1. Abdullah L, Alliey NA, Elizondo E, Alliey-Rodriguez N, Maestre G, Hall J. Systematic review and evidence gap mapping of Alzheimer’s disease biomarker studies in those with intellectual and developmental disability. Alzheimers Dement (Amst);2025 (Jul-Sep);17(3):e70175.

There are a relatively small number of investigations into brain aging in those with intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD). This project seeks to (1) characterize the internationally available multi-omics Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarker studies including those with I/DD, and (2) discuss future research directions. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched under the following criteria: cross-sectional or longitudinal AD-omics studies on adults (18 +) with I/DD. 532 studies were identified, 186 studies were evaluated for full-text, 79 studies were excluded, and 117 studies were extracted. Most biological specimens were analyzed in blood, plasma, or serum. Metabolomics, hormonomics, and transcriptomics were most understudied. Sex differences were investigated in nine studies. Two studies included participants with non-Down syndrome neurodevelopmental disorders. European-based city populations were primarily represented across studies. Future studies including a broader range of I/DD presentations, and considering sex differences, comorbidities, and novel biomarkers beta synuclein are interesting future directions. HIGHLIGHTS: Small sample sizes, cross-sectional designs, and few prospective and retrospective studies highlight the need for more rigorous research design.A focus on European-based city populations and Down syndrome (DS) clinical groups prompts the need for inclusive, community-based recruitment methods across broader clinical and ethnic groups.The vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2) shows promise for early detection of synaptic degeneration, potentially across I/DD groups, showing correlations with CSF biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease, axonal injury, and cognitive performance in DS.

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2. Adıgüzel E, Bozkurt NM, Ünal G, Waszkiewicz N. Fighting Autism with Fatty Acids: Maternal Omega-3 Shields the Developing Brain from VPA-Induced Behavioral and Neurochemical Damage. Biology (Basel);2025 (Aug 16);14(8)

Background/Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder is a psychological condition characterized by symptoms such as repetitive stereotypic behaviors and social interaction/communication difficulties. It is known that omega-3 deficiency during brain maturation may cause learning disabilities and motor impairment. Therefore, we examined the effects of omega-3 treatment during gestation and/or lactation on autism-related behavioral and molecular deficits in a valproic acid (VPA)-rat model. Methods: Female Wistar rats were divided into five groups: control, VPA (500 mg/kg at G12.5), VPA+omega-3 (gestation), VPA+omega-3 (lactation), and VPA+omega-3 (gestation + lactation). The omega-3 supplement was dissolved in drinking water and offered for consumption daily during gestation and/or lactation. After the treatment period, behavioral tests were performed. The rats were then sacrificed, and inflammatory cytokines, parvalbumin, and glutamate decarboxylase-67 (GAD67) levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were examined. Results: Prenatal VPA administration increased repetitive behaviors, decreased sociability, impaired memory, and induced anhedonia. The behavioral and neurochemical effects of VPA exposure were more severe in males than in females. Early maternal omega-3 treatments rescued these behavioral changes. The treatments also reversed prenatal VPA-induced neuroinflammation. Lastly, GAD67 and parvalbumin decreases in these brain regions were mitigated by the treatments, the therapeutic effects of which were more pronounced in males. In terms of efficacy, the treatment groups ranked as follows: « gestation + lactation » > « gestation » > « lactation ». Conclusions: Maternal omega-3 supplementation-especially when administered throughout gestation and lactation-provides significant protection against behavioral and neurochemical deficits associated with prenatal VPA exposure. Early omega-3 intake may serve as a valuable complementary strategy in autism intervention.

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3. Andersson Nystedt T, Lawlor C, Pira K, Malmqvist E, Lim YH, Zhang J, So R, Bergmann M, Jovanovic Andersen Z, Oudin A. Does exposure to black carbon during pregnancy increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder? A cohort study from Southern Sweden. Environ Res;2025 (Sep 1);286(Pt 1):122700.

