1. Al-Juhaishi HQK, Jaber OA, Lami F, Jasim SM, Nayeri ND, Sabet MS, Al-Gburi G. Risk factors for low knowledge and negative attitudes among caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder in Iraq: a multi-centre cross-sectional study. Front Psychiatry. 2025; 16: 1568467.

INTRODUCTION: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can experience delayed diagnosis and ineffective treatment due to low caregiver knowledge. Negative attitudes have also been linked to increased emotional problems and poor adaptive outcomes. Before educational interventions can address these issues, local knowledge and attitudes must be assessed, including the identification of high-risk groups that require prioritisation. METHODS: Between February 17 and September 10, 2024, Al-Subtain Academy for Autism and Baghdad’s National Centre for Autism and Child Psychiatry conducted a cross-sectional study. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire developed based on the Autism Stigma and Knowledge Questionnaire (ASK-Q) and a review of previous studies. The questionnaire was pre-tested on 25 caregivers for clarity and reliability. RESULTS: 302 caregivers were included, all of whom were family members of the children. 57 caregivers (18.9%) had low knowledge of ASD, while only 24 (7.9%) had high knowledge. College-educated caregivers scored higher than those who were illiterate or with primary or secondary school education (p-values = 0.009, 0.002, and 0.007). Similarly, caregivers from low-income backgrounds had less knowledge than those from average and high-income backgrounds (p-value = 0.002 and 0.005). However, this difference was no longer apparent when controlling for the lack of tertiary education (B = 1.231, p-value = 0.119). 105 (34.8%) thought that a complete cure is possible, with higher rates among caregivers without tertiary education (43.0%, adjusted p-value = 0.048) or from low-income backgrounds (55.0%, adjusted p-value = 0.0002). In terms of attitudes, 44 (14.6%) believed that all children with ASD are aggressive, and 114 (37.7%) believed that they are deliberately negativistic and non-compliant. Being ashamed of the diagnosis was more common if the child had comorbid conditions. However, this difference was only significant before adjusting for multiple testing (adjusted p-value = 0.286). CONCLUSION: Educational programmes should be implemented to enhance knowledge and address treatment expectations, especially among caregivers with low income and lower education. Efforts should be focused on reducing negative attitudes to improve overall outcomes.

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2. Barnard-Brak L, Hutchison A, Renda C. Heightened sensory sensitivity and subsequent engagement among individuals with ASD. J Psychiatr Res. 2025; 190: 69-75.

The literature on sensory sensitivity with respect to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder continues to evolve with mixed results. The current study examines the influence of reported sensory sensitivities with engagement across time of students with ASD while participating in physical computing, or robotics activities, and computer programming. The results of the current study indicate that among those individuals with a heightened sensory sensitivity, an increase in the number of sessions was associated with increased engagement. This statistically significant result was able to be recovered via 1000 replications as simulated, further supporting the results of the current study. However, results according to specific modality of sensory sensitivity were statistically non-significant or not replicable when statistically significant. The current study demonstrates the power of simulation techniques when results are from small but meaningful samples. This brief report suggests the use of simulation techniques to provide greater generalizability.

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3. Cacciato-Salcedo S, Lao-Rodríguez AB, Malmierca MS. Contextual auditory processing in the inferior colliculus is affected in a sex- and age-dependent manner in the valproic acid-induced rat model of autism. PLoS Biol. 2025; 23(8): e3003309.

Diverse biological factors, such as sex and age, confer heterogeneity on sensory processing challenges in autism. These factors result in major difficulties in the processing of contextual information in social and non-social situations. To assess divergence in autistic traits, it is critical to consider sex- and age-related variability. Nevertheless, these differences remain largely elusive. Animal models of autism offer the possibility to examine contextual processing at the single-neuron level. Here, we investigated predictive processing of contextual auditory cues in the auditory midbrain of control and prenatally valproic acid-induced rats, a well-established animal model of autism. The rats were prepubertal and adult female and male animals. We performed single-unit recordings in the inferior colliculus of control and prenatally, or in utero, exposed rats under the classical oddball paradigm and non-repetitive cascade control sequences to study neuronal mismatch. This is the neuronal correlate of mismatch negativity, the brain’s automatic response to interruptions in environmental regularity. When comparing control and exposed rats, our results demonstrated a reduction in neuronal mismatch in rats exposed to valproic acid. However, exposed adult females exhibited an increased neuronal mismatch compared to their control counterparts. With respect to sex distinctions, valproic acid induced sex differences in neuronal mismatch of prepubertal and adult rats that are not observable in control animals. Moreover, we detected an age-dependent refinement in prediction error that is not affected by the drug. But valproic acid altered typical developmental trajectory of neuronal mismatch in both sexes. Such observations support sex- and age-related effects of in utero valproic acid exposure in contextual auditory processing at the neural level of the inferior colliculus. In autism, atypical predictive processing of environmental regularities underlies unusual responses to novel experiences. The present study highlights the importance of sex and age, that confer heterogeneity to these challenges.

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4. Chawarska K, Fernandez TV, Milgramm A, Volkmar F, Torres-Viso M, Powell K, Vernetti A, Macari S, Morgan C. Motor stereotypies in toddlers with and without autism: A transdiagnostic dimension. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2025.

