1. Aikat V, Carpenter KLH, Babu PRK, Di Martino JM, Espinosa S, Compton S, Davis N, Franz L, Spanos M, Sapiro G, Dawson G. Autism Digital Phenotyping in Preschool- and School-Age Children. Autism Res. 2025.

There is a critical need for scalable and objective tools for autism screening and outcome monitoring, which can be used alongside traditional caregiver and clinical measures. To address this need, we developed SenseToKnow, a tablet- or smartphone-based digital phenotyping application (app), which uses computer vision and touch data to measure several autism-related behavioral features, such as social attention, facial and head movements, and visual-motor skills. Our previous work demonstrated that the SenseToKnow app can accurately detect and quantify behavioral signs of autism in 18-40-month-old toddlers. In the present study, we administered the SenseToKnow app on an iPad to 149 preschool- and school-age children (45 neurotypical and 104 autistic) between 3 and 8 years of age. Results revealed significant group differences between autistic and neurotypical children in terms of several behavioral features, which remained after controlling for sex and age. Repeat administration with a subgroup demonstrated stability in the individual digital phenotypes. Examining correlations between the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales and individual digital phenotypes, we found that autistic children with higher levels of communication, daily living, socialization, motor, and adaptive skills exhibited higher levels of social attention and coordinated gaze with speech, less frequent head movements, higher complexity of facial movements, higher overall attention, lower blink rates, and higher visual motor skills, demonstrating convergent validity between app features and clinical measures. App features were also significantly correlated with ratings on the Social Responsiveness Scale. These results suggest that the SenseToKnow app can be used as an accessible, scalable, and objective digital tool to measure autism-related behaviors in preschool- and school-age children.

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2. Andari E, Gopinath K, O’Leary E, Caceres GA, Nishitani S, Smith AK, Ousley O, Rilling JK, Cubells JF, Young LJ. Random forest and Shapley Additive exPlanations predict oxytocin targeted effects on brain functional networks involved in salience and sensorimotor processing, in a randomized clinical trial in autism. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2025.

Intranasal oxytocin (IN-OXT) has shown some promises in rescuing social deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as some inconsistencies in long-term trials. We conducted a target engagement study to study the precise effects of different doses of IN-OXT on brain resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in ASD. We examined the effects of varying doses of IN-OXT (0 IU, 8 IU, 24 IU, 48 IU) on rsFC in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject design in 30 male adults with ASD and 17 neurotypical controls (NT) receiving placebo. Random forest analysis was used to classify individuals as ASD or NT. Shapely Additive explanations values were calculated to rank brain functional networks by level of contribution to ASD deficits and to evaluate IN-OXT dose effects. The model predicted ASD diagnosis with an AUC of 94%. Hypoconnectivity between salience/empathy and visual networks, and hyperconnectivity between reward and sensorimotor networks and theory of mind networks were among the strongest predictors of ASD deficits. IN-OXT had a dose-dependent effect on rescuing both deficits described above. Overall, 48 IU dose was more effective, and 24 IU dose was more effective in those who have lower DNA OXT receptor methylation and lower severity of clinical symptoms. Higher doses of OXT might be necessary to enhance empathic responses, and ASD individuals with less support needs and with a preserved OXT system might benefit most from OXT treatment. Applying machine learning approaches in OXT research can provide data-driven unbiased results that can inform future clinical trials.

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3. Badura A, Fiander M, Gabriel A, Pirinu M, Beccani L, Soll RF, Cracknell J, Faas D, Wellmann S, Bruschettini M. In-hospital motor interventions to reduce neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm infants: a scoping review. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025; 4(4): Cd016181.

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (prototype). The objectives are as follows: The aim of this scoping review is to map the quantitative literature about in-hospital motor interventions used to reduce neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm infants. We will collate information about the features, delivery mechanisms, objectives, providers, underlying theoretical frameworks, hypothesized or reported outcomes of these interventions, and equity characteristics of the population. The goal will be to document the breadth and characteristics of available evidence and to identify gaps or areas of knowledge in the field of motor interventions. Subcategories: Identify motor interventions initiated during neonatal intensive care unit stays for preterm infants Identify techniques, elements, and modalities in each intervention Determine the theories underlying these interventions Describe the extent to which the interventions are parent-centered Synthesize and categorize the different motor interventions.

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4. Ben-Sasson A, Zisserman A. Sensory Family Accommodation for Autistic and Sensory Overresponsive Children: The Mediating Role of Parenting Distress Tolerance. Am J Occup Ther. 2025; 79(3).

