Epidemiol;2025 (Feb 28)

PURPOSE: The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network estimates the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) throughout the United States. Reports through 2010 found higher prevalence in areas of higher socioeconomic status. Reports since 2018 indicate a pattern change. We used CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to examine the association of ASD prevalence and social vulnerability in ADDM Network sites. METHODS: Cases of ASD among 8-year-old children in 2020 were linked to SVI measures and population estimates. Tracts were categorized into tertiles (high, medium, and low) and prevalence, prevalence ratios (PRs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: Among 5,998 children with ASD, we saw higher ASD prevalence in areas with high versus low vulnerability overall (26.18 per 1,000; PR=1.06 (1.00-1.13)) and in areas with more minority residents (28.28 per 1,000; PR=1.29 (1.21-1.38)), less transportation (27.32 per 1,000; PR=1.13 (1.06-1.20)), and greater disability (26.83 per 1,000; PR=1.09 (1.02-1.17)). This pattern was observed among White children (PR=1.48 {1.36-1.60}) but reversed among Black (PR=0.61 {0.53-0.70}), Asian (PR=0.58 {0.46-0.73}), and Hispanic (PR=0.83 {0.72-0.95}) children. CONCLUSIONS: Disparities in prevalence of ASD by neighborhood-level social vulnerability persist. Directing resources toward providing equitable access to healthcare and support services could help close this gap.

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20. Pusil S, Laguna A, Chino B, Zegarra JA, Orlandi S. Early Identification of Autism Using Cry Analysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Retrospective and Prospective Studies. J Autism Dev Disord;2025 (Mar 3)

Cry analysis is emerging as a promising tool for early autism identification. Acoustic features such as fundamental frequency (F0), cry duration, and phonation have shown potential as early vocal biomarkers. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of cry characteristics and the role of Machine Learning (ML) in improving autism screening. A comprehensive search of relevant databases was conducted to identify studies examining acoustic cry features in infants with an elevated likelihood of autism. Inclusion criteria focused on retrospective and prospective studies with clear cry feature extraction methods. A meta-analysis was performed to synthesize findings, particularly focusing on differences in F0, and assessing the role of ML-based cry analysis. The review identified eleven studies with consistent acoustic markers, including F0, phonation, duration, amplitude, and voice quality, as reliable indicators of neurodevelopmental differences associated with autism. ML approaches significantly improved screening precision by capturing non-linear patterns in cry data. The meta-analysis of six studies revealed a trend toward higher F0 in autistic infants, although the pooled effect size was not statistically significant. Methodological heterogeneity and small sample sizes were notable limitations across studies. Cry analysis holds promise as a non-invasive, accessible tool for early autism screening, with ML integration enhancing its diagnostic potential. However, the findings emphasize the need for large-scale, longitudinal studies with standardized methodologies to validate its utility and ensure its applicability across diverse populations. Addressing these gaps could establish cry analysis as a cornerstone of early autism identification.

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21. Ricchiuti G, Taillieu A, Tuerlinckx E, Prinsen J, Debbaut E, Steyaert J, Boets B, Alaerts K. Oxytocin’s social and stress-regulatory effects in children with autism and intellectual disability: a protocol for a randomized placebo-controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry;2025 (Mar 3);25(1):192.

