1. Araya J, Ikeda T, Hasegawa C, Iwasaki S, Yaoi K, Yoshimura Y. Differential lateralization to faces in infants at risk of autism spectrum disorder with expressive language delay. PCN Rep. 2025; 4(1): e70054.

AIM: Face-to-face communication between caregiver and infant is essential for the development of language and social skills in infancy. A previous study on brain response toward human faces showed that a lateralization right fusiform gyrus (FG) response when viewing faces was associated with better social skills. However, the relationship, between infant face processing and language development remains unclear. This study aimed to examine whether brain responses to faces vary based on the ability level of language expression. METHODS: Overall, 42 Japanese infants (aged 18-34 months, Mean of age (Mage) = 24.7 months, standard deviation (SD) = 4.57, 47% female) were assessed for expressive communication skills and classified into two groups: a delayed group (20 infants) and a control group (infants with typical expressive language development, 22 infants). Brain activity was recorded using a child-customized magnetoencephalography during presentation of a mother’s face, a stranger’s face, and a nonface (scrambled image). The lateralization index of the FG during face viewing was calculated using the following formula: (L – R)/(L + R). RESULTS: The results showed a significant difference in the lateralization index between the delayed and control groups. The control group showed rightward dominance of the FG activity when viewing the mother’s face and others’ faces, whereas the delayed group did not exhibit this lateralization. Based on behavioral observations, 75% of the delayed group met the criteria of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk, and infants with a high risk of ASD who had poor expressive language showed poor right hemispheric dominance compared to the control group in their brain responses to their mothers’ faces. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that lateralization of face processing in infancy may be a predictor of expressive language abilities.

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2. Baer M, Cola M, Knox A, Lyons M, Schillinger S, Lee A, Worth BF, Parish-Morris J, Grossman RB. Social first impressions and perceived gender in autistic and non-autistic youth. Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1): 5240.

First impressions of autistic individuals are more negative than those of their non-autistic peers. There is also a higher prevalence of gender diversity among autistic than non-autistic individuals. No studies to date have investigated the impact of perceived gender on social first impressions of autistic and non-autistic individuals. In this study, adult participants (i.e., undergraduate students) watched sixty 7-10 s video clips of 15 non-autistic females, 15 non-autistic males, 15 autistic females, and 15 autistic males engaging in a « get-to-know-you » conversation (video of participant only). Adult participants provided social first impression ratings and perceptions of gender (femininity, masculinity, and other/neither) for each participant using slider bars. Results showed that autistic youth received lower social ratings than non-autistic youth, and that girls overall were rated more favorably than boys. However, for autistic girls there was a significant correlation between perceived gender and social first impressions that did not exist in the other three groups. Specifically, autistic girls who were perceived as less feminine and more other/neither were also rated lower on social first impressions. These novel findings highlight a double penalty for autistic girls who diverge from societal expectations about both gender and typical social behavior.

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3. Bitsika V, Sharpley CF, Vessey KA, Evans ID. Network Analysis of Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety and Autism: Discrete but Connected. Int J Dev Neurosci. 2025; 85(1): e70006.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is comorbid with several major psychiatric disorders, primarily anxiety. Although a previous report of a network analysis of five anxiety subtypes and some ASD diagnostic criteria suggested that anxiety was not part of the ASD symptomatology, several methodological limitations challenge the conclusions reported there. To address those limitations and extend understanding of the association between ASD and anxiety, data on ASD symptomatology and the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) were collected from 150 autistic boys and their parents and were analysed via network analysis. Results indicated that, although the separation of GAD and ASD symptoms was generally confirmed, several connections were found between the two sets of symptoms, arguing for a more nuanced model of the association between these two disorders. These findings hold implications for the delivery of ‘precision-medicine’ treatment models for the treatment of anxiety in ASD.

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4. Brodeur M, Schwartz A, McDonald K. A Scoping Review of the Ways Gatekeepers May Hinder or Promote Opportunities for People With Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities to Learn About Research Participation. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2025.