BACKGROUND: Motor stereotypies (MS) represent one of the transdiagnostic symptom dimensions identified by the NIMH Research Domain Criteria work group as relevant to psychopathology. MS are common in neurodevelopmental conditions, but they remain poorly understood, particularly in early childhood. The present study examined MS in 648 toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (autism, n = 455) and other neurodevelopmental conditions (non-autism, n = 193) and their concurrent and prospective links with other phenotypic characteristics. METHODS: Toddlers were recruited between February 2000 and October 2018 and evaluated at 24 +/- 5 months (Time 1, N = 648) and 41 +/- 6 months (Time 2, N = 455). The presence of MS was determined based on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule assessment. The phenotypic measures included adaptive socialization skills, severity of social symptoms of autism, and verbal, nonverbal, and motor skills. The analysis was conducted using the general linear models while controlling for age, sex, visit year, group, and other relevant covariates. RESULTS: MS were present in both groups, but were more common and intense in autism, and their prevalence did not vary by sex in either group. Regardless of group, MS was associated concurrently with higher social-affective symptoms [p < .001, ηp2  = .034], lower socialization [p = .001, ηp2  = .017], expressive language [p = .008, ηp2  = .011], visual reception [p = .002, ηp2  = .015], fine motor [p < .001, ηp2  = .020] and gross motor [p < .001, ηp2  = .032] scores, and prospectively with higher social-affective symptoms [p = .011, ηp2  = .014], lower socialization [p = .039, ηp2  = .009], and lower verbal scores [p < .014, ηp2  = .013]. CONCLUSIONS: Motor stereotypies are present in toddlers with and without autism and may represent a distinct transdiagnostic dimension expressed early in development, associated with core developmental skills and, putatively, characterized by shared pathophysiology across neurodevelopmental conditions.

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5. Contestabile A, Casarotto G, Girard B, Righetti B, Solié C, Bellone C, Tzanoulinou S. Early Postnatal Shank3 Downregulation in the Nucleus Accumbens Impairs Performance in Social Conditioning Paradigms in Male Mice. Eur J Neurosci. 2025; 62(3): e70203.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by reduced social interactions, as well as repetitive behaviors and restricted interests. Mutations in SHANK3, a scaffolding protein located postsynaptically at excitatory synapses, are associated with ASD, schizophrenia, and intellectual disability in humans. Similar autism-like phenotypes have been observed in Shank3-deficient rodent models. The mesolimbic dopamine pathway appears to be particularly sensitive to Shank3 disruptions. We have previously shown that Shank3 downregulation in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) (Shank3-NAcKD) during early postnatal development impaired social preference in the three-chamber test. Here, we aimed to assess whether this Shank3 downregulation would lead to deficits in social conditioning paradigms. Specifically, using the social instrumental task (SIT), we found that Shank3-NAcKD male mice performed fewer lever presses to gain access to social interaction with a nonfamiliar juvenile mouse. Moreover, these mice failed to develop a preference for the chamber associated with social stimuli in a conditioned place preference (CPP) task. Unsupervised analysis of locomotor motifs during CPP revealed distinct exploratory strategies, with an altered allocation of exploratory behaviors between the socially paired and unpaired chambers, suggesting a suboptimal direction of exploration towards relevant social-associated cues. Our current data expand on our previous research to understand the involvement of mesolimbic Shank3 expression in autism-like phenotypes. Additionally, our results underline that local Shank3 manipulation during early postnatal life leads to intricate social behavior deficits, highlighting the need for an in-depth dissection of behavioral phenotypes in rodent models of ASD.

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6. Delmas C, Wang XX, Pelloux AS, Caeymaex L, Bouaziz N, Aegerter P, Jung C. Effectiveness of early detection and coordinated referral of infants before 1 year at risk for autism spectrum and neurodevelopmental disorders in maternal and child protection centre: a French randomised pragmatic trial in a stepped-wedge trial (PRECO-TSA protocol). BMJ Open. 2025; 15(8): e094729.

INTRODUCTION: Autism and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are complex conditions that manifest as significant impairments in social communication and behaviour. Early detection and intervention play a pivotal role in improving outcomes, largely due to the high brain plasticity in infants. The PRECO-TSA study aims to validate the effectiveness of systematic use of the Prévention de l’Autisme (PREAUT) grid for early screening and referral strategies for autism and NDDs in infants, focusing on a coordinated approach that integrates maternal and child protection centre with medical-psychological centres. The goal is to evaluate a streamlined referral system to improve early detection and facilitate effective interventions for children at higher risk of autism. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The PRECO-TSA study is a prospective, pragmatic, multicentre, cluster-randomised controlled trial using an incomplete stepped-wedge design, which maximises external validity. The study includes a 6-month baseline phase, a 3-month semiobservation phase and a 6-month follow-up phase. The 36-month patient inclusion period is followed by a 48-month passive follow-up through the National Health Data System, data collection includes demographic and clinical information, with hierarchical mixed models used to analyse the impact of early screening and referral for autism and NDDs. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was funded by the French Ministry of Health (PREPS-20-0186) and was approved by Ile de France I Ethics Committee CPP (number CPPIDF1-2023-DI29-Cat2). The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05815095.

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7. Geslak DS, Boudreaux RT, Boudreaux BD. Exercise as Medicine across the Autism Spectrum: A Conceptualized Framework. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2025; 24(8): 246-51.

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder is 1 in 31 children in the United States and is associated with increased risk for obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and shorter life expectancy. While the benefits of exercise for individuals with autism spectrum disorder are shown to be beneficial, federal endorsed guidelines and exercise prescriptions such as the FITT principle (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type) fail to account for the complexity and diversity of the autistic population. The present article addresses the applicability of traditional exercise prescriptions for autistic individuals and presents a new conceptualized personal recommendation based on current data available, lived experiences, and evidence-based teaching strategies.

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8. Grzeszak A, Pisula E. Experiences of females on the autism spectrum through the perspective of minority stress theory: a review. Front Psychiatry. 2025; 16: 1578963.