BACKGROUND: Oxytocin is increasingly considered as a new pharmacological option for mitigating social difficulties and regulating stress in autism spectrum disorder. However, in prior trials, autistic individuals with co-occurring intellectual disability (ID) have largely been overlooked, despite their high prevalence, poorer outcome, and the enhanced need but reduced availability of therapeutic interventions. Prior studies have also overlooked the importance of standardizing the context in which oxytocin is administered, rendering outcomes from prior trials inconclusive. METHODS: To meet these limitations, we propose a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial investigating the effects of intermittent multiple-dose intranasal oxytocin administration (4 weeks, 24 IU 3x/week), administered within a standardized psychosocial stimulating context at special need schools, in 80 children with autism and co-occurring ID (4-13 years old). Clinical-behavioral as well as stress-regulatory effects of oxytocin will be evaluated using the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), the Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC) expert rating scale, and measurements of high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), a validated index of parasympathetic autonomic nervous system activity. To assess the possibility of retention and/or late-emerging effects, outcomes will be assessed immediately after the administration regime, and at two follow-up sessions, four-weeks and six months after administration. DISCUSSION: Significant clinical-behavioral improvements on the ATEC and BOSCC, and significantly higher parasympathetic HF-HRV power in the oxytocin compared to the placebo group would confirm beneficial clinical-behavioral and stress-regulatory effects of oxytocin in autistic children with co-occurring ID. This would also corroborate the use of intermittent dosing schemes in combination with concomitant psychosocial stimulation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered on the 9th of December 2022 at the European Clinical Trial Registry (EudraCT 2022-002423-36) and on 20th of September the trial was transferred to the EU Clinical Trial Register (EU CT 2024-513436-14).

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22. Singh S, Kim H, Ecevitoglu A, Chasse R, Ludko AM, Sanganahalli B, Gangasandra V, Park SR, Yee SP, Grady J, Salamone J, Holly Fitch R, Spellman T, Hyder F, Bae BI. Autism-associated ASPM variant causes macrocephaly and social-cognitive deficits in mice. bioRxiv;2025 (Feb 19)

In autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder with social-cognitive deficits, macrocephaly occurs in 20% of patients with severe symptoms. However, the role of macrocephaly in ASD pathogenesis remains unclear. Here, we address the mechanistic link between macrocephaly and ASD by investigating a novel ASD-associated gain-of-function A1877T mutation in ASPM ( abnormal spindle-like microcephaly-associated ). ASPM is a key regulator of cortical size and cell proliferation expressed in both excitatory and inhibitory neuronal progenitors but not in differentiated neurons. We found that Aspm gain-of-function knock-in mice exhibit macrocephaly, excessive embryonic neurogenesis with expanded outer radial glia, an increased excitatory-inhibitory (E-I) ratio, brain hyperconnectivity, and social-cognitive deficits with male specificity. Our results suggest that macrocephaly in ASD is not a proportional expansion of excitatory and inhibitory neurons, but a shift in the E-I ratio, independent of the expression patterns of the causative gene. Thus, macrocephaly alone can cause a subset of ASD-like symptoms.

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23. Su L, Li Y, Wen M, Zhao Y, Yang F, Wei L. An fNIRS Study of the Effects of Sound in Real Scenes on Joint Attention among Individuals With Autistic Traits in China. Psychol Rep;2025 (Mar 2):332941251323260.

There is no consensus on whether adult with autistic traits joint attention (JA) deficits. Additionally, previous studies have mostly been conducted in traditional laboratory settings, lacking ecological validity. This study aimed to address these limitations by using real-life scenarios and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) techniques to investigate the impact of sound cues on JA among individuals with Autistic Traits in China. 23 high autistic trait and 26 low autistic trait adult participated, which examined brain activation during JA in real-life scenarios. The results revealed that high autistic trait adult showed stronger brain activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal regions during JA compared to non-joint attention, and stronger than that of low autistic trait. Conclusion: Sound cues were found to enhance the performance of high AQ adult during JA tasks in real-life scenarios.