IMPORTANCE: Family accommodation of anxiety disorders is associated with poorer outcomes; therefore, they are important to detect. A child’s sensory problems often cause anxiety and disrupt family routines, which can increase family accommodation. OBJECTIVE: To compare family sensory accommodation among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), children with sensory overresponsiveness (SOR), and typically developing children (TD). To examine the role of parenting distress tolerance in explaining the relation between SOR and family accommodation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional case control design involving nonrandomized sampling and a survey methodology. SETTING: Internet. PARTICIPANTS: Parents of 57 ASD children, 54 SOR children, and 48 TD children. Groups were matched on child age and ethnicity. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The Short Sensory Profile 2, Adapted SensOR Inventory (total SOR), Family Accommodations Scale for Sensory Over-Responsivity (FASENS), and the Parenting Distress Tolerance Scale (P-DTS). RESULTS: The groups with ASD or SOR (clinical groups) had a higher frequency of family sensory accommodation, and these accommodations showed greater interference with child and family well-being than among the TD group. The clinical groups had significantly more bothersome sensations and lower P-DTS scores than the TD group. In the clinical groups, the P-DTS mediated the relation between total SOR and FASENS scores, controlling for mother’s years of education. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Family sensory accommodation was more frequent among families of children with ASD or SOR and interfered more with child and family well-being. For clinical groups, being bothered by more sensations reduced parenting distress tolerance, which increased family accommodation. Plain-Language Summary: When children have strong reactions to sensory experiences, families often change their routines to prevent discomfort. This is called family sensory accommodation-when family members adjust their behaviors to avoid or minimize their child’s sensory challenges and the associated distress. Although this may reduce stress in the short term, it can also reinforce anxiety and limit a child’s ability to cope. We found that parents of children with autism spectrum disorder or sensory overresponsiveness were more likely to make these accommodations compared with parents of typically developing children. These accommodations were linked to greater disruptions in both child and family well-being. We also found that parents who had more difficulty managing their own stress were more likely to engage in family sensory accommodation. These findings highlight the need for occupational therapists to support families in reducing restrictive accommodations while helping children build independence and coping skills.

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5. Bereshneh AH, Andrews JC, Eberl DF, Bademci G, Borja NA, Bivona S, Chung WK, Yamamoto S, Wangler MF, McKee S, Tekin M, Bellen HJ, Kanca O. De novo variants in CDKL1 and CDKL2 are associated with neurodevelopmental symptoms. Am J Hum Genet. 2025; 112(4): 846-62.

The CDKL (cyclin-dependent kinase-like) family consists of five members in humans, CDKL1-5, that encode serine-threonine kinases. The only member that has been associated with a Mendelian disorder is CDKL5, and variants in CDKL5 cause developmental and epileptic encephalopathy type 2 (DEE2). Here, we study four de novo variants in CDKL2 identified in five individuals, including three unrelated probands and monozygotic twins. These individuals present with overlapping symptoms, including global developmental delay, intellectual disability, childhood-onset epilepsy, dyspraxia, and speech deficits. We also identified two individuals with de novo missense variants in CDKL1 in the published Deciphering Developmental Disorders (DDD) and GeneDx cohorts with developmental disorders. Drosophila has a single ortholog of CDKL1-5, CG7236 (Cdkl). Cdkl is expressed in sensory neurons that project to specific regions of the brain that control sensory inputs. Cdkl loss causes semi-lethality, climbing defects, heat-induced seizures, hearing loss, and reduced lifespan. These phenotypes can be rescued by expression of the human reference CDKL1, CDKL2, or CDKL5, showing that the functions of these genes are conserved. In contrast, the CDKL1 and CDKL2 variants do not fully rescue the observed phenotypes, and overexpression of the variant proteins leads to phenotypes that are similar to Cdkl loss. Co-expression of CDKL1 or CDKL2 variants with CDKL1, CDKL2, or CDKL5 references in the mutant background suppresses the rescue ability of the reference genes. Our results suggest that the variants act as dominant negative alleles and are causative of neurological symptoms in these individuals.