Black carbon (BC), a major component of fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)), has been implicated in adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). While PM(2.5) has been associated with increased ASD risk, the specific role of BC remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess prenatal exposure to BC and risk for ASD development in a low exposure setting, using a large, high-quality register database, with disease diagnosis made by a single team. We used the Maternal Air Pollution in Southern Sweden cohort, encompassing nearly all births in the Malmö region, linked with ASD diagnoses. Exposure estimates included locally emitted PM(2.5) and BC, based on residential address during the entire pregnancy and for each trimester separately. Odds ratios were estimated with logistic regression models, adjusted for potential confounders. The final analytical cohort included 40,156 individuals. Associations between prenatal exposure to BC and ASD were observed in multiple models and across different trimesters, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.17 (95 % CI: 0.97-1.41) per intra-quartile range (IQR) increase in BC exposure over the full pregnancy. For non-BC PM(2.5), the OR was 1.22 (95 % CI: 1.00-1.49) per IQR increase. This study utilised a large, high-quality register of births, matched to residential addresses and demographics factors, with a highly reliable disease outcome, against high-quality air pollution models. Positive trends were seen between BC exposure and ASD outcome, which were attenuated slightly, and becoming non-significant, when controlling for covariates. We observed stronger associations for PM(2.5) than BC. This study is novel in the precision of individual data, exposure and diagnosis, and is useful for future meta-analyses.

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4. Blom JMC, Ruggerini C, Caroli F, Ferreri C, Masi A, Rivi V, Sarti P, Rebecchi M, Arletti C. Cooking for disability: a pilot study on nutritional interventions for mental health support in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Front Psychiatry;2025;16:1608033.

BACKGROUND: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition often accompanied by chronic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, which are increasingly recognized as key contributors to symptom severity and behavioral challenges. Despite these insights, targeted nutritional interventions in adults with severe ASD remain understudied. AIM: This pilot study investigated whether a precision, biomarker-guided dietary intervention could improve both behavioral symptoms and underlying biological dysregulations in adults with Level 3 ASD. METHODS: Seven adults with severe ASD residing at the ASP Charitas residential facility in Modena (Italy) participated in a 12-month dietary intervention aimed at reducing inflammation, optimizing fatty acid profiles, and supporting metabolic health. Behavioral assessments-including CARS-2-ST, DASH-II, ABC, and SSP-and biological markers such as IL-6, fecal calprotectin, vitamin D, HbA1c, and erythrocyte lipid profiles were collected at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. RESULTS: Baseline assessments confirmed severe ASD symptoms, psychiatric comorbidities, sensory processing abnormalities, systemic and intestinal inflammation, metabolic impairment, and a pro-inflammatory lipid profile. Following the intervention, significant reductions were observed in core autism symptoms (CARS-2-ST, ABC), alongside decreased frequency and severity of behavioral symptoms (DASH-II). Sensory processing (SSP) stabilized or modestly improved. Biochemical markers shifted toward normalization, including increased vitamin D, improved insulin sensitivity (HbA1c), and reduced inflammatory markers (IL-6, fecal calprotectin). Lipidomic profiling revealed elevated anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids (DHA, EPA) and a decreased omega-6/omega-3 ratio. Correlational analyses linked these biological changes to behavioral improvements, suggesting a mechanistic connection. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study suggests that a targeted dietary intervention, based on biological markers reflective of neurobiological dysfunctions, may offer a promising complementary approach to managing ASD symptoms in adults. The findings indicate that dietary modifications can lead to improvements in both biological and behavioral markers, but further research is needed to refine personalized nutritional strategies for individuals with ASD.

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5. Clarke F. Teaching nursing with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Br J Nurs;2025 (Sep 4);34(16):818.