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24. Sun S, Wang F, Xu F, Deng Y, Ma J, Chen K, Guo S, Liang XS, Zhang T. Atypical Hierarchical Brain Connectivity in Autism: Insights from Stepwise Causal Analysis Using Liang Information Flow. Neuroimage;2025 (Feb 27):121107.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with atypical brain connectivity, yet its hierarchical organization remains underexplored. In this study, we applied the Liang information flow method to analyze stepwise causal functional connectivity in ASD, offering a novel approach to understanding how different brain networks interact. Using resting-state fMRI data from ASD individuals and healthy controls, we observed significant alterations in both positive and negative causal connections across the ventral attention network, limbic network, frontal-parietal network, and default mode network. These disruptions were detected at multiple hierarchical levels, indicating changes in communication patterns across brain regions. By leveraging features of hierarchical causal connectivity, we achieved high classification accuracy between ASD and healthy individuals. Additionally, changes in network node degrees were found to correlate with ASD clinical symptoms, particularly social and communication behaviors. Our findings provide new insights into disrupted hierarchical brain connectivity in ASD and demonstrate the potential of this approach for distinguishing ASD from typical development.

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25. Terner M, Golan O. Sex Differences in Adult Autism Screening: A Comparison of Current Self-Report and Retrospective Parent-Report Measures. J Autism Dev Disord;2025 (Mar 1)

This study investigated sex differences in adult autism screening by comparing self-reports on current traits (Autism Spectrum Quotient; AQ) and parent-reports on childhood traits (Relatives Questionnaire; RQ). The aim was to examine the differential contribution of these distinct measures to diagnostic classification in both sexes. The study compared 102 clinically diagnosed autistic adults (30 females) and 152 non-autistic adults (60 females), aged 17-35 years. Participants completed the AQ, while their parents completed the RQ. Multivariate analysis of variance and sex-stratified discriminant analyses were employed to evaluate measurement patterns in males and in females. Significant main effects were found for diagnostic group on both measures and for sex on the RQ only. Group × sex interactions were significant for both measures. Within the autistic group, males and females showed no significant difference in AQ scores, but females scored significantly lower than males on the RQ. Discriminant analyses revealed high classification accuracies for both males (95.1%) and females (96.7%), with different weighting patterns between males (AQ = 0.597 [CI: 0.413-0.720], RQ = 0.712 [CI: 0.553-0.789]) and females (AQ = 0.763 [CI: 0.637-0.898], RQ = 0.478 [CI: 0.191-0.616]). The findings suggest that current self-report may be more central for identifying autism in females, while a more balanced combination of current-self and past-parent reports may be optimal for males. These sex-specific patterns highlight the importance of considering both current self-reported traits and developmental history in adult autism screening, with potential implications for improving diagnostic accuracy across sexes.

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26. Tian P, Zhu X, Liu Z, Bian B, Jia F, Dou L, Jie Y, Lv X, Zhao T, Li D. Effects of vitamin D on brain function in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder: a resting-state functional MRI study. BMC Psychiatry;2025 (Mar 3);25(1):198.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies indicate vitamin D impacts autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but its relationship with brain function is unclear. This study investigated the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and brain function in preschool children with ASD using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), and explored correlations with clinical symptoms. METHODS: A total of 226 ASD patients underwent rs-fMRI scanning and serum 25(OH)D testing. Clinical symptoms were assessed using Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). Patients were categorized into mild and severe groups based on the CARS, and further divided into normal (NVD), insufficient (VDI), and deficient (VDD) serum 25(OH)D levels. Changes in brain function among these groups were analyzed using regional homogeneity (ReHo), with ABC scores used for correlation analysis. RESULTS: In mild ASD, ReHo increased in the right postcentral gyrus and left precuneus in the VDI and VDD groups compared to NVD, and decreased in the bilateral middle cingulate gyrus and left superior frontal gyrus in the VDD group compared to VDI. In severe ASD, ReHo decreased in the right middle occipital gyrus and increased in the right insula in the VDI group compared to NVD, and increased in the right superior frontal gyrus in the VDD group compared to VDI. Correlation analysis revealed that in mild ASD, ReHo in the right postcentral gyrus was positively correlated with body and object use scores in the NVD and VDI groups, while ReHo in the right middle cingulate gyrus was negatively correlated with relating scores in the VDD and VDI groups. In severe ASD, ReHo in the right insula was positively correlated with language scores in the NVD and VDI groups. CONCLUSIONS: ASD patients with lower serum 25(OH)D levels show multiple brain functional abnormalities, with specific brain region alterations linked to symptom severity. These findings enhance our understanding of vitamin D’s impact on ASD and suggest that future research may explore its therapeutic potential.