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6. Bhattacharya P, Matthews RJ, Field R, Heath H, Woodcock KA, Surtees ADR. Experiencing Independence: Perspectives from Autistic Adults. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

Autism diagnostic criteria relate to difficulties in functioning across multiple developmental domains, that often impact on a person’s independence. There are different ways to conceptualise and exercise independence, but no previous studies have questioned how autistic adults do so. This qualitative study aimed to understand how autistic adults define and experience independence. It was designed to further our understanding of how autistic adults account for and use coping strategies to overcome barriers to independent living and navigate their way to their desired level of independence. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with autistic adults living in the United Kingdom. The data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The researchers generated three major themes. The first theme ‘Independence is « not a one-size-fits-all »‘ highlights that there is no one definition or concept of independence for autistic people; these are relative and uniquely individual. The second theme ‘ »Being autistic has its setbacks » in a neurotypical world’ describes the obstacles encountered by autistic adults seeking independence within a society that favours neurotypical norms. The third theme ‘Finding ways of making it work’ captures strategies autistic adults use in achieving or maintaining independence. The findings from this study provide a foundation for future research exploring domains of independence for autistic adults. The perceived desirability of achieving different degrees of in(ter)dependence and the fluctuating nature of self-sufficiency are explored through lived experience. Increasing understanding of barriers and challenges to independence has the potential to empower autistic adults and improve services and support.

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7. Castellón FA, Dueñas A, Luelmo P. Sacrifice, uncertainty, and resilience: Qualitative study of U.S./Mexico border mothers of autistic children. Autism. 2025: 13623613251322059.

The purpose of this study was to explore and document the migratory motivations and reasonings of Mexican mothers of autistic children pursuing autism services in the United States. The study was guided by the overarching research question, « What are the experiences of mothers living in the U.S./Mexico border while seeking services for their autistic children, and what social and financial resources influence their decisions? ». Following a Community-Based Participatory Research approach, we collaborated with organizations and stakeholders in the development of qualitative research materials while also supporting the purposeful recruitment of caregivers who: (1) had lived in the U.S./Mexico border and moved to the United States to pursue autism services, or (2) were currently living in the U.S./Mexico border and were looking to pursue autism services in the United States. Eleven mothers participated in a two-part semi-structured interview protocol alongside a demographic form. Findings outline three global themes that describe the dynamic process of pursuing autism services and migrating to the United States: (1) stage of constant contrast between Mexico and the United States, (2) active pursuit of autism services in the United States, and (3) potential pathways to immigration. The global themes provide a systemic analysis and reflection of the current autism service system in Mexico while also highlighting the gaps in service coordination for first-generation immigrant families.Lay abstractThis study aimed to understand why Mexican mothers of autistic children move to the United States to seek autism services. Using a method that involved the community, we worked with local partners to create research materials and find caregivers for the study. We focused on mothers who had either moved from the U.S./Mexico border to the United States for autism services or were planning to do so. Eleven mothers participated by completing a two-part interview and a demographic form. The results highlight three main themes that explain the complex reasons and motivations behind their decision to seek autism services in the United States: (1) stage of constant contrast between Mexico and the United States, (2) active pursuit of autism services in the United States, and (3) potential pathways to immigration. These findings also highlight the differences in autism services between the United States and Mexico and the challenges faced by immigrant families trying to get the care their children need.

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8. Cuesta-Gómez JL, Gatica-Bahamonde G, Ruggieri V, Roman-Urrestarazu A, van Kessel R. COVID-19, Autism, and Isolation: Good Practices for Continuity of Care During the Pandemic. Soc Work Public Health. 2025; 40(3): 119-32.

The COVID-19 pandemic, and particularly the associated conditions of isolation, has detrimental effects on the mental health of the population that are not yet fully understood. Variables such as individual stress, anxiety, and tolerance to uncertainty may play a role in the ability of individuals to adapt to the isolation situation. In this context, it is necessary to pay attention to population groups that present difficulties in adapting to this situation of uncertainty, such as people with autism. This narrative review of the evidence has as objectives to explore (1) the effect that the autism community has experienced as a result of the lockdown and isolation due to COVID-19; and (2) opportunities for health, educational, and social services providers to support people with autism and their families in isolation in an attempt to ensure that specialized interventions continue as much as possible. We map suggestions regarding information delivery, time management at home, recognition and emotional expression, and some suggestions to maintain support with service providers.

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9. Frenkel J, Kirst S, Naumann S, Simon M, Sessner J, Roesler E, Onnasch L, Dziobek I. Stakeholder acceptance of a robot-assisted social training scenario for autistic children compared to a tablet-computer-based approach. Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1): 11237.