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6. Dyer K, Linnehan AM, Weiss MJ. Fostering Belonging in Autistic Individuals. J Autism Dev Disord;2025 (Sep 4)

This commentary explores the concept of belonging as a critical yet often overlooked goal in supporting autistic individuals. While inclusive practices have expanded educational access, they do not consistently foster the emotional and relational experience of belonging. A targeted literature review was conducted to synthesize research on belonging, autism, and applied behavior analysis. Articles were selected based on their relevance to belonging, personal identity, and inclusive practices. Key themes include the distinction between inclusion and belonging, the definition and significance of belonging, challenges faced by the autistic community in achieving it, and research and educational recommendations derived from current literature and conceptual analysis to promote belonging among autistic individuals. Belonging must be prioritized as a meaningful outcome in autism support. Achieving this requires continued progress in defining, measuring, and intervening to enhance the subjective experience of belonging, as well as refining research and educational recommendations.

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7. Jain A, Dhir N, Sharma AR, Raja A, Prabha PK, Bhatia A, Medhi B, Prakash A. Valproic acid triggers a sex-independent autism-like deficits, gut-brain axis, and neurodegenerative changes in the autism model of Wistar rats. Behav Pharmacol;2025 (Oct 1);36(7):454-470.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social interaction, communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. Its higher prevalence in males underscores the importance of understanding potential sex-specific differences. Prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) is a widely used preclinical model to induce ASD-like traits in rodents; however, few studies have systematically compared neurobehavioral outcomes in both sexes. Here, we aimed to investigate sex-specific variations in developmental, behavioral, and physiological parameters in Wistar rat offspring prenatally exposed to VPA. Pregnant rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of VPA (600 mg/kg) or saline on gestational day (GD) 12.5, and offspring were assigned to four groups: control males, control females, VPA males, and females (n = 9 per group). VPA-exposed rats of both sexes exhibited autism-like behaviors, including heightened anxiety, increased exploratory activity, repetitive behaviors, social deficits, spatial and recognition memory impairments, and depressive-like traits. Physiological assessments revealed altered gastrointestinal (GIT) motility, increased brain edema, impaired blood-brain barrier (BBB) function, and neuronal injury with no sex-based difference in estrogen β (ERβ/ESR2) mRNA expression. These findings demonstrate that in utero exposure to VPA induces autism-like behaviors, developmental abnormalities, and neurodegenerative changes in both rat sexes, emphasizing the importance of including females in preclinical ASD research.

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8. Kim SW, Lee H, Song DY, Lee GH, Han JH, Lee JW, Byun HJ, Son JH, Kim YR, Lee Y, Kim E, Werling DM, Kim SH, Sanders SJ, Yoo HJ, An JY. Publisher Correction: Evaluation of familial phenotype deviation to measure the impact of de novo mutations in autism. Genome Med;2025 (Sep 4);17(1):99.

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9. Kirby AV, Feldman K, Clark W, Darlington AN, Atisme A, Duncan-Ishcomer B, Kripke-Ludwig R, Joyce A, Lee W, Rodriguez K, Siddeek Z, Murthi K, Keeshin B, Coon H, Nicolaidis C. Influences on suicidality and suicide-prevention needs for the autistic community: Qualitative insights from multiple perspectives. Autism;2025 (Sep 4):13623613251368019.

Autistic individuals are disproportionately likely to experience suicidal thoughts, feelings, and actions. Addressing suicidality is also a high priority of autistic community members. The goal of this study was to understand broad influences on suicidality and suicide-prevention needs for the autistic community. Using a community-based participatory research approach, we conducted a reflective thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with 16 autistic adults, 8 family members, and 14 mental health providers. Themes summarizing influences on suicidality and suicide-prevention needs centered on three broad thematic concepts: (1) Pervasive negative societal attitudes and social experiences have a lasting impact on autistic people’s feelings of worth; (2) negative experiences and stressors add strain, making life feel overwhelming and hopeless; and (3) difficulty regulating and managing emotions can increase the likelihood of suicidal feelings and actions. Participants provided autism-specific recommendations to incorporate into suicide prevention. The findings emphasize the need for multifaceted suicide-prevention efforts supporting autistic people through improved societal treatment, community-level supports, and individually tailored services.Lay AbstractAutistic people experience suicidal thoughts, feelings, and actions more often than non-autistic people. Autistic community members say this is an important research topic. The goal of this study was to understand broadly what kinds of things might lead autistic people to feel suicidal. We also wanted to know what is needed for suicide prevention for the autistic community. The research team for this study included autistic community partners using an approach called community-based participatory research. The study team did interviews with 16 autistic adults, 8 family members, and 14 mental health providers. The results show that different types of experiences can lead to suicidality. One influence is the negative treatment of autistic people. Negative experiences, challenges, and stressors can also make life feel overwhelming for autistic people. Finally, difficult emotions can be hard to manage. There are many things that participants thought would help autistic people feel less suicidal. The study shows that autistic people need to be treated better and need more community supports to help prevent suicidal feelings. They need individualized services to help manage their emotions.