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27. Traipidok P, Srisombundit P, Tassanakijpanich N, Charleowsak P, Thongseiratch T. Evaluating ChatGPT-4omni in paediatric developmental screening: direct versus sequential prompts. BMJ Paediatr Open;2025 (Mar 3);9(1)

Integrating Large Language Models like ChatGPT-4omni (ChatGPT-4o) into paediatric healthcare could revolutionise developmental screening. This study evaluated ChatGPT-4o’s efficacy in paediatric developmental screening using Direct and Sequential Prompting methods compared with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Third Edition. Among 106 paediatric cases, Direct Prompting showed a sensitivity of 73.42% and overall accuracy of 69.81%, while Sequential Prompting had a specificity of 62.96% and overall accuracy of 67.92%. Both methods demonstrate potential for improving the efficiency and accessibility of paediatric developmental screening, with Direct Prompts being more sensitive and Sequential Prompts more specific.

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28. Victor Costa-Silva JG, Martins Paiva S, Vargas-Ferreira F, Cheib Serra-Negra JM, Gonçalves Vieira-Andrade R. Possible Sleep Bruxism in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Association with Parental Stress and Sleep Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord;2025 (Mar 1)

PURPOSE: To investigate associations between possible sleep bruxism (PSB) and sleep disorders in children/adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as parental perceived stress. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving children/adolescents with ASD five to 19 years of age and their parents at a public institution that supports disabled people in the city of João Pessoa in Northeast Brazil. The parents answered a form addressing sociodemographic characteristics and medical data (schooling, income, age, sex, support level and use of medications). PSB was recorded based on the reports of the parents. Parental stress was investigated using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Sleep disorders in the children/adolescents were investigated using the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC). Data analysis involved descriptive, bivariate and Poisson regression analyses (95% CI; p < 0.05). RESULTS: Fifty children/adolescents with ASD participated in the study. Boys accounted for 84.0% of the sample (n = 42). PSB in the children/adolescents was reported by 28.0% of the parents. The mean parental PSS-10 score was 20.3 ± 8.5 and the mean SDSC score was 48.8 ± 17.5. The adjusted Poisson model revealed associations between PSB and higher levels of perceived stress of the parents (PR = 1.05; 95% CI: 1.01-1.09), sleep breathing disorders (PR = 1.14; 95%CI: 1.05-1.24) and sleep-wake transition disorders (PR = 1.16; 95%CI: 1.00-1.36; p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: The occurrence of PSB in children and adolescents with ASD was associated with higher levels of parental stress, higher scores for sleep breathing disorders and sleep-wake transition disorders.

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29. Walker Gauthier D, James N, Auerbach BD. Altered auditory feature discrimination in a rat model of Fragile X Syndrome. bioRxiv;2025 (Feb 19)

Atypical sensory processing, particularly in the auditory domain, is one of the most common and quality-of-life affecting symptoms seen in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the leading inherited cause of ASD and a majority of FXS individuals present with auditory processing alterations. While auditory hypersensitivity is a common phenotype observed in FXS and Fmr1 KO rodent models, it is important to consider other auditory coding impairments that could contribute to sound processing difficulties and disrupted language comprehension in FXS. We have shown previously that a Fmr1 knockout (KO) rat model of FXS exhibits heightened sound sensitivity that coincided with abnormal perceptual integration of sound bandwidth, indicative of altered spectral processing. Frequency discrimination is a fundamental aspect of sound encoding that is important for a range of auditory processes, such as source segregation and speech comprehension, and disrupted frequency coding could thus contribute to a range of auditory issues in FXS and ASD. Here we explicitly characterized spectral processing deficits in male Fmr1 KO rats using an operant conditioning tone discrimination assay and in vivo electrophysiology recordings from the auditory cortex and inferior colliculus. We found that Fmr1 KO rats exhibited poorer frequency resolution, which corresponded with neuronal hyperactivity and broader frequency tuning in auditory cortical but not collicular neurons. Using an experimentally informed population model, we show that these cortical physiological differences can recapitulate the observed behavior discrimination deficits, with decoder performance being tightly linked to differences in cortical tuning width and signal-to-noise ratios. These findings suggest that cortical hyperexcitability may account for a range of auditory behavioral phenotypes in FXS, providing a potential locus for development of novel biomarkers and treatment strategies that could extend to other forms of ASD.