Recent studies indicate the potential benefits of robot-assisted therapy (RAT) for children on the autism spectrum (AS), yet acceptance among stakeholders remains unclear due to methodological shortcomings in existing research. This study evaluates stakeholders’ acceptance of a RAT-scenario designed to train emotion recognition and regulation in AS children using Softbank Robotics Pepper, a humanoid robot with an integrated tablet screen, compared to a tablet-based therapy (TBT) control. An online survey of 123 stakeholders (caregivers, professionals, and autistic adults) assessed RAT and TBT using global acceptance, intention to use, and acceptance-related factors (ALMERE model), alongside stakeholders’ concerns. While a larger proportion of stakeholders (58%) showed high global acceptance of RAT, stakeholders preferred TBT across measures and groups (p < .001, Wilk's Λ = 0.595), potentially due to its established familiarity and easier usability. The intention to use RAT was predicted by perceived usefulness, and, to a smaller extent, perceived ease of use, and affinity for technology, independent of stakeholder group. Concerns mainly addressed the expected effort to implement RAT in therapeutic services. Overall, the results highlight stakeholder acceptance and underscore the need to enhance RAT's perceived usefulness and ease of implementation, suggesting a user-centered design approach for future deployments.

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10. Gama Marques J. Can Epileptic Seizures Explain Hyperactive Catatonia in Patients with Autism and Intellectual Disability?. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2025.

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11. Guillouet C, Agostini V, Baujat G, Cocciadiferro D, Pippucci T, Lesieur-Sebellin M, Georget M, Schatz U, Fauth C, Louie RJ, Rogers C, Davis JM, Konstantopoulou V, Mayr JA, Bouman A, Wilke M, VanNoy GE, England EM, Park KL, Brown K, Saenz M, Novelli A, Digilio MC, Mastromoro G, Rongioletti MCA, Piacentini G, Kaiyrzhanov R, Guliyeva S, Hasanova L, Shears D, Bhatnagar I, Stals K, Klaas O, Horvath J, Bouvagnet P, Witmer PD, MacCarrick G, Cisarova K, Good JM, Gorokhova S, Boute O, Smol T, Bruel AL, Patat O, Broadbent JR, Tan TY, Tan NB, Lyonnet S, Busa T, Graziano C, Amiel J, Gordon CT. Bi-allelic MED16 variants cause a MEDopathy with intellectual disability, motor delay, and craniofacial, cardiac, and limb malformations. Am J Hum Genet. 2025; 112(4): 829-45.

The Mediator complex regulates protein-coding gene transcription by coordinating the interaction of upstream enhancers with the basal transcription machinery at the promoter. Pathogenic variants in Mediator subunits typically lead to neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative disorders with variable clinical presentations, designated as MEDopathies. Here, we report the identification of 25 individuals from 18 families with bi-allelic MED16 variants who have a multiple congenital anomalies (MCAs)-intellectual disability syndrome. Intellectual disability, speech delay, and/or motor delay of variable severity were constant and associated with variable combinations of craniofacial defects (micro/retrognathia, cleft palate, and preauricular tags), anomalies of the extremities, and heart defects (predominantly tetralogy of Fallot). Visual impairment, deafness, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities were also frequent. The 26 variants identified were comprised of eight predicted protein-truncating (three intragenic deletions, two frameshifts, and one nonsense and two essential splice site variants) and 18 missense or in-frame duplication variants affecting conserved residues, without clear correlation between phenotypic severity and variant type combination. Three-dimensional modeling indicated that the missense and duplication variants likely have a destabilizing effect on the structural elements of the protein. Immunofluorescence assays demonstrated protein mislocalization from the nucleus to the cytoplasm for 16 of the 17 variants studied. Homozygous mutant med16 zebrafish presented growth delay and increased mortality compared with wild-type fish, and Med16 knockout mice are preweaning lethal, highlighting the conserved requirement of MED16 for development. Overall, we describe an autosomal recessive MCAs-intellectual disability MEDopathy, emphasizing the importance of Mediator during neurodevelopment and suggesting that some tissues are particularly sensitive to the loss of certain subunits.

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12. Jing PB, Zhou YW, Zhang FM, Ge JY, Wu JN, Xu JH, Cao XH, Chang N, Zhou X, Luo L, Liu XJ. Autistic-like behaviors and impaired chronic inflammatory pain in primary nociceptive neuron-specific deletion of Mecp2 or Fmr1 knockout male mice. Behav Brain Res. 2025; 486: 115570.