BACKGROUND: Adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities are disproportionately excluded from participation in research, consequently increasing disparities experienced by this group. Gatekeepers, individuals who control access to research participation opportunities, may either support or pose a barrier to inclusion in research. We sought to understand how gatekeepers serve as supports and barriers to the participation of people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in research and the factors that may drive their actions. We also sought to identify approaches to interacting with gatekeepers that promoted the sharing of research participation opportunities. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of manuscripts published between January 2009 and September 2024 describing gatekeeping during recruitment for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in social/behavioural research. We conducted content analysis of 22 manuscripts to identify ‘gate opening’ actions (actions that support research participation) and ‘gate closing’ actions (actions that pose a barrier to research participation) at the point of recruitment. We also identified approaches researchers took when interacting with gatekeepers to promote gate opening actions. RESULTS: Gatekeepers’ attitudes (e.g., valuing research) and knowledge about prospective participants were associated with gate opening actions. Gatekeepers’ attitudes of mistrust of researchers and/or research, deprioritisation of research and presumed incapacity of people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities to consent to, participate in and/or benefit from research participation were associated with gate closing actions. Gatekeepers’ lack of information (e.g., about research and prospective participants) was also associated with gate closing actions. Restrictive organisational policies and gatekeepers’ lack of resources (e.g., time) were also associated with gate closing actions. Approaches for interacting with gatekeepers that may foster gate opening actions included: addressing gatekeeper concerns, educating gatekeepers about the benefits of research participation and developing relationships with gatekeepers. CONCLUSION: We identified several malleable factors that may drive gate opening and gate closing actions. Enhanced collaboration between researchers and gatekeepers may foster greater opportunities for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities to learn about research opportunities.

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5. Conner CM, Yu L, MacKenzie KT, Zeglen KN, Rutenberg EL, Pilkonis PA, Eack SM, Mazefsky CA. The Relationships, Employment, Autonomy, and Life Satisfaction (REALS) Measures for Autistic Adults and Adults With Other Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Psychometric Testing of the Self-Report and Proxy Versions. Autism Res. 2025.

Research and clinical work demonstrate that adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs; including autistic adults and adults with other IDDs) struggle with key outcomes in adult life, including social relationships, employment, autonomy, and life satisfaction. However, few validated measures exist to measure these outcomes in adults with IDDs. The Relationships, Employment, Autonomy, and Life Satisfaction (REALS) Measures were created using methods developed by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) to assess these outcomes. Large item pools were generated for the four domains, and, in field testing, 875 adults with IDDs (90% autistic; 18.4% with intellectual disability or a non-autism IDD) and 911 proxy reporters (caregivers; 79% autistic; 48.3% with intellectual disability or a non-autism IDD) completed 108 and 74 items, respectively, using response options capturing frequency, level of support needed, and satisfaction. The structure and item content of the REALS Measures were determined through an iterative process using both classical test theory and item response theory analyses. The final versions include 19 self-report and 14 proxy-report measures, with a range of 3 to 14 items each. The measures have excellent psychometric properties, high precision, and acceptable respondent burden. Thus, they are applicable for service provision, clinical, and research arenas for autistic adults and adults with other IDDs, though additional testing in IDD is warranted and evidence supporting self-report use in IDD is more limited.

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6. Elandaloussi Y, Dufrenne O, Lefebvre A, Houenou J, Senova S, Laidi C. Cerebellar Neuromodulation in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Social Cognition: Insights from Animal and Human Studies. Cerebellum. 2025; 24(2): 46.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social atypicalities and repetitive behaviors. Growing evidence suggests that alterations in brain networks may contribute to ASD symptoms. The cerebellum, with its widespread connections to the cortex, has emerged as a potential key player in ASD. Non-invasive neuromodulation techniques, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) offer a promising avenue for modulating brain activity and potentially alleviating ASD symptoms. In addition, preclinical studies in rodents further emphasize the therapeutic effect of cerebellar stimulation to target autism-related symptoms. This article reviews both clinical and preclinical studies aiming to modulate cerebellar circuits to improve symptoms of ASD. We found ten relevant studies assessing the effect of cerebellar neuromodulation in human and preclinical models. Posterior cerebellar tDCS represented the most frequent neuromodulation method and suggested that cerebellar tDCS can lead to improvements in symptoms of ASD and restore cerebellar connectivity in individuals with ASD. In neurotypical participants, there is evidence that cerebellar tDCS can enhance social cognitive abilities. These results are in line with preclinical studies, suggesting that chemogenetic stimulation can modulate cerebellar circuits involved in ASD and improve related behaviors. Further research is needed to establish standardized protocols, assess long-term effects, and investigate the underlying mechanisms of cerebellar stimulation. We examine research questions that need to be addressed before launching large scale randomized clinical trials.