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10. Menezes M, Linde J, Howard M, Pappagianopoulos J, Kuhn J, Boyd BA, Mazurek MO. Associations Among Demographic and Clinical Characteristics and Discrimination Experiences of Autistic Youth. J Autism Dev Disord;2025 (Sep 4)

PURPOSE: Autistic individuals experience discrimination as a neurominority. Nonetheless, there has been limited research on characteristics or factors contributing to discrimination against autistic people. Therefore, this study sought to examine demographic and clinical predictors of discriminatory experiences of autistic children and adolescents utilizing a large, population-based sample. METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2021 and 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health, a nationally distributed caregiver-report questionnaire. Participants included 2,297 autistic youth (6-17 years old). Two separate binary logistic regressions were conducted for the prediction of race or ethnicity discrimination and health condition or disability discrimination. Predictors were child age, sex, race, ethnicity, autism « severity, » behavior problems, and intellectual disability, and household income. RESULTS: Results demonstrated a relationship between minoritized racial and ethnic background and increased likelihood of discrimination due to race/ethnicity and health condition/disability. Relationships between older age and greater odds of race/ethnicity and health condition/disability discrimination experiences were also found. Furthermore, « more severe » autism, intellectual disability, and challenging behavior were associated with increased odds of health condition/disability discrimination. CONCLUSION: This study highlights characteristics of autistic youth that may increase their risk for experiencing discrimination and should inform practices and policies to reduce discrimination against autistic people.

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11. Mournet AM, Lampinen LA, Pepa LA, Kukaj G, Chu BC, Bal VH. Measurement of Anxiety and Depression Among Autistic Adults: Concordance Between Diagnostic and Screening Instruments in a Feasibility Study. J Autism Dev Disord;2025 (Sep 4)

The current study aims to report on the concordance between the PHQ-9, GAD-7, Adult Self Report (ASR), Anxiety and Related Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-5 (ADIS-5), and best estimate clinical diagnosis (BECD) among autistic adults. The current analyses leverage baseline data from a feasibility treatment study of autistic adults receiving group behavioral activation therapy to address anxiety and depressive symptoms. Interclass correlation coefficients, area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity were computed to compare the tools to one another at various clinical cut-off levels. Post-intervention outcome data were used for internal replication. The ADIS-5 classifications of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) had strong concordance in comparison to the BECD in the Baseline comparisons, but more variable in the Outcome data. For the GAD-7, the mild cut-off had the highest concordance with BECD of any anxiety condition. PHQ-9 moderate cut-off performed most consistently with BECD and ADIS-5 MDD diagnosis. The present analyses further highlight the need for ongoing systematic investigation of the validity of anxiety and depression screening and diagnostic tools in autistic adults. Brief screening tools appear to serve their function well; more research on clinical diagnostic interviews (e.g., ADIS-5) will be needed to standardize diagnostic practices and inclusion in clinical trials. For now, BECDs of co-occurring conditions should remain the gold standard in clinical research aimed at understanding and treating co-occurring conditions in autistic adults.