AIMS: Recent studies have identified the roles of autism risk genes in primary sensory neurons and their connection to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) etiology. However, further research is needed to determine the specific impact of different sensory neuron populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the actions of Mecp2 or Fmr1 expression in primary nociceptive neurons on ASD and pain perception. METHODS: Conditional knockout mice lacking Mecp2 or Fmr1, both known to be associated with ASD, were generated specifically in nociceptive neurons of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and trigeminal ganglion. A series of behavioral tests were used to assess ASD-relevant and pain-related behaviors in normal and inflammatory pain states. Formalin and complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) injection were used to evoke acute and chronic inflammatory pain. Immunofluorescent approach was employed to study neuroinflammation and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) expression. RESULTS: Both lines exhibited autistic-like behaviors, with reduced social interactions in SNS(cre)/Mecp2(f/y) mice and increased repetitive behaviors in SNS(cre)/Fmr1(f/y) mice. Although SNS(cre)/Mecp2(f/y) and SNS(cre)/Fmr1(f/y) mice displayed normal baseline pain, formalin-evoked acute and subacute pain sensation, CFA-evoked persistent inflammatory pain was impaired, especially less thermal hyperalgesia. Consistently, neuroinflammation and neural CGRP expression in SNS(cre)/Mecp2(f/y) and SNS(cre)/Fmr1(f/y) mice was reduced in response to CFA-injection. CONCLUSIONS: Absent Mecp2 or Fmr1 in primary nociceptive neurons plays role in the pathogenesis of ASD and that their expression in primary nociceptors is crucial for the maintenance of chronic inflammatory pain by reducing neuroinflammation and CGRP expression in the peripheral and central nervous systems.

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13. Loomis S, Silva DG, Savopoulos R, Cilia J, Li J, Davis MD, Virley D, Foley A, Loro E, McCreary AC. BEHAVIORAL AND TRANSCRIPTOMIC EFFECTS OF A NOVEL CANNABINOID ON A RAT VALPROIC ACID MODEL OF AUTISM. Neuropharmacology. 2025: 110450.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impaired social communication, restricted interests, repetitive behavior and irritability. Exposure to valproic acid (VPA) during pregnancy has been shown to increase the risk of autism in children and has led to the development of the in-utero VPA rat model that elicits neurodevelopmental autistic-like features. Offspring exhibit behavioral and neurobiological alterations modelling ASD symptoms. We performed a behavioral and molecular assessment in a rat in-utero VPA model treated with a novel botanical cannabinoid, JZP541. Male offspring from dams treated with VPA were tested acutely and sub-chronically with JZP541 (10, 30, or 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). A behavioral testing battery was performed, and brain frontal cortex and hippocampus used for RNA sequencing. In utero exposure to VPA resulted in progeny showing behavioral phenotypes characteristic of ASD. JZP541 attenuated these deficits in social, stereotypic, hyperactivity and irritability behavior in a dose-dependent fashion. VPA exposure was associated with a substantial transcriptional dysregulation impacting multiple key biological processes in a tissue-dependent manner. The expression profiles were integrated with publicly available datasets of autism-associated genes to support the validity of the model used and to focus on the effects of treatment on known autism-relevant transcriptional targets. This approach indicated a strong and dose-dependent reduction of the autism-associated gene expression signature in brain samples from animals dosed with JZP541. Our findings demonstrate JZP541 was able to ameliorate ASD associated behavioral deficits, and this was supported by improvements in putative transcriptional biomarkers of ASD.

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14. Lund HN, Drago A. Music Therapy and Pharmacotherapy as a Combination Treatment: A Case of Periodic Depression in Comorbidity With Subthreshold Autism. Clin Case Rep. 2025; 13(4): e70229.

Subthreshold Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can complicate depression treatment as ASD may hinder treatment benefits. In this case, a patient in treatment for recurring depression with traits of ASD showed symptom reduction, improved relational functioning, and emotion regulation skills by combining pharmacotherapy and music therapy.