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7. Gama Marques J, Finsterer J. Before Attributing Catatonia to Autism with Anxiety, All Other Causes should be Carefully Excluded, Especially in a Patient with Meningioma. Psychopharmacol Bull. 2025; 55(2): 110-1.

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8. Hayward BE, Kim GY, Miller CJ, McCann C, Lowery MG, Wood RD, Usdin K. Repeat expansion in a fragile X model is independent of double strand break repair mediated by Pol θ, RAD52, RAD54 or RAD54B. Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1): 5033.

Microsatellite instability is responsible for the human repeat expansion diseases (REDs). The mutagenic process differs from classical cancer-associated microsatellite instability (MSI) in that it requires the mismatch repair proteins that normally protect against MSI. LIG4, an enzyme essential for non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), the major pathway for double-strand break repair (DSBR) in mammalian cells, protects against expansion in mouse models. Thus, NHEJ may compete with the expansion pathway for access to a common intermediate. This raises the possibility that expansion involves an NHEJ-independent form of DSBR. Pol θ, a polymerase involved in the theta-mediated end joining (TMEJ) DSBR pathway, has been proposed to play a role in repeat expansion. Here we examine the effect of the loss of Pol θ on expansion in FXD mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), along with the effects of mutations in Rad52, Rad54l and Rad54b, genes important for multiple DSBR pathways. None of these mutations significantly affected repeat expansion. These observations put major constraints on what pathways are likely to drive expansion. Together with our previous demonstration of the protective effect of nucleases like EXO1 and FAN1, and the importance of Pol β, they suggest a plausible model for late steps in the expansion process.

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9. Issac A, Halemani K, Shetty AP, Thimmappa L, Vr V, Kiranmayi K, Mishra P, Kapoor V. The global prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2025.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to analyze quantitative data on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to increase the accuracy of estimates of the prevalence of ASD. METHODS: This review, which was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, included studies conducted from January 2008 to June 2024 on children aged 3 to 18 years that used standardized measurement tools and reported cut-off scores for ASD. The prevalence of ASD was the primary outcome analyzed in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The PubMed, Clinical Key, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were reviewed for relevant studies. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO and followed the Cochrane collaboration guidelines. Data was manually entered into Excel and analyzed using Stata software ver. 17. RESULTS: A total of 66 studies reported on the prevalence of ASD, screening 21,313,061 children worldwide. Among these, 25 studies were conducted in Europe, 22 in Asia, and 13 in America. Additionally, 3 studies each were reported from Africa and Australia. According to a meta-analysis, 0.77% of children globally are diagnosed with ASD, with boys comprising 1.14% of this group. Notably, Australia showed the highest prevalence rate, with an effect size of 2.18, highlighting it as a critical area for public health focus. CONCLUSION: ASD represents a significant global health burden. Early detection, increased awareness among parents, and prompt intervention are crucial for mitigating developmental problems in children later in life. It is essential for health policymakers to acknowledge the prevalence and growing trends of ASD in order to implement effective interventions.

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10. Ji P, Wang N, Yu Y, Zhu J, Zuo Z, Zhang B, Zhao F. Single-cell delineation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis: Probiotic intervention in Chd8 haploinsufficient mice. Cell Genom. 2025; 5(2): 100768.