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12. Pollack HA, Tabman B, Brown DS, Wen H, Berg KL, Peterson L, Cliff BQ, Ances BM, Johnston KJ. Neuropsychiatric Disorders Among Adult Emergency Department Patients With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Psychiatr Serv;2025 (Sep 4):appips20240604.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare rates of psychiatric and neurologic diagnoses on emergency department (ED) visit records of adults with versus without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). METHODS: This cross-sectional study used the 2019 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample of U.S. hospital ED visit discharges. Validated codes were used to compare psychiatric and neurologic diagnoses of patients ages ≥18 with versus without diagnosed IDDs. Diagnosed psychiatric and neurologic conditions included depression, anxiety, schizophrenia or psychosis, suicidality, seizure, dementia, and sleep disorder. RESULTS: The analysis identified 558,408 and 112,593,527 (nationally weighted) ED visits by adults with and without IDDs, respectively. Compared with the general population, adults with IDDs were twice as likely to have a mental disorder as the principal visit diagnosis, with higher probabilities of principal visit suicidality (1.6 times higher), neurologic disorder (5.6 times higher), and seizure (8.1 times higher) diagnoses. Compared with the general population, adults with intellectual disability were nearly twice as likely to have a dementia diagnosis, and patients with Down’s syndrome were six times likelier to have a dementia diagnosis. More than one in five ED visit records of patients ages 50-54 with Down’s syndrome included a dementia diagnosis; the dementia diagnosis rate for such patients ages ≥70 was 2.7 times higher than that of the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Adult ED patients with IDDs were more likely than those without IDDs to have co-occurring mental and neurologic disorders. Findings underscore the need to provide neuropsychiatric services across the lifespan to address the distinctive care needs of individuals with IDDs.

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13. Prahl A, Fraze K, Kannan A, Grauzer J, Sturdivant RX. Functional Reading Activities to Motivate and Empower for Young Adults With Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities: A Randomized Pilot Trial. Am J Speech Lang Pathol;2025 (Sep 4);34(5):2704-2720.

PURPOSE: Reading proficiency is an important life skill that contributes to improved quality of life and becoming an active member in society. This pilot randomized clinical trial tested the effects of a functional literacy intervention in young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDDs). METHOD: Participants included 44 young adults with IDD between 18 and 26 years old. Participants were randomly assigned to the Functional Reading Activities to Motivate and Empower (FRAME) treatment group or a « business-as-usual » control group. Participants participated in 24 twice-weekly sessions in which they were taught reading comprehension strategies in the context of functional text stimuli or activities of daily living that require reading (e.g., text messages, e-mails). The primary outcome measure was the number of reading comprehension strategies used. Secondary outcomes included (a) multiple-choice comprehension questions, (b) text message response, (c) e-mail response, (d) summarization, and (e) verbal responses to functional text samples. RESULTS: Young adults with IDD in the treatment group made statistically significant gains in use of reading comprehension strategies (d = 1.09, p = .002) and multiple-choice comprehension questions (d = 0.79, p = .038) as compared with the control group. There were no statistically significant differences on the remaining outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary support for the short-term effects of the FRAME intervention for young adults with IDD, with particular emphasis on explicit reading comprehension strategy instruction within a functional context. Therapeutic services typically end during the transition period for young adults with disabilities. However, it is essential that evidence-based literacy supports are available as this is a skill that continues to develop throughout the lifespan and has the potential to transform an individual’s transition to adulthood and independence. Future research should include a larger clinical trial and evaluate mediators of intervention effects.

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14. Rezaei S, Hassanvand M, Asadi Rajani M. The effectiveness of vestibular exercises in enhancing auditory memory and discrimination in high-functioning children with autism. Appl Neuropsychol Child;2025 (Sep 4):1-6.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of vestibular exercises in enhancing auditory memory and auditory discrimination in high-functioning children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: Employing a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design, the study recruited 20 children aged 6-8 years with confirmed diagnoses of high-functioning autism from psychology clinics in Tehran in 2024, using convenience sampling. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 10), which underwent vestibular training, or a control group (n = 10) that received no intervention. Auditory discrimination was evaluated using the Weppman Auditory Discrimination Test, while auditory memory was assessed through Continuous Performance Testing (CPT) software. Data analysis was performed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) via SPSS version 24. RESULTS: The experimental group exhibited statistically significant improvements in both auditory memory and auditory discrimination relative to the control group (p = 0.001), confirming the efficacy of vestibular training. CONCLUSION: Vestibular exercises markedly improve auditory processing capacities in high-functioning children with ASD. These results underscore the potential benefit of incorporating vestibular-based interventions into therapeutic protocols aimed at enhancing communication and cognitive outcomes in children on the autism spectrum.