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30. Wang J, Kawata NYS, Cao X, Zhang J, Fujisawa TX, Zhang X, Fan L, Xia W, Wu L, Tomoda A. White-Matter Fiber Tract and Resting-State Functional Connectivity Abnormalities in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neuroimage;2025 (Feb 28):121109.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication and repetitive behaviors. Although abnormal brain development has been shown to exist in children with ASD, the link between structural brain abnormalities and resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) disruptions in children with ASD remains understudied. To address this limitation, we utilized the population-based bundle-to-region connectome, providing a detailed understanding of the connectivity between cortical regions and white matter (WM) tracts. By precisely indexing WM-Gray Matter (GM) interactions, we investigated the rsFC of the cortex-associated ROIs to explore the association between structural and rsFC abnormalities and clinical symptoms in young children with ASD. This MRI study identified significant differences in WM structure and rsFC between children with ASD (n=34) and typically developing children (TD, n=43). Our results showed that decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) and increased mean diffusivity (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD) in ASD WM tracts compared to TD, particularly in left hemisphere tracts (anterior thalamic radiation [ATR], cingulum, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus [IFOF], inferior longitudinal fasciculus [ILF], superior longitudinal fasciculus [SLF], and uncinate fasciculus [UF]). Abnormal rsFC was observed in GM areas connected by ATR, cingulum, IFOF, ILF, and SLF. Furthermore, abnormalities in the structural and functional connectivity index (SFCI) within the SLF and cingulum were identified. An association has been observed between these abnormalities and clinical symptoms. Specifically, SLF structural and functional connectivity appear to be associated with repetitive and restrictive behavior (RRB), while cingulum connectivity is associated with communication abilities. In conclusion, young children with ASD exhibit abnormal WM tract structures and associated rsFC abnormalities. These differences highlight significant disruptions in rsFC mapped from WM tracts to cortical areas in ASD, correlating with the severity of ASD symptoms, and suggest the importance of multi-modal imaging in capturing these variations.

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31. Zhang B, Yuan Y, Qin W, Li X, Liu W, Yao W, Bian Y, Liu J. Enhancing Recognition of Stereotyped Movements in ASD Children Through Action Pattern Mining and Multi-Channel Fusion. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform;2024 (Dec 5);Pp

Stereotyped movements play a crucial role in diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, recognizing them poses challenges, due to limited data availability and the movements’ specificity and varying duration. To support in-depth analysis of ASD children’s movements, we constructed the ACSA653 dataset, comprising 653 videos across six classes of stereotyped movements. This dataset surpasses existing ones in both scale and category. To improve the recognition of stereotyped movements, we propose APMFNet, a model that integrates three modules: Visual Motion Learning (VML), Skeleton Relation Mining (SRM), and Multi-channel Fusion (MF). The VML module focuses on extracting spatial and motion information from RGB and optical-flow sequences. The SRM module effectively mines essential motion patterns associated with stereotyped movements through cross-modal graph. The MF module fuses multi-modal information through cross-modality attention to facilitate decision-making. Tested on ACSA653, APMFNet outperforms current state-of-the-art methods, suggesting its potential to identify stable patterns of stereotyped movements in children with ASD.

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