Emerging research underscores the gut microbiome’s impact on the nervous system via the microbiota-gut-brain axis, yet comprehensive insights remain limited. Using a CHD8-haploinsufficient model for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we explored host-gut microbiota interactions by constructing a single-cell transcriptome atlas of brain and intestinal tissues in wild-type and mutant mice across three developmental stages. CHD8 haploinsufficiency caused delayed development of radial glial precursors and excitatory neural progenitors in the E14.5 brain, inflammation in the adult brain, immunodeficiency, and abnormal intestinal development. Selective CHD8 knockdown in intestinal epithelial cells generated Chd8(ΔIEC) mice, which exhibited normal sociability but impaired social novelty recognition. Probiotic intervention with Lactobacillus murinus selectively rescued social deficits in Chd8(ΔIEC) mice, with single-cell transcriptome analysis revealing underlying mechanisms. This study provides a detailed single-cell transcriptomic dataset of ASD-related neural and intestinal changes, advancing our understanding of the gut-brain axis and offering potential therapeutic strategies for ASD.

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11. Khan MS, Kabir MA, Tareq SM. Relationship Between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Maternal Exposure to Passive Smoking and Environmental Factors: A Case-Control Study in Bangladesh. Health Sci Rep. 2025; 8(2): e70430.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pre and postnatal environmental exposures can influence gene expression and significantly contribute to the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Bangladesh, recognized as the world’s most polluted country, faces a dearth of comprehensive studies focusing on environmental factors associated with ASD. In this observational case-control study, an exploration was conducted into the relationships between ASD risk and exposure to maternal passive smoking and environmental factors within Bangladesh. METHODS: Twenty-four out of 103 « Protibandhi Sheba O Shahajjo Kendro » (PSOSK, the disability support and service centers) were selected using a simple random sampling method, ensuring a representative distribution across each division of Bangladesh. A structured questionnaire was used about exposure to maternal passive smoking and related environmental factors. The questionnaire was filled out by face-to-face interviews with parents of 310 ASD individuals and 310 healthy controls from January 2020 to June 2021. IBM SPSS version 23 was used for uni-variate, bi-variate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The significance level was p ≤ 0.05, and the odds ratio (OR) was within 95% confidence intervals (CIs), to determine whether the variable is a risk. RESULTS: Exposure to maternal passive smoke, living within a mile of a highway, and using household mosquito aerosol (repellents) during pregnancy and early childhood were all significantly linked to an increased risk of ASD (n = 310 each) in this study. Conversely, maternal residence in an urban and brick kiln within one mile of their residence during pregnancy to 3 years postnatal life was significantly associated with a decrease in the adjusted odds of ASD in offspring. CONCLUSION: Exposure to maternal passive smoke and household aerosols, along with proximity to highways within one mile during pregnancy and early childhood, increased the odds of ASD. Further research is imperative to overcome the inconsistency and to observe and generalize the association.

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12. Kılıçaslan F, Karataş H, Doğan Ü. A bibliometric and visualized analysis of sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder. Res Dev Disabil. 2025; 158: 104943.

PURPOSE: Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit a significantly higher prevalence of sleep problems compared to their typically developing peers. Despite numerous studies on ASD and sleep, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis on this topic is lacking. This study aims to analyze publications on sleep problems in children with ASD using bibliometric methods. METHODS: Research articles on sleep problems in children with ASD were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database. Between 1984 and 2024, 462 studies by 1896 authors were published in 164 journals. We used bibliometrics to analyze papers on sleep problems in children with ASD, to draw the network of authors, countries, journals, and keywords in this field, and to visualize the results. RESULTS: The number of publications examining sleep problems in children with ASD has increased since 2011. The highest number of published studies is in 2021. The leading country in research is the USA, and the most productive author in this field is Malow B. In recent years, burst keywords were intervention, circadian rhythm, screen time, and melatonin. CONCLUSION: Increased attention has been paid to sleep in children with ASD. It is believed that this bibliometric analysis can help determine the gap in the field of sleep in children with ASD and help new studies to be conducted.

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13. Lan L, Li K, Li D. Exploring the application of AI in the education of children with autism: a public health perspective. Front Psychiatry. 2024; 15: 1521926.