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15. Sandham V, Hill AE, Armstrong R, Hinchliffe F. Closing the Research-to-Practice Gap in Autism: A Professional Practice Intervention Pilot Study for Increasing Use of Evidence-Based Practice. Am J Speech Lang Pathol;2025 (Sep 4);34(5):1-22.

PURPOSE: Implementation science is a field aimed at improving uptake of research into practice. Behavior change techniques are procedures aimed at changing behavior. Clinical speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have reported barriers to translating research into pediatric autism communication services. This study piloted an intervention that integrated implementation science and behavior change techniques to improve evidence-based practice (EBP) use in SLP pediatric autism communication services. The aim was to design and evaluate a professional practice intervention to improve EBP use by pediatric autism SLPs working in Australia. METHOD: This pilot study used participatory action research methods. It recruited participants (N = 27) to small online communities of practice (CoPs), where participants chose an individualized EBP professional practice goal, developed an action plan, and presented the outcome of their learning to their CoP. Convergent mixed-methods analysis was used to analyze the effectiveness of the intervention, and explanatory qualitative methods were used to analyze the mechanism for its effectiveness. RESULTS: Participants’ opportunity and capability for EBP use were significantly improved as a result of the intervention. Quantitative results indicated sustainment but not further improvements in EBP in the 3 months following intervention. Building participant research capacity through experiential learning positively influenced sustainability and scalability of EBP use. The intervention was scaled to a novel context, without direct researcher involvement, and was shown to be effective in this new workplace setting. CONCLUSION: A coproduced online CoP is a model that was shown to improve SLP EBP use and should be considered for future EBP research translation projects. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.29613596.

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16. Santhanam SP, Bellon-Harn ML, Kashinath S, Wilson K, VanUitert V, Barnett A. The Speech-Language Pathologist’s Role in Supporting Autistic Students in Postsecondary Education Settings. Am J Speech Lang Pathol;2025 (Sep 4);34(5):2533-2546.

PURPOSE: Navigating the postsecondary landscape is a complex and daunting journey for many autistic students due to widespread misconceptions about autism among nonautistic peers and educators. Additionally, barriers to self-advocacy limit students’ academic and social integration, ultimately compromising their ability to graduate. Despite these challenges, there remains inadequate support for this population with social communication, executive functioning, and self-advocacy. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are well positioned to reduce existing barriers and provide support to autistic students and their postsecondary communities in these needed areas. This clinical focus article highlights the pivotal role SLPs could play in establishing personalized supports for autistic college students and describes how SLPs can leverage their unique skills to fulfill this role. METHOD: Drawing from existing literature, clinical expertise, the neurodiversity framework, and lived experiences of autistic college students, we offer guidelines for the indirect and direct supports that SLPs can provide. In addition, we provide a case example and personalized support plan to illustrate the application of direct supports. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted direct and indirect supports are crucial to autistic students’ retention, success, and graduation rates and to building a welcoming postsecondary community. This article emphasizes how SLP supports for autistic college students fall within the scope of practice and how these supports can be operationalized through the concrete examples provided. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.29496335.