INTRODUCTION: People on the autism spectrum, especially females, are at high risk of co-occurring psychiatric and psychological conditions, suicidal ideation, and psychiatric hospitalization. The minority stress theory offers a framework for understanding mental health disparities by focusing on the influence of social factors. The current review aims to synthesize the literature on the experiences of autistic females in terms of the unique, chronic and socially based stressors that emerge at the intersection of sex/gender and autism. METHODS: We conducted a literature search in a systematic way on the Web of Science and Scopus databases, applying the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. We chose a narrative manner of data presentation. RESULTS: Based on the evidence from 104 studies of various methodologies, we show that the burdens encountered by autistic females are more than the sum of strains common for the females and for autistic individuals. Females on the autism spectrum face also specific challenges related to their not meeting social gendered expectations and the stereotypical image of autism. DISCUSSION: This intersectional disadvantage can enhance our understanding of the adverse mental health outcomes observed in this population. We emphasize key directions and provide methodological recommendations for future research in this area. Additionally, we underscore the importance of enhancing practitioners’ understanding of the unique characteristics of female autism and the specific vulnerabilities faced by this group to improve support and outcomes.

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9. Hua Z, Li T, Shi R, Wei R, Yi L. Prediction efficiency and incremental processing strategy during spoken language comprehension in autistic children: an eye-tracking study. Mol Autism. 2025; 16(1): 39.

BACKGROUND: Language difficulties are common in autism, with several theoretical perspectives proposing that difficulties in forming and updating predictions may underlie the cognitive profile of autism. However, research examining prediction in the language domain among autistic children remains limited, with inconsistent findings regarding prediction efficiency and insufficient investigation of how autistic children incrementally integrate multiple semantic elements during language processing. This study addresses these gaps by investigating both prediction efficiency and incremental processing strategy during spoken language comprehension in autistic children compared to neurotypical peers. METHODS: Using the visual world paradigm, we compared 45 autistic children (3-8 years) with 52 age-, gender-, and verbal IQ-matched neurotypical children. Participants viewed arrays containing a target object and three semantically controlled distractors (agent-related, action-related, and unrelated) while listening to subject-verb-object structured sentences. Eye movements were recorded to analyze fixation proportions. We employed cluster-based permutation analysis to identify periods of sustained biased looking, growth curve analysis to compare fixation trajectories, and divergence point analysis to determine the onset timing of predictive looking. RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated predictions during spoken language comprehension and employed similar incremental processing strategies, showing increased fixations to both target objects and action-related distractors after verb onset despite the latter’s incompatibility with the agent. However, autistic children exhibited reduced prediction efficiency compared to neurotypical peers, evidenced by significantly lower proportions of and slower growth rates in fixations to target objects relative to unrelated distractors, and delayed onset of predictive looking. Reduced prediction efficiency was associated with higher levels of autism symptom severity in the autistic group and increased autistic traits across both groups, with autism-related communication difficulties showing the most robust associations. LIMITATIONS: Our sample included only autistic children without language impairments, limiting generalizability to the broader autism spectrum. The task employed only simple sentence structures in controlled experimental settings, which may not fully capture language processing patterns in naturalistic communication contexts. CONCLUSIONS: While autistic children employ similar incremental processing strategies to neurotypical peers during language comprehension, they demonstrate reduced prediction efficiency. Autism symptom severity and autistic traits varied systematically with prediction efficiency, with autism-related communication difficulties showing the strongest associations. These findings enhance our understanding of language processing mechanisms in autism and suggest that interventions targeting language development might benefit from addressing prediction efficiency, such as providing additional processing time and gradually increasing the complexity of semantic integration tasks.

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10. Kalingel Levi M, Gal E, Weissman-Fogel I, Bar-Shalita T, Hoffman T, Sprecher E, Yarovinsky N, Buxbaum C, Granovsky Y. Autonomic modulation of pain perception in autism spectrum disorder: unraveling the role of parasympathetic activity among autistic adults. Pain. 2025.

Autonomic dysfunction in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is well-documented, yet its role in pain processing remains unclear. Given the established link between vagal tone and pain inhibition in neurotypical individuals, we hypothesized that autistic individuals would show reduced vagal tone associated with diminished pain inhibition capacities. This was measured via heart rate variability (HRV) and experimental pain intensity ratings. Forty-nine autistic adults diagnosed with level 1 severity of ASD and 39 typically developing controls (TDC), all with IQ above 80, underwent pain quantitative sensory testing and HRV assessments. Vagal tone indices, root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), and the percentage of successive RR intervals that differ by more than 50 milliseconds (pNN50) were measured during resting-state, pain exposure to the individually tailored pain stimuli, and recovery. The ASD group demonstrated lower resting vagal tone (RMSSD: P = 0.019; pNN50: P = 0.017) but, similar to the TDC, responded with increased vagal tone both during pain exposure (RMSSD: P = 0.003; pNN50: P = 0.008) and recovery (RMSSD: P = 0.003; pNN50: P = 0.033). No significant main effects of RMSSD or pNN50 on psychophysical parameters were observed. However, only within the ASD group, higher resting vagal tone correlated with lower pain ratings to individually tailored stimuli (RMSSD: r = -0.389, P = 0.012; pNN50: r = -0.383, P = 0.013). Our findings suggest a potential protective role of parasympathetic activity in pain processing of autistic adults, although the complex nature of pain perception and study limitations warrant further investigation.