INTRODUCTION: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents significant challenges in social communication and interaction, critically impacting the lives of children with ASD. Traditional interventions, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Social Skills Training (SST), have been widely used to address social skill deficits in these children. While these methods are effective, they often require substantial resources, long-term engagement, and specialized expertise, which limit their accessibility and adaptability to diverse social contexts. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (Al), particularly Transformer-based models, offer a novel opportunity to enhance and personalize social skills training. METHODS: This study introduces a Public Health-Driven Transformer (PHDT) model specifically designed to improve social skills in children with ASD. By integrating public health principles with state-of-the-art Al methodologies, the PHDT model creates interventions that are adaptable, accessible, and sensitive to individual needs. Leveraging multi-modal data inputs-such as text, audio, and facialcues-PHDT provides real-time social context interpretation and adaptive feedback, enabling a more naturalistic and engaging learning experience. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Experimental results reveal that PHDT significantly outperforms traditional methods in fostering engagement, retention, and social skill acquisition. These findings highlight PHDT’s potential to improve social competencies in children with ASD and to revolutionize access to specialized support within public health frameworks. This work underscores the transformative impact of Al-driven, public health-oriented interventions in promoting equitable access to essential developmental resources and enhancing the quality of life for children with ASD.

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14. Oppenheim D, Dolev S, Hamburger L, Lottan R, Kunst S, Friedelman J, Mottes-Peleg M, Yirmiya N. The Association Between Classroom Quality and the Social Competence of Autistic Preschool-Age Boys. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

Research on the impact of the classroom environment on neurotypical children has demonstrated that higher classroom quality contributes to children’s development, but whether this is also true with regard to autistic preschoolers has not been examined. Therefore, the goal of this study was to address this gap hypothesizing that higher classroom quality would be associated with higher child social competence both in and outside the classroom. The quality of the classrooms of 43 autistic preschooler boys was assessed by observation, and children’s social competence in preschool was assessed by observation and teacher-report, and outside preschool by observing children’s interactions with an unfamiliar adult. Controlling for the severity of the boys’ symptoms, results revealed that higher classroom emotional support and organization was associated with higher child social competence as observed and reported by teachers in preschool, and with the boys’ involvement with of an unfamiliar adult during play. The quality of the classroom environment was associated with the social skills of autistic boys.

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15. Rydzewska E, Nijhof D, Hughes L, Melville C, Fleming M, Mackay D, Sosenko F, Ward L, Dunn K, Truesdale M, Cairns D, Pell JP, Wyper GMA, Jani BD, Barlow F, Henderson A, Callander R, Cooper SA. Rates, causes and predictors of all-cause and avoidable mortality in 514 878 adults with and without intellectual disabilities in Scotland: a record linkage national cohort study. BMJ Open. 2025; 15(2): e089962.

BACKGROUND: Studies on avoidable mortality in adults with intellectual disabilities are limited, as are studies on causes of death. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to quantify mortality rates, and causes, and identify factors (i.e., age, sex, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD)) related to avoidable mortality in adults with intellectual disabilities. DESIGN: A record linkage national cohort study. SETTING: A cohort of adults with intellectual disabilities with or without co-occurring autism, aged 25+ years and a randomly selected comparison group aged 25+ years without intellectual disabilities or autism identified from Scotland’s Census, 2011. Census records were linked to the National Records of Scotland Statutory Register of Deaths database to ascertain all deaths from 2011 to 2019. PARTICIPANTS: We analysed data on 14 477 adults with intellectual disabilities aged 25+ years and a randomly selected comparison group of 506 207 adults aged 25+ without intellectual disabilities identified from Scotland’s Census 2011. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: We ran χ(2) tests and t-tests to investigate individual characteristics and differences in age at death for adults with intellectual disabilities compared with peers in the general population. Cox proportional hazard models were fitted to calculate risk of mortality (all-cause, avoidable, treatable, preventable) unadjusted and adjusted for age, sex and SIMD. We then calculated mortality rates, using crude and indirect standardisation methods. RESULTS: During the 8.5-year follow-up, 23.7% (crude death rate of 3033.3 per 100 000) of adults with intellectual disabilities died compared with 13.8% of controls. The median age at death among adults aged 25+ with intellectual disabilities was 65.0 years compared with 80.0 years for adults without intellectual disabilities. For all-cause mortality, the age-standardised mortality ratio (SMR) in the population with intellectual disabilities was 3.1 (95% CI 3.0 to 3.2). The SMRs were higher for the youngest age groups, women and in the most affluent areas. This was also the case for SMRs for avoidable, treatable and preventable deaths. For the population of adults with intellectual disabilities, 31.7% of recorded deaths were considered avoidable, 21.1% were treatable and 19.9% were preventable. In the controls, 18.2% of deaths were considered avoidable, 8.8% treatable and 14.7% preventable. Down syndrome and dementia were the two most commonly recorded underlying causes of death for people with intellectual disabilities while malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung and acute myocardial infarction were most commonly recorded in the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Risk of all-cause, avoidable, treatable and preventable mortality was higher for adults with intellectual disabilities than their peers. The highest SMRs were observed for youngest adults, women and individuals living in the most affluent areas.