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15. Luskin-Saxby S, Zimmer-Gembeck MJ, Sulek R, Paynter J. Autism Early Intervention Providers: Their Priorities, Use of Empirically Supported Practices, and Professional Development Needs. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

PURPOSE: Autism early intervention research has indicated a research-to-practice gap, including continued use of practices with inadequate research support, and insufficient use of empirically supported practices. The present study explored the processes and mechanisms through which providers working with young children on the autism spectrum learn, select, and implement the various practices in their clinical repertoires. We addressed the role of providers’ priorities, competence, and experience with (and needs for) professional development (PD), as well as whether, in clinical practice, a provider selects for implementation interventions based on domains. METHOD: Providers (n = 136) responded to an online survey to report the interventions they used, their outcome domain priorities, confidence, and their desire for PD. RESULTS: The most commonly used interventions were reinforcement, modeling, prompting, and visual supports, which are all supported by research evidence and classified as empirically supported practices. While most providers reported using empirically supported practices, many also used unsupported practices, especially in the sensory domain. Providers’ top priority domains for intervention were communication, challenging behavior, adaptive behavior, and social skills. Provider confidence regarding the evidence-base of the practices they used was domain-specific and related to provider priorities. Providers reported interest in PD in all empirically supported practices and in all domains. CONCLUSION: Results may inform the delivery of PD in early intervention services for providers working with children on the autism spectrum, to support the best possible outcomes for this population and mitigate the research-to-practice gap.

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16. Morisako N, Iwasaki T, Kato Y, Irie T. Contrast echocardiography proved useful in detecting abnormal flow following ASD closure during minimally invasive cardiac surgery: a case report. J Echocardiogr. 2025.

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17. Novau-Ferré N, Papandreou C, Rojo-Marticella M, Canals-Sans J, Bulló M. Gut microbiome differences in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder and effects of probiotic supplementation: A randomized controlled trial. Res Dev Disabil. 2025; 161: 105003.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests a significant role of gut microbiota on neurodevelopmental disorders, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). AIMS: Our study aimed to compare gut microbiota composition between these disorders and evaluate the effect of probiotic supplementation. METHODS: We conducted a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 80 children aged 5-14 years (39 with ADHD, 41 with ASD). Baseline and post-intervention fecal samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to identify changes in gut microbiota composition. RESULTS: We identified 22 taxa differentiating ADHD and ASD (AUC = 0.939), characterised by increased presence of Clostridia, Ruminococcaceae, and Lachnospiraceae in ADHD, and Bacteroides, Bacilli and Actinobacteria in ASD. These differences remained after accounting for potential confounders. ASD children receiving probiotics had significant increases in Chao 1, Fisher’s alpha, and Shannon indices whereas no significant differences in α and β-diversity were found in ADHD. In ADHD, bacteria with potential adverse effects were under-represented. In ASD, the abundance of Eggerthellaceae, and other taxa associated with gastrointestinal problems and anxiety was decreased. CONCLUSION: Variations in gut microbiota may influence responses in ADHD and ASD. Probiotic supplementation favorably altered gut microbiota composition, offering insights for future therapeutic strategies targeting the microbiome in neurodevelopmental disorders. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Recent research underscores the role of gut microbiota in ADHD and ASD, indicating that diet can significantly influence microbiota composition and potentially manage these neurodevelopmental disorders. This study reveals distinct differences in gut microbiota composition between children with ADHD and ASD and demonstrates that probiotic supplementation can modulate specific microbial genera in each disorder. These findings pave the way for the development of innovative microbiome-targeted therapies, offering a new avenue for the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. Understanding this relationship is crucial for designing future interventions.

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18. Oppenheim D, Mottes-Peleg M, Dolev S, Yirmiya N. Play interactions of autistic preschoolers with their mothers and fathers without toys yield more positive interactions than play with toys. Autism. 2025: 13623613251329975.

Observations of parent-child play with toys are often used to assess interactions between parents and non-autistic as well as autistic children, but some research indicates that play without toys may elicit more positive interactions than play with toys. The first goal of the study was to examine whether this is true in the case of autistic preschoolers by comparing their play with their parents with versus without toys. The second goal was to compare mother- and father-child interactions. Seventy-eight autistic preschooler boys were observed interacting in counterbalanced mother- and father-child play with or without toys, and interactions were coded using the Emotional Availability scales. Results revealed that for both mothers and fathers scores on all of the EA scales in the play episode without toys were higher than scores in the episode with toys. Also, almost no differences were found between children’s interactions with their mothers and fathers in both play with or without toys. Both findings broaden our understanding of the early social experiences of autistic children with their parents.Lay AbstractResearchers that study the development of young children often observe them playing with their parents with toys. However, a few studies and clinical experience suggest that the interactions between parents and children are often more positive when they play without toys. The first goal of the study was to find out if this is true for autistic preschoolers. We observed 78 children playing with each of their parents, and compared their play with and without toys. The second goal of the study was to compare mother- and father-child interactions to discover if they are similar or different from one another. We measured the emotional quality of parent-child interactions using scales that measure the behavior of both parents and children toward one another. We studied only boys because autism may present differently in girls. We discovered that both parents’ and children’s behavior were more positive when they were playing without toys compared to when they were playing with toys. Also, when we compared the emotional quality of how children played with their mothers and their fathers we found almost no differences, both in how the parents and the children behaved. The findings are important because they can guide researchers, clinicians, and parents to include both play with toys and play without toys in studies, interventions, and daily life. They also emphasize the importance of fathers, because although the fathers in the study were somewhat less involved in everyday caregiving with their children compared to mothers, they had interactions with the children that were as positive as those children had with their mothers. Importantly, we do not know if the findings apply to autistic girls as well.