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11. Kreiser N, Segal O. The Power of Two: Exploring the Impact of Mothers’ and Fathers’ Involvement in Speech-Language Pathology Treatment for Children with Autism. Autism Dev Lang Impair. 2025; 10: 23969415251355462.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of fathers’ and mothers’ involvement in treatments by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) on parent-child communication, play, and feelings of caregiver emotional load in families with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: Data from 51 families, including 51 fathers and 51 mothers, were analyzed, focusing on measures of involvement in treatments, parent-child play, parent-child communication experience, the child’s communication skills, and feelings of caregiver emotional load. Pearson correlations were conducted to explore associations between parental involvement, child variables, and parental factors. Path analysis was employed to delineate the relationships between parental involvement and treatment outcomes. RESULTS: Mothers exhibited significantly higher scores in involvement in treatments and feelings of caregiver emotional load compared to fathers, while no significant difference was found in parent-child communication experience. Both fathers and mothers demonstrated direct association between involvement in treatment, enhanced play and better communication experience with their children. Only fathers demonstrated direct associations between involvement in treatment and reduced caregiver emotional load, as well as improved communication skills in their children. The involvement of fathers in treatment mediated the association between paternal education level and the child’s gender to treatment outcomes. Communication experience with the child was negatively associated with parental feelings of emotional load. CONCLUSIONS: Active involvement by both parents is important for supporting parent-child play and communication. Fathers, in particular, experience benefits from involvement in treatments by SLPs, including decreased feelings of emotional load. These findings underscore the significance of considering demographic factors such as parental gender, education level, and the child’s gender when designing SLP treatments for children with ASD and guiding their parents.

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12. Lee J, Jung YM, Wi WY, Bae J, Park JS, Jun JK, Oh MJ, Lee SM, Cho GJ. Long-Term Neurodevelopmental Outcomes After Antenatal Corticosteroid Therapy in Late Preterm Twins: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study. J Korean Med Sci. 2025; 40(30): e174.

BACKGROUND: In women with singleton pregnancy who are at risk of late preterm delivery, administration of antenatal corticosteroids is recommended to reduce neonatal respiratory complications. However, the adoption of this practice is not widely accepted in twin pregnancies because of a lack of evidence regarding both the effectiveness and long-term safety of corticosteroids. This study was conducted to evaluate the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of twins according to the administration of antenatal corticosteroid in late preterm. METHODS: This nationwide population based retrospective cohort study included twins who were delivered late preterm (34+0-36+6 weeks) between 2007 and 2010. The study population were divided into 2 groups according to the administration of preterm antenatal corticosteroids. Group 1 included twins from mothers who were administered antenatal corticosteroids in late preterm (with late preterm corticosteroids), and group 2 included twins whose mothers were not administered antenatal corticosteroid (without corticosteroids). The risk of long-term adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes was compared between the 2 groups. The composite adverse neurodevelopmental outcome was defined as the occurrence of at least one of the following: autism, cerebral palsy, speech articulation disorder, developmental disorders of scholastic skills, or developmental disorders of motor function. RESULTS: During the study period, 9,450 children met the inclusion criteria: 1,476 children in group 1 (with late preterm corticosteroids) and 7,974 children in group 2 (without corticosteroids). There was no statistically significant difference in the long-term adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes between the 2 groups. This result was consistent even after adjusting for covariates (adjusted hazard ratio 0.973 [95% confidence interval, 0.811-1.166]). CONCLUSION: The risk of long-term adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes did not increase after antenatal corticosteroid administration in twin children who were born in late preterm.

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13. Li J, Sujawal M, Bernotaite Z, Cunnings I, Liu F. Auditory and Semantic Processing of Speech-in-Noise in Autism: A Behavioral and EEG Study. Autism Res. 2025.

Autistic individuals often struggle to recognize speech in noisy environments, but the neural mechanisms behind these challenges remain unclear. Effective speech-in-noise (SiN) processing relies on auditory processing, which tracks target sounds amidst noise, and semantic processing, which further integrates relevant acoustic information to derive meaning. This study examined these two processes in autism. Thirty-one autistic and 31 non-autistic adults completed a sentence judgment task under three conditions: quiet, babble noise, and competing speech. Auditory processing was measured using EEG-derived temporal response functions (TRFs), which tracked how the brain follows speech sounds, while semantic processing was assessed via behavioral accuracy and the N400 component, a neural marker of semantic processing. Autistic participants showed reduced TRF responses and delayed N400 onset, indicating less efficient auditory processing and slower semantic processing, despite similar N400 amplitude and behavioral performance. Moreover, non-autistic participants demonstrated a trade-off between auditory and semantic processing resources. In the competing speech condition, they showed enhanced semantic integration but reduced neural tracking of auditory information when managing linguistic competition introduced by intelligible speech noise. In contrast, the autistic group showed no modulation of neural responses, suggesting reduced flexibility in adjusting auditory and semantic demands. These findings highlight distinct neural processing patterns in autistic individuals during SiN tasks, providing new insights into how atypical auditory and semantic processing shape SiN perception in autism.

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14. Liu S, Yang Q, Zhu P, Liu X, Lu Q, Yang J, Gao J, Han H, Zhang Z, Gu N, Tan T, Sun J. Precise Magnetic Stimulation of the Paraventricular Nucleus Improves Sociability in a Mouse Model of ASD. Neurosci Bull. 2025.

Magnetic stimulation has made significant strides in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Nonetheless, current magnetic stimulation techniques lack the precision to accurately modulate specific nuclei and cannot realize deep brain magnetic stimulation. To address this, we utilized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as mediators to achieve precise targeting and penetration. We investigated the effects of magnetic fields with varying frequencies on neuronal activity and compared the activation effects on neurons using a 10-Hz precise magneto-stimulation system (pMSS) with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in mice. Oxytocin levels, dendritic morphology and density, and mouse behavior were measured before and after pMSS intervention. Our findings suggest that pMSS can activate oxytocinergic neurons, leading to upregulation of oxytocin secretion and neurite outgrowth. As a result, sociability was rapidly improved after a one-week pMSS treatment regimen. These results demonstrate a promising magneto-stimulation method for regulating neuronal activity in deep brain nuclei and provide a promising therapeutic approach for autism spectrum disorder.