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16. Serrano Fernández L, Henao Campo D, Vela Llauradó E, Martín Martínez L. Parenting a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A comprehensive analysis of family needs. Acta Psychol (Amst). 2025; 254: 104786.

This study explores the perceived needs of families with school-aged members diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Community of Madrid, Spain. Using a non-experimental, mixed-method design, the research assessed key needs across various dimensions, including information, family and social support, financial assistance, caregiving for the member with ASD, professional support, and community services. The results indicate that families experience significantly elevated needs, with information and educational support emerging as the most critical. However, no statistically significant correlations were found between the level of dependency or the age of the member with ASD and the overall family needs index. Additional qualitative analysis revealed that families prioritize access to adequate educational and professional resources, along with emotional and social support. These findings highlight the urgent need to develop inclusive policies and comprehensive support strategies to alleviate the burdens faced by families caring for individuals with ASD.

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17. Silva M, Santos-Magnabosco AR, Farias C, Torres SM, Alves AJ, Cadena PG, Silva Júnior VAD. Nanoemulsions with cannabidiol reduced autistic-like behaviors and reversed decreased hippocampus viable cells and cerebral cortex neuronal death in a prenatal valproic acid rat model. An Acad Bras Cienc. 2025; 97(1): e20240607.

The highly lipophilic nature and low aqueous solubility of cannabidiol (CBD) limit its oral bioavailability, resulting in poor intestinal absorption. To overcome these limitations, we proposed the production of a nanoemulsion with CBD to be included in the therapeutic treatment of autism spectrum disorder. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of CBD-rich corn oil nanoemulsion treatment in male rats born to females exposed to valproic acid (VPA) during pregnancy on autistic-like behaviors and hippocampal histology. Offspring rats were treated orally twice daily with CBD nanoemulsions at different doses (1 and 2 mg/animal). The endpoints evaluated were anxiety, grooming time, exploratory activity, sociability, the social preference index, and hippocampal and cerebral cortex histology. All formulations were characterized as nanoemulsions and showed a reduced vesicle size (107.6 – 72.6 nm), low PDI (0.290-0.432), negative zeta potential (-40.6 mv), and good stability. Prenatal exposure to VPA increased anxiety and grooming time, and reduced exploratory activity, sociability, and the social preference index in the animals. Furthermore, VPA-exposed animals exhibited elevated neuronal death and a reduction in viable cells in the hippocampus. In conclusion, CBD nanoemulsion treatment reversed autistic-like behaviors, potentially by protecting against hippocampal neuronal death. The highly lipophilic nature and low aqueous solubility of cannabidiol (CBD) limit its oral bioavailability, resulting in poor intestinal absorption. To overcome these limitations, we proposed the production of a nanoemulsion with CBD to be included in the therapeutic treatment of autism spectrum disorder. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of CBD-rich corn oil nanoemulsion treatment in male rats born to females exposed to valproic acid (VPA) during pregnancy on autistic-like behaviors and hippocampal histology. Offspring rats were treated orally twice daily with CBD nanoemulsions at different doses