1. Gaze responses in children with cerebral palsy, cerebral visual impairment, and severe intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2025.

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2. Brami H, Zamstein O, Wainstock T, Sheiner E. Adverse labor events and childhood autism – is there a link?. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2025; 314: 114630.

OBJECTIVE: While the global interest and prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are on the rise, the underlying mechanism and potential perinatal risk factors for its development are yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, we have sought to examine the potential association between unfavorable perinatal outcomes and ASD during childhood. STUDY DESIGN: A population-based cohort analysis was conducted that included deliveries at a tertiary referral hospital. The incidence of offspring diagnosed with ASD (both community and hospital-based diagnoses) was compared based on exposure (or lack thereof) to the composite variable « adverse perinatal outcomes » (comprising of 5-min Apgar scores <7, umbilical cord blood pH < 7.0, and non-reassuring fetal heart rate leading to medical intervention). A Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to assess cumulative ASD incidence. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to control for confounders. RESULTS: Out of the 165,989 births included in the study, 11,070 (6.7 %) had adverse perinatal outcomes. These births were more commonly complicated by intra-uterine growth restriction (4.1 % vs. 1.8 %), preterm delivery (9.6 % vs. 6.6 %), and cesarean delivery (45.3 % vs. 13.4 %; p < 0.001 for all). 862 offspring of the cohort were diagnosed during childhood with ASD. Overall, the cumulative incidence of ASD diagnoses was equivalent comparing adverse perinatal outcomes exposure status (Kaplan-Meier logrank p = 0.690. A Cox proportional hazards model, controlling for ethnicity, gestational age, maternal age, cesarean delivery, and gender, found no association between adverse perinatal outcomes and the risk of ASD (adjusted HR = 0.96, 95 % CI 0.75-1.22, p = 0.72). CONCLUSION: Adverse labor events, although concerning in terms of immediate neonatal health, do not appear to contribute to a higher risk of ASD in children as they grow older.

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3. Grineski SE, Ramos K, Renteria R, Collins TW, VanDerslice J, Bilder D, Bakian A. Multigenerational exposures to polluting industries and developmental disabilities. Sci Total Environ. 2025; 989: 179888.

Animal models suggest that environmental exposures can impact future generations of offspring. Yet, there are limited human epidemiological studies of multigenerational environmental exposures, and even fewer such studies of maternal and paternal exposures. Leveraging a unique data resource in Utah (USA), we examine if offspring (F2, n = 6380) are at increased risk of intellectual disability (ID) if the mother or father (F1) were exposed to polluting industrial facilities while their own mothers (F0) were pregnant. We obtained historical data on polluting industry locations and calculated facility densities within 3 km and 5 km of each child’s (F2) grandmothers’ (F0) residential addresses at time of their mothers’ and fathers’ (F1) births as well as their mother’s address at the time of their birth. We weighted those counts by pairing industry codes with national Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators health risk scores. One standard deviation (SD) increase in the density of facilities near the pregnant maternal grandmother was associated with 1.12 (1.03-1.22) and 1.09 (1.003-1.19) times greater odds of ID at 3 km and 5 km, respectively. Weighing these facility densities by risk, odds ratios associated with SD increases were 1.12 (1.04-1.20, 3 km) and 1.08 (1.003-1.17, 5 km). Associations with facility densities near the pregnant paternal grandmother were positive but weak. Associations with risk-weighted facility density near the pregnant paternal grandmother were stronger at 5 km (1.12, 1.02-1.22) than at 3 km. Results indicated that ancestral exposures, particularly when the maternal grandmother (F0) was pregnant with the mother (F1), may increase risks of developmental disabilities in the next generation (F2).

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4. Mansour H, Kurana S, Eshetu A, Hoare S, El Baou C, Arnold I, Halys C, Stewart GR, Desai R, John A, Mandy W, O’Nions E, Stott J. Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in autistic children or young people (CYP) and adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev. 2025; 120: 102621.

Autistic individuals are more likely to encounter traumatic events and mental health challenges throughout their lives. While multiple studies have explored the link between autism and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), no meta-analysis has comprehensively synthesised PTSD prevalence rates according to DSM or ICD diagnostic manuals. This is important for ensuring appropriate intervention for this underserved population. Therefore, the current meta-analysis investigated the point and lifetime prevalence of PTSD among diagnosed autistic children or young people (CYP) and adults. A thorough systematic search identified 17 studies involving 53,918 autistic CYP and 13 studies with 142,081 autistic adults. Random-effects meta-analyses indicated a point prevalence of 1.11 % (95 % CI: 0.32; 2.38) among autistic CYP and 2.06 % (95 % CI: 0.00; 11.97) among autistic adults. Lifetime prevalence was 5.74 % (95 % CI: 2.12; 10.99) for autistic CYP and 2.72 % (95 % CI: 2.54; 2.90) for autistic adults. Subgroup analyses identified several factors influencing rates: co-occurring intellectual disability, gender proportion, diagnostic criteria (e.g., DSM vs. ICD), and informant type (self-report vs. combined self and carer/parent). Although PTSD prevalence rates are similar to general population estimates, they contrast with previous studies using screening tools, which reported substantially higher PTSD symptomatology in autistic individuals. This discrepancy may highlight some limitations of current PTSD diagnostic criteria, which may not fully capture how trauma is experienced and expressed by autistic individuals, leading to underdiagnosis and potentially significant adverse outcomes. Future research should focus on developing autism-specific diagnostic guidelines to better identify and address PTSD in this population, ensuring more timely support.

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5. Masa’Deh R, Sawalha MA, Maabreh RS, Aslanoğlu A, Safieh HA, Elshatarat RA, Saleh ZT, Almagharbeh WT, Alnawafleh KA, Al-Sayaghi KM. Perceived social support as a moderator of posttraumatic stress in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1): 29252.

Parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face elevated psychological distress, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study explored whether perceived social support moderates the relationship between parental gender and PTSD risk. A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 142 Arabic-speaking parents (equally distributed between mothers and fathers) recruited from 10 ASD treatment centers in central Jordan. Participants completed standardized measures of PTSD symptoms and perceived social support, along with demographic and child-related information. Two hierarchical linear regression models were employed to examine whether perceived social support moderated the association between parental gender and PTSD symptoms, controlling for relevant covariates. The mean PTSD score among parents was 42.08, surpassing the clinical risk threshold of 33. Mothers reported significantly higher PTSD scores compared to fathers. Elevated PTSD symptoms were also observed among parents with low levels of perceived social support and those caring for children with more severe ASD symptoms. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that perceived social support significantly moderated the relationship between parental gender and PTSD symptoms. Specifically, mothers with low perceived social support exhibited the highest levels of PTSD symptoms, whereas fathers with high support showed the lowest. The final regression model explained 61% of the variance in PTSD scores. Perceived social support serves as a significant moderating factor in the relationship between parental gender and PTSD risk among parents of children with ASD. Targeted interventions that strengthen social support-particularly for mothers-may help reduce PTSD symptoms and enhance the psychological well-being of caregivers in ASD-affected families.

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6. Victoria-Montesinos D, García-Muñoz AM, Mercader-Ros MT, Lucas-Abellán C, González-Monjarás M, Barcina-Pérez P. The role of microbial-derived p-Cresol in autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review of the gut-brain axis. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2025; 69: 535-44.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition increasingly associated with gut microbiota alterations. Among microbial metabolites, p-Cresol has emerged as a potential contributor to the pathophysiology of ASD. This systematic review aims to examine the evidence linking p-Cresol and its metabolites with ASD and explore their potential role within the gut-brain axis framework, a bidirectional communication system where gut microbiota influence brain function via immune, metabolic, and neural pathways (e.g., vagus nerve, microbial metabolites). METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane up to March 2025, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies were included if they quantified p-Cresol or its derivatives in biological samples from individuals with ASD. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. The protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251007080). RESULTS: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. Most reported elevated urinary or fecal p-Cresol levels in individuals with ASD compared to controls, with consistent associations found between p-Cresol concentrations and (1); gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly constipation and diarrhea; (2) specific microbiota alterations including increased Clostridium difficile and Desulfovibrio abundance; and (3) behavioral manifestations and ASD severity. However, heterogeneity in study designs, small sample sizes, and variability in analytical techniques limit the generalizability of the results. CONCLUSION: p-Cresol and its microbial precursors may contribute to ASD pathophysiology through gut-brain axis interactions. Although current evidence supports this association, further longitudinal and mechanistic studies are needed to confirm causality and evaluate p-Cresol as a biomarker or therapeutic target in ASD.

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7. Zaleski AL, Craig KJT, Khan R, Waber R, Xin W, Powers M, Ramey U, Verbrugge DJ, Fernandez-Turner D. Real-world evaluation of prevalence, cohort characteristics, and healthcare utilization and expenditures among adults and children with autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or both. BMC Health Serv Res. 2025; 25(1): 1048.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are among the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. However, significant gaps persist in understanding health and healthcare-related needs of individuals diagnosed with ASD and/or ADHD across the lifespan. Thus, this real-world evaluation sought to characterize the prevalence of ASD, ADHD, and co-existing ASD and ADHD (AuDHD); sociodemographics; frequent comorbidities and co-occurring diagnoses; and healthcare utilization and expenditures among members of a large national payor. METHODS: This study represents an observational, cross-sectional evaluation of claims from a large national payor. Retrospective claims analyses of commercial fully insured (C-FI) members from 1/1/2022-12/31/2022 identified diagnoses for ASD and/or ADHD among adults (≥ 18 year) and children (< 18 year). Chi-squared tests, T-tests, and Fisher's exact tests examined between-group differences in sociodemographic, health, and healthcare-related measures among members with neurodevelopmental disorders compared to members without ASD and/or ADHD. RESULTS: Within adults (N = 1,928,106), 4.2% of members (60.2% White, 52.9% female, mean age: 34.1 ± 10.9 year) were diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders: ADHD (4.0%, n = 76,515); ASD (0.1%, n = 2,134); or AuDHD (0.1%, n = 1,266) (all P < 0.0001). Within children (N = 464,749), 6.7% of members (47.8% White, 67.5% male, mean age: 11.3 ± 3.8 year) were diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders: ADHD (5.0%, n = 23,250); ASD (1.1%, n = 5,098); or AuDHD (0.6%, n = 2,665) (all P < 0.0001). Increased odds (i.e., ≥ 2) for certain co-occurring diagnoses were consistently observed across all three neurodevelopmental cohorts for adults and children, which were primarily behavioral health (BH)-related. Compared to those without neurodevelopmental disorders, both adults and children with ASD and/or ADHD had higher healthcare utilization rates [adults: 615.2 to 1024.8 per thousand per month (PTPM); children: 398.4 to 1205.3 PTPM; all P < 0.001)]; largely owing to increased use of BH-related services, translating to greater total healthcare expenditures [adults: $140.3 to $292.1 per member per month (PMPM); children: $50.8 to $845.4 PMPM; all P < 0.001)]. CONCLUSIONS: Leveraging real-world data of 2,392,855 members from a large national payor, 4.1% of adults and 6.7% of children were diagnosed with ASD and/or ADHD. This population appeared to consistently exhibit specific co-existing diagnoses that frequently co-occur in addition to greater observed healthcare utilization and expenditures. Trial registration Not applicable.

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