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15. Logonathan P, Muhd Noor N, Marsom A. Case Report: Autistic child with restrictive eating behaviour, limping gait and erythematous gingival mass-scurvy?. Front Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025; 4: 1600861.

Scurvy, a condition caused by a deficiency in ascorbic acid, is often considered an outdated, textbook disease, largely forgotten in the 21st century. However, recent reports indicate a rise in cases, particularly among individuals with risk factors for nutritional deficiencies or those with specific dietary habits. These cases are frequently misdiagnosed, leading to a series of unnecessary tests that could be avoided with a thorough assessment of dietary intake. In this report, we present the case of a 10-year-old with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and a selective eating pattern, who presented with a limping gait, tenderness in the right calf, and significant weight loss. A skin examination revealed multiple perifollicular hemorrhages with corkscrew-shaped hair, as well as localized erythematous and hypertrophic gingiva in all four quadrants. Based on clinical findings, scurvy was suspected, and vitamin C supplementation was initiated both for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The diagnosis was confirmed when serum vitamin C levels were found to be critically low (5 µmol/L, normal range: 28-120 µmol/L). The patient’s response to vitamin C was impressive, with complete gingival healing and noticeable weight gain within three weeks. Although scurvy is often thought of as an ancient disease, it has seen a resurgence, posing diagnostic challenges due to its diverse clinical manifestations. Early diagnosis, along with appropriate intervention and dietary changes, can lead to an excellent prognosis for individuals with scurvy.

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16. Long J, Liao X, Han K, Chen J, Li H, Liu Y, Tang Z, Zhang H. A Case Report of High-Dose Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation-Induced Excessive Laughing in a 6-Year-Old Boy With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Clin Case Rep. 2025; 13(8): e70731.

High-dose transcranial magnetic stimulation-induced excessive laughter in a 6-year-old autistic male. We hypothesized that this phenomenon reflected prefrontal disinhibition or exaggerated emotional response. This case emphasizes the necessity for modified treatment protocols with concurrent psychiatric assessment, emotional evaluation, and neurophysiological monitoring when encountering such adverse effects during neuromodulation therapy.

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17. Mahé O, Morel-Kohlmeyer S, Briend F, Houy-Durand E. Predictors of Psychotropic Medication Use Among Autistic Adults. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

PURPOSE: No psychotropic treatment has recognized effects on the core clinical signs of autism. In this retrospective study, we sought to identify predictors of psychotropic medication in autistic adults among demographic, diagnostic and functional clinical factors. METHODS: A total of 391 records of adults (28.2 ± 9.6 years) from the Centre de Ressources Autisme Centre Val de Loire were included. Participants were divided into three groups: those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (n = 129), those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) (n = 48), and those with both diagnoses (ASD + IDD) (n = 214). Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to assess factors associated with psychotropic pharmacotherapy in autistic adults. RESULTS: 17% of autistic adults without IDD and 44.9% of autistic adults with IDD were prescribed multiple psychotropic medications. The first regression analysis showed that the likelihood of psychotropic polypharmacotherapy increases with age, epilepsy and severe externalizing behavior disorders. Anxiety disorders were associated with psychotropic monopharmacotherapy and mood disorders were a significant predictor to both mono and polypharmacotherapy. The second regression analysis highlighted that IDD is an explanatory factor for psychotropic polypharmacotherapy and ASD + IDD is predictive for both mono and polypharmacotherapy. Adults with ASD + IDD are prescribed more psychotropic medication than those with ASD alone, particularly antiepileptics, benzodiazepines and neuroleptics. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that co-occurring IDD, older age, epilepsy, anxiety and mood disorders, and externalizing behavioral disorders predict psychotropic medication use in autistic adults. The prevalence and the predictors of polymedication in this group raise concerns, emphasizing the need to develop new psychoeducational support and advance more targeted and effective treatments.

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18. Meng Y, Jia J, Ding Y, Wang P, Wang Z, Zhang R, He Z, Wang Z, Zhang H, Feng L, Li Y, Shi X, Shan L, Liao M, Li Y. Characterizing immune and metabolic profiles in autism spectrum disorder through combined transcriptomics-metabonomics analysis. J Psychiatr Res. 2025; 190: 92-101.

BACKGROUND: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) encompass a range of complex neurodevelopmental conditions marked by difficulties in social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behavior. In this study, we explore the potential interplay between metabolic and transcriptional alterations in ASD, aiming to uncover common biological disturbances that may contribute to the phenotype across cohorts. METHODS: Transcriptional and metabolomic data for ASD and typically developing (TD) samples were sourced from the GEO database. After rigorous quality control and alignment of transcriptomic data using DESeq2 identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs). For metabolomic data, MetaboAnalyst was used to find differentially expressed metabolites (DMs). Functional annotation was done using KEGG and GO, while Cytoscape facilitated network analysis. RESULTS: The analysis revealed significant upregulation of immune-related genes, including IL-1β and IFN-γ, indicating an activated immune response in ASD. Conversely, downregulation of synaptic genes suggests potential synaptic function impairments. These findings highlight the influence of immune responses on neurodevelopment. Furthermore, notable metabolic changes were observed, with increases in metabolites like phenylalanine and citrulline, alongside alterations in lipid metabolism, aligning with dysregulated immune pathways and synaptic signaling. Key transcription factors, such as RARA and NFKB2, were also identified, emphasizing their critical roles in modulating these interconnected biological processes. CONCLUSION: The parallel findings of dysregulation of metabolic and transcriptomic pathways in ASD from distinct cohorts point towards intricate commonalities that contribute to its phenotype. This multi-omics approach provides valuable insights and supports the development of precision medicine strategies. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to explore these changes across developmental stages and environmental influences, offering a more comprehensive perspective on ASD management.