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19. Qin Q, Li M, Fan L, Zeng X, Zheng D, Wang H, Jiang Y, Ma X, Xing L, Wu L, Liang S. RVG engineered extracellular vesicles-transmitted miR-137 improves autism by modulating glucose metabolism and neuroinflammation. Mol Psychiatry. 2025.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder. The microglia activation is a hallmark of ASD, which involves increased glycolysis. Elevated glycolysis regardless of oxygen availability, known as « Warburg effect », is crucial to pathogenesis in neuropsychiatric disorders. Psychiatric risk gene MIR137 plays an important role in neurogenesis and neuronal maturation, but the impact on neuroinflammation and glucose metabolism remains obscure. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) can delivery miR-137 crossing the blood-brain barrier. Meanwhile, EVs can help miR-137 avoid being rapidly degraded by endogenous nucleases. Here, after first detecting miR-137 decreased both in the peripheral blood of individuals with ASD and the serum and cerebellum of BTBR mice, we demonstrated that microglia activation, the level of lactate and key enzymes (HK2, PKM2 and LDHA) involved in glycolysis were increased significantly in BTBR mice. Of particular note, EVs engineered by rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG) could promote the miR-137 (RVG-miR137-EVs) targeted to the brain accurately, and alleviated autism-like behaviors. Pro-inflammatory activation of BTBR mice was considerably inhibited by RVG-miR137-EVs via tail vein administration, accompanied by decreased lactate production. Mechanically, these effects were attributed to TLR4, the key target gene, which was regulated by miR-137. The TLR4/NF-κB pathway was inhibited, subsequently reducing HIF-1α and repressing the transcription of HK2, PKM2 and LDHA involved in glycolysis. Pharmacological inhibition of glycolysis and TLR4 attenuated microglial activation and lactate production, ultimately improved autism-like behaviors of BTBR mice. In conclusion, our results indicated that miR-137 could alleviate autism-like behaviors by HIF-1α-mediated adaptive metabolic changes in glycolysis and neuroinflammation.

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20. Shen L, Xu A, Butler LK, Chenausky K, Maffei M, Narayanan S, Tager-Flusberg H. Conversational Latency in Autistic Children With Heterogeneous Spoken Language Abilities. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2025: 1-13.

PURPOSE: Conversational latency entails the temporal feature of turn-taking, which is understudied in autistic children. The current study investigated the influences of child-based and parental factors on conversational latency in autistic children with heterogeneous spoken language abilities. METHOD: Participants were 46 autistic children aged 4-7 years. We remotely collected 15-min naturalistic language samples in the context of parent-child interactions to characterize both child and parent conversational latency. Conversational latency was operationally defined as the time it took for one individual to respond to their conversational partner using spoken language. Naturalistic language samples were transcribed following the Systematic Analysis for Language Transcripts convention to characterize autistic children’s spoken language and parental spoken language input. Autistic children’s spoken language was measured using number of different words (NDW). The quality and quantity of parental spoken language input was assessed using NDW, mean length of utterance in morphemes (MLUm), and frequency of words per minute (WPM). Additional child-based factors, including receptive language and socialization skills, were evaluated using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Spearman correlation and regression analyses were conducted to investigate the relationships between those child-based and parental factors and child conversational latency. RESULTS: Older autistic children showed longer conversation latencies. Longer parent conversational latency was associated with longer child conversational latency after controlling for age. Greater parental WPM was associated with shorter child conversational latency after controlling for age. Child conversational latency was not associated with their spoken language, receptive language, or socialization skills. Child conversational latency was not associated with parental NDW and MLUm. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the interaction loop between autistic children and their parents in everyday interactions. Parents adjusted their timing and quantity of spoken language input to ensure smooth conversational turn-taking when interacting with their autistic children.