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17. Tezcan ME, Ataş AE, Ferahkaya H. Can optic nerve morphology in children with autism spectrum disorder be associated with atypical visual-sensory behaviors?. Front Psychiatry;2025;16:1639695.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to investigate, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the optic nerve diameter, morphometric characteristics of the optic chiasm (OC), volumes of the lateral, third, and fourth ventricles, as well as the volumes of the corpus callosum (CC) and choroid plexus (CP) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and to compare these findings with those of a typically developing (TD) control group. Additionally, the study seeks to evaluate the impact of these neuroanatomical parameters on autism symptom severity and sensory sensitivity. METHODS: This study included 111 children with ASD and 143 TD control children, aged between 5 and 13 years. The severity of ASD was assessed using the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Symptoms related to sensory sensitivities in ASD were evaluated using the Autism Behavior Checklist (AuBC). RESULTS: In the ASD group, OC height, and the volumes of the CP and CC were significantly higher compared to the TD group, whereas OC width and third ventricular volume were significantly lower. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of optic nerve volumes, OC cross-sectional area, lateral and fourth ventricular volumes, or total brain volume. OC height was positively correlated with CARS, AuBC relationship, and AuBC use of body and objects scores, while OC width was positively correlated with CARS and AuBC use of body and objects scores. Conversely, OC height showed a negative correlation with AuBC personal-social development scores. After controlling for potential confounding variables such as total brain volume, age, and sex, the results of the covariance analysis remained unchanged. In multiple logistic regression analysis, left CP volume was found to be more strongly associated with ASD diagnosis compared to other morphometric measures. DISCUSSION: The findings of this study suggest that increased OC height, increased CC and CP volumes, and decreased third ventricular volume may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of altered brain development in children with ASD.

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18. van der Torren RR, Nawijn SE, Kleefstra T, van den Elzen APM. [Children with developmental delay]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd;2025 (Aug 27);169

Children with developmental delay develop more slowly than their peers in one or more developmental domains. This article discusses how to recognize developmental delay and key considerations for history taking, physical examination, and developmental assessment. The differential diagnosis is extensive; in addition to genetic, neurological and metabolic causes, developmental delay can result from acquired biological or social factors. The updated Dutch guideline ‘Etiology of Developmental Delay and/or Intellectual Disability’ (2025) outlines the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Children with developmental delay benefit from multidisciplinary therapy and special-needs education. The article also highlights the roles of various specialties within the care process.

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19. Yarger HA, Redcay E, Herrington J, Kerns CM, Thomas SB. Assessing anxiety in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ADORA): developing a health equity protocol for non-invasive biomarkers. BMJ Open;2025 (Sep 4);15(9):e107684.

INTRODUCTION: Identifying anxiety disorders in autistic youth can be challenging due to the unique presentation of anxiety symptoms in autistic youth and the difficulties youth may have reporting on their own anxiety symptoms. These challenges underscore the need for objective and reliable measures. Understanding whether autonomic activity is associated with the presence of anxiety may lead to its use as an objective anxiety assessment tool in individuals who may otherwise struggle to communicate their feelings of anxiety. Most published studies examining autonomic activity and anxiety in autistic individuals lack information regarding racial demographic information, and those that do are predominantly composed of White individuals. These findings highlight the critical need for future research that includes more diverse samples and uses consistent, ecologically valid methods to examine the relation between anxiety and autonomic activity in autistic populations. This study aims to recruit a large sample of racially diverse adolescents to evaluate whether atypical autonomic activity serves as a biomarker of anxiety in autistic and non-autistic youth. This manuscript outlines the recruitment strategies for this study protocol, providing a framework for understanding the interplay between physiological, psychological and contextual factors including self-identified race in anxiety among autistic and non-autistic adolescents. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Autistic (n=80) and non-autistic (n=80) adolescents aged 11-14 years and their caregivers will be invited to participate in the current study. Autism diagnosis will be confirmed by gold-standard assessments. All participants will complete an in-person visit assessing their child’s cognitive abilities and trait-level anxiety and mental health symptoms, learn how to wear a non-invasive heart rate band that will collect ECG and respiration data, complete a 5-minute in-lab baseline of autonomic activity and enroll in experience sampling. Next, participants will complete three 5-minute baselines of autonomic activity at home, followed by 5 days of wearing the heart rate band for 5 hours per day, overlapping with ecological momentary assessment of their mood. Primary outcome measures include trait-level parent and self-reports of anxiety, real-time self-reports of anxiety captured through ecological momentary assessment, and both baseline and in-the-moment heart rate variability. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study protocol has been approved by the University of Maryland’s Institutional Review Board. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conferences. Deidentified data from participants who consent to have their data shared with other researchers will be uploaded to the National Data Archive Collection C5316.

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