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19. Messaoud M, Joya HU, Alansari AN, Jouini A, Ksiaa A, Zrig A, Sahnoun L. A Rare Case of Ileal Intussusception Caused by Primary Small Bowel Trichobezoar and Meckel’s Diverticulum in an Autistic Child. Clin Case Rep. 2025; 13(8): e70745.

Intussusception is a condition in which one part of the intestine slides into an adjacent part of the intestine. Intussusception is an important cause of an acute abdomen and the second most common cause of bowel obstruction in children. Trichobezoars, which are rare in children and often linked to psychiatric disorders, seldom cause intestinal intussusception. While Rapunzel syndrome-a form of gastric trichobezoar extending into the small bowel-is a recognized cause, primary small-bowel trichobezoars are exceptionally rare. We report a unique pediatric case of ileo-ileal intussusception triggered by a 30-cm primary small-bowel trichobezoar coexisting with Meckel’s diverticulum, an association not previously documented. A 6-year-old autistic boy presented with symptoms suggestive of bowel obstruction. Imaging suggested small-bowel intussusception related to Meckel’s diverticulum. Surgery revealed an ileo-ileal intussusception secondary to a 30-cm obstructive trichobezoar located proximal to the invagination and an inflamed Meckel’s diverticulum. The diverticulum was resected, the trichobezoar was removed, and ileo-ileal anastomosis was performed, with no postoperative complications. The combination of a primary small-bowel trichobezoar and Meckel’s diverticulum leading to intussusception is exceedingly rare and poses unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, particularly in special pediatric populations. Early recognition and surgical intervention are essential to prevent bowel ischemia, perforation, and sepsis.

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20. Mourad J, Grosjean B, Perroud N, Bogaerts K, Desseilles M, Bonnechère B. Rethinking body representations in autism across cultures. Front Psychiatry. 2025; 16: 1612219.

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21. Musgrave SM, Taylor J, Whitford W, Garton A, Poquérusse J, Hawkins V, Port W, Moodley KS, Monk R, Knowles SD, Walker C, Samson C, Velzian L, Swan B, Love DR, Hill R, Muir C, Talkowski ME, Lowther C, Snell RG, Lehnert K, Jacobsen JC. Genetic diagnostic outcomes from a 10-year research programme in autism in Aotearoa New Zealand. J R Soc N Z. 2025; 55(6): 2464-80.

Autism is a relatively common neurodevelopmental difference with considerable phenotypic heterogeneity impacting cognitive, sensory, and social processing, and often co-occurs with other conditions. Therefore, there is not a one-size-fits-all clinical support pathway for autistic individuals following diagnosis. DNA sequencing technology has enabled the discovery of genes causative of, or associated with, autism. Unsurprisingly, genetic heterogeneity goes hand-in-hand with the phenotypic heterogeneity for this condition; with causative genetic variation ranging from single base pair changes to complex chromosomal rearrangements in more than 100 different genes. This study captures a snapshot (201 individuals) of the autistic population (both clinically referred and self-referred) in Aotearoa New Zealand and documents a decade’s research effort to refine diagnosis using a flexible and customised genome-wide sequencing approach. The diagnostic yield in this phenotypically disparate cohort was 12.9%, with an additional 15.9% of individuals harbouring ‘likely causal’ variants, providing the groundwork to tailor clinical, social, and educational care. Importantly, this study reveals the diagnostic utility of customised genetic screening for autism across a phenotypically diverse autistic population.

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22. Perrelet V, Veyre A, Chawki L, Margot C, Cappe É. What are we targeting when we support inclusive education for autistic students? A systematic review of 233 empirical studies and call for community partnerships. Autism. 2025: 13623613251352223.

Interventions to support mainstream schooling for autistic students involve multiple complex considerations. This systematic review, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses standards, aimed to describe inclusive education interventions, their outcomes, and the tools used to measure the outcomes. A total of 233 experimental studies were included in the review. Subsequent result interpretation was performed using a participatory approach. To this end, a group of consultants comprising lived experience experts participated in two consultation sessions. Most studies were randomized controlled trials, single-case experimental design studies, or other quasi-experimental design studies. The social interactions and social skills of autistic students were the most frequently targeted outcomes. Cognitive-behavioral interventions were the predominant intervention type. A wide, heterogeneous set of standardized instruments was used to measure outcomes, indicating a lack of consensus on how to measure school inclusion and participation. The most used measurement tools assessed core autism symptoms, intelligence quotient, and adaptive behaviors. Approximately half of the studies failed to measure implementation considerations. Participatory interpretation of the results through consultation sessions with lived experience experts enabled the highlighting of interactive processes and considerations involved in inclusive education.Lay abstractMultiple complex considerations are involved in supporting mainstream schooling for autistic students. This systematic review aimed to describe inclusive education interventions and outcome measures for autistic students. A total of 233 experimental studies were analyzed. Furthermore, consultation sessions with autistic people, parents, and inclusive education professionals were organized to enable in-depth interpretation of the results using a participatory approach. Cognitive-behavioral interventions were the most common intervention type in the international scientific literature, and social interactions of autistic children were the most frequently targeted outcomes. A lack of consensus on how to measure school inclusion and participation was found. Although some studies considered perspectives on the acceptability of interventions, most of them failed to evaluate implementation aspects. The lived experience experts highlighted tensions between the systematic review findings and the practical realities of inclusive education; this led to discussions about the possible application of the United Nations’ definition of inclusion. Overall, empirical research supporting the inclusion of autistic students aligns more closely with the concept of integration, which requires students to adapt to the school context. The focus of inclusion has been shifting from minimizing the unique traits of students with special needs to adapting the environment for them to take a greater part in school activities.