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21. Srinivasan A, Luccarelli J, Tamargo R, Adegoke T, Smith JR. Response: Can Epileptic Seizures Explain Hyperactive Catatonia in Patients with Autism and Intellectual Disability?. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2025.

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22. Tonekaboni SH, Iaboni A, Trost B, Reuter M, Lindenmaier Z, Kushki A, Kelley E, Jones J, Ayub M, Georgiades S, Nicolson R, Chan E, Cretu A, Brian J, Anagnostou E. Comparative Analysis of Phenotypic and Genotypic Differences Between Individuals Affected by Regressive and Non-Regressive Autism: A Cross-Sectional Study. Autism Res. 2025.

Development among autistic youth varies widely. A subgroup of children experiences regression, defined as the loss of previously acquired developmental skills. Various genetic and environmental factors have been suggested as potential contributors. This study aimed to compare the developmental profiles of children and youth with regression to those without and identify factors associated with regression. Data from the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders (POND) Network was analyzed, including 930 eligible participants. Regression classification was based on the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). Differences in demographic information, medical history, mental health, cognitive and adaptive functioning, and molecular genetic findings were examined between individuals with regressive and non-regressive autism. Among participants, 211 (22.7%) had regressive autism. Lower Full-Scale IQ (p corrected = 0.015) and adaptive function (ABAS-2) scores (p corrected = 0.015) were identified in the regressive group. No statistically significant differences in mental health outcomes (measured by the Child Behavior Checklist, CBCL) or socialization and core symptom severity (measured by the Social Communication Questionnaire, SCQ) were found. There were no notable differences in other factors hypothesized to contribute to regression, such as pregnancy duration, family history of autism, caregivers’ education levels, or sleep disorders, except for a higher prevalence of epilepsy in the regressive group (p = 0.001). Rare and common genetic features of both groups are described. In conclusion, autistic youth with regression tend to have lower cognitive and adaptive scores and may experience higher epilepsy rates. Further powered studies are needed to explore the genomic architecture of autistic regression.

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23. Wu X, Liang J, Dong Y, Ou Q, Chen J, Zou L, Dong W, Lu C. Effects of VR-Based Serious Games on Gross Motor Skills in Chinese Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Special Education: A Pilot Study. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

Serious games are digital games designed for education or therapy. Virtual reality (VR)-based serious games have shown potential in enhancing motor learning, but their role in improving gross motor skills in children with ASD in special education remains underexplored. This randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of VR-based serious games in improving gross motor skills in children with ASD. Forty children (6-12 years) from Changsha Special Educational School were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 20) receiving VR-based serious game training, or a control group (n = 20) attending traditional physical education classes. The 12-week intervention was assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2). The experimental group used a multimedia VR system with nine motor rehabilitation games. After the intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in gross motor skills, but the experimental group showed greater gains in locomotor and object control skills, with significant time × group interaction effects. Despite improvements, average gross motor scores remained below the expected norms, highlighting persistent motor skill challenges. These findings support VR-based serious games as a valuable tool in special education, warranting further exploration for long-term interventions and broader adoption in school settings.

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24. Yuill N, Elphick C, Marshall J, Jones WD, Waite J, Viner H. Behavioral profiles and social relationships in Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome: parent reports on 25 cases. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2025; 20(1): 154.

BACKGROUND: Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WSS) is a rare, variable neurodevelopmental condition associated with developmental delay, intellectual disability and congenital abnormalities. There are few investigations into behavioral characteristics. Importantly, parental perspectives are particularly lacking. This study investigated commonalities in the behavioral characteristics through the perspectives of parents’ lived experiences. METHOD: We conducted in-depth interviews with 25 parents of children with WSS in the United States and United Kingdom, tapping lived experience and specific examples of behavior, relationships and communication. Responses were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: We report three main themes: intense sociability (confirming questionnaire-based research), intense relationships and executive dysregulation (novel findings). We also found previously unreported sensory sensitivities and cognitive patterns of uneven memory and poor comprehension. CONCLUSIONS: These data direct from parent experience reveal novel commonalities in behavior and relationships in this group. Findings should inform clinical assessment and diagnosis, new research questions and choice of patient-focused outcome measures for clinical interventions. The findings also contribute to improved practice in providing care and support for people with WSS and their families and to guidelines for more tailored education and improved healthcare.

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