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23. Porto KS, Wieckowski AT, Fein DA, Barton ML, Baranek GT, Robins DL. Comparison of Available Tools to Screen for Autism at 12 and 15 Months. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2025.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the performance of autism screeners at 12 and 15 months of age. METHODS: Children were screened either at 12- (n = 1473) or 15-month (n = 1227) primary care visits. Children were screened with both the Infant/Toddler Checklist (ITC) and the First Year Inventory-Lite (FYI-L) at 12 months and FYI-L and the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F) at 15 months. After a positive screen and/or clinical concern, families were offered a no-cost diagnostic evaluation. RESULTS: Of the 1473 toddlers screened at 12 months, 223 screened positive and 107 attended a diagnostic evaluation. Of the 1227 children screened at 15 months, 252 screened positive and 94 attended the evaluation. Overall, specificity for autism was high (>0.94) for all screeners at 12 and 15 months. At 12-month screening, sensitivity for autism was low on the ITC (0.26) and moderate on the FYI-L (0.67). Positive predictive value (PPV) was low for both screeners (0.24 for ITC and FYI-L). At 15 months, both the FYI-L and the M-CHAT-R/F demonstrated moderate sensitivity (0.61 for FYI-L and 0.60 for the M-CHAT-R/F) and low PPV (0.16 for FYI-L and 0.31 for M-CHAT-R/F). CONCLUSION: Although data do not support universal screening at younger ages, the study identifies tools that can be used at 12 and 15 months. Importantly, screening at these ages does not identify all cases of autism, and repeat screening at 18 months and beyond is essential to support autism detection as early as possible.

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24. Roman-Urrestarazu A, Tyson A, Gatica-Bahamonde G, van Kessel R, Yang J, Mansilla C, Zuniga I, Méndez-Fadol A, Larrain B, Garcia R, Koch D, Ford T, Groot W, Pavlova M, Czabanowska K. Bayesian prevalence of autism and unmet special education needs in Chile in a sample of three million school-age children. Autism. 2025: 13623613251342310.

Autism spectrum disorder prevalence estimates in Latin America have been limited by a lack of reliable data. This cohort study aimed to estimate autism spectrum disorder prevalence in Chile by linking school registries with electronic health records. Probabilistic data linking was conducted between the 2021 Chilean school registry and 2003-2015 health records from the Araucania Sur Health Service. Bayesian prevalence estimation was used, considering variables such as age, sex, immigration status, ethnicity and rurality. Autism spectrum disorder prevalence across 29 health services was analysed for students aged 6 to 18 years. Regression models assessed unmet needs for special education services, validated using Araucania Sur Health Service health records. The study included 3,056,306 pupils (51.34% boys; mean age 11.6 years), with 14,549 having autism spectrum disorder. The national standardized school prevalence was 0.46%. Boys had 6 times higher odds of receiving special education services support than girls. In Araucania Sur Health Service, the adjusted clinical prevalence from health records was 1.22%. The Bayesian projected national autism spectrum disorder prevalence was 1.31%. This study, the largest of its kind in Latin America, revealed a higher autism spectrum disorder prevalence than previously reported, with one in 76 children affected. Disparities were observed across sex, ethnicity and health services.Lay abstractThis project tried to understand how many children in Chile are affected by autism, as reliable data have been lacking not only in Chile but across much of Latin America. To do this, we carried out the largest autism prevalence study ever conducted in the region. We linked national school records from 2021 with over a decade of health records (2003-2015) from the Araucanía Sur Health Service in southern Chile. This allowed us to examine data from more than three million students aged 6 to 18 years across 29 health services. Our results revealed that around one in every 76 children may have autism – almost 3 times higher than what was reported in schools alone. We also found that boys were 6 times more likely than girls to receive special education support. Using advanced statistical modelling, we estimated a national autism prevalence rate of 1.31%. Importantly, we discovered disparities in diagnosis and access to support based on sex, ethnicity, immigration status and whether a child lived in a rural or urban area. These findings highlight the need for more inclusive and equitable approaches to autism identification and care across Chile. This research not only helps to fill a major data gap but also offers a model for how countries with limited resources can use existing administrative data to improve public health planning and educational support for children with autism.

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25. Selvakumar R. Insights on Parental Experiences with Autism Spectrum Disorder for Global Audiences. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2025; 63(8): 6.

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26. Skura M, Dryżałowska G, Steinhagen A, Lorens-Rosa W. Exploring Mental Health, Self-Compassion and Support in New Parents of Children With Disabilities vs. Nondisabled Children. Child Care Health Dev. 2025; 51(5): e70150.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to determine whether the type of disability (intellectual, motor, hearing, or autism spectrum) differentiates mental health, parental stress, self-compassion and perceived support among parents of children aged 0-7 years. METHODS: The study took place anonymously from February to May 2023 using online questionnaires. Instruments such as GHQ-12, PSS-10, PSI-4-SF, Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) and MSPSS were used to assess mental health, parental stress, self-compassion and social support. Tools were translated, adapted and reliability tested for Polish conditions. RESULTS: While no significant differences in mental health symptoms were observed across disability types, parents of children with autism and intellectual disabilities reported higher stress related to daily life and personal problems. They also faced more conflicts, lower parental competence and less support from friends, particularly those with children on the autism spectrum. CONCLUSION: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders experience the highest stress levels and lowest parental competence. Specialists should prioritize teaching self-compassion and social support utilization while continuously monitoring the mental health of these parents to improve their well-being and caregiving.

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27. Smart R, Adams D, Simpson K. The who, how and what of educational outcome research for autistic students published in the last decade: A systematic quantitative literature review. Br J Educ Psychol. 2025.

BACKGROUND: Educational outcome research for autistic school students has expanded rapidly over the past decade, reporting variable results. This variability may be partially due to differences in participants and methods. AIMS: This review examines a decade of autism-focused quantitative research and identifies who and what educational outcome research has reported on and how outcomes were measured. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, ERIC, Scopus, PsycINFO and PubMed were searched with predefined keywords and updated in October 2023. Utilizing systematic quantitative literature review methodology, 112 journal articles, theses and reports published 2012-2023, which quantitatively investigate academic, disciplinary or school attendance outcomes in autistic students were included. Risk of bias was evaluated using the STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology checklist. Descriptive statistics summarized the included research. RESULTS: Included items reported on 226,314 participants. Most (76%) examined academic achievement, with few examining disciplinary or attendance outcomes. Research was largely conducted in North America. Reporting of co-occurring conditions and diverse gender presentations was limited. Ethnicity and socio-economic status were rarely reported. Reporting quality of academic outcome items was higher than that of disciplinary or attendance items. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight gaps in reporting in literature on educational outcomes of autistic school students, limiting the practical utility of findings for educators and researchers. Future research is required on disciplinary and attendance outcomes. Comprehensive reporting of demographic data, including co-occurring conditions, gender beyond the binary and race and ethnicity are required to support intersectional analysis and improve the utility of findings for autistic and autism communities.

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28. Sousa D, Ferreira A, Pereira HC, Amaral J, Crisóstomo J, Simões M, Martins R, Mouga S, Duque F, Oliveira G, Castelo-Branco M. Specific dynamic facial expression evoked responses show distinct perceptual and attentional features in autism connected to social communication and GABA phenotypes. Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1): 28399.

Autism is characterised by core differences in social communication and interaction. The neurobiology underlying autism can be investigated using experimental designs that capture the dynamic nature of social perception, which activates the third visual pathway. Here, we investigated dynamic specific facial emotion processing using a naturalistic facial expression paradigm, leading to a specific dynamic N170 (dN170) evoked by emotion expression trajectories. Participants engaged in an active task of an avatar with two temporal trajectories: morphing from neutral to happy or sad expressions and unmorphing back to neutral. We recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy in autistic and non-autistic children and adolescents (n = 16 per group; ages between 8 and 17) matched for sex, handedness, and age. Results revealed that dN170 exhibited longer latencies during unmorphing for the autistic group. This specific timing effect, identified for the unmorphing versus morphing conditions in autism, suggests a stimulus trajectory-dependent effect (hysteresis). Dynamic P300 showed higher amplitudes in the autistic group during morphing, confirming the presence of an attentional compensatory mechanism. Correlations between ERP properties, GABA, and social communication abilities provided evidence of a dimensional continuum from non-autistic to autistic traits. These findings highlight the promising role of these ERPs as indicators of perceptual and attentional processing differences in autism.

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29. Wall NG, Smith O, Campbell L, Loughland C, Schall U. Using EEG and Eye Tracking to Evaluate an Emotion Recognition iPad App for Autistic Children. Clin EEG Neurosci. 2025: 15500594251362402.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that impacts individuals’ communication and social interaction skills. Autistic children often have smaller N170 amplitudes in response to faces than neurotypical children. Autistic children also avoid the salient areas of the face. Technology-based interventions have been developed to teach autistic children how to recognise facial expressions, but the results have exhibited considerable variability across studies. The current study explored the effectiveness of an iPad app designed to support autistic children in recognising facial expressions by examining how participants process facial information through event-related potentials (ERP) and eye-tracking recordings. ERPs and eye tracking were recorded from 20 neurotypical and 15 autistic children aged between 6 and 12 years. The results replicated previous work, with the autistic group having smaller N170 and Vertex Positive Potential amplitudes and more scan time off the face when compared to non-autistic children. Following the intervention, some changes were observed in facial feature scanning among autistic participants, characterised by increased time spent on the face and decreased fixations. These findings add to the work, indicating that eye tracking may be a valuable biomarker for intervention outcomes in autism. Further research into N170 as a biomarker is needed.

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30. Wilson JS, 3rd, Eilenberg J, Feng W, Chu A, Abramson MA, Davis KA, Guthrie KM, Kuhn J, Orsmond GI, Long KA. Transportation Access in the Transition to Adulthood: Navigating a Neurotypical World on the Autism Spectrum. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

Despite documented transportation access challenges among autistic adolescents and young adults (AYAs), little is known about the processes through which transportation inaccessibility affects AYAs during the transition to adulthood. This qualitative analysis explores what underlies challenges for AYAs who have trouble accessing transportation in the transition to adulthood, how this inaccessibility affects their transition process, and suggestions for supporting AYAs in accessing transportation in the future. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 27 culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse parents/caregivers of AYAs and five service providers. Data were systematically coded, organized using Framework Matrices, and analyzed using Applied Thematic Analysis. Findings reveal how barriers affect AYAs’ transportation access, including (1) mismatches between transportation environments and AYAs’ sensory, interpersonal, and executive functioning needs and (2) few opportunities for AYAs to develop skills and adaptations to use available transportation options and/or to identify alternative transportation options. Although transportation barriers were described broadly, their impact on minoritized and low-income AYAs was more pronounced, thus widening transition-related disparities. Findings highlight compounding barriers to and implications of transportation inaccessibility for autistic youth. The study suggests the importance of a multi-tiered approach to improving transportation accessibility for AYAs, including ensuring dedicated transportation education, improving community and institutional partnerships, and re-designing transportation infrastructure, which together have the potential to improve transition-related and adult outcomes. Future research should prioritize partnering with AYAs to design and implement interventions to improve transportation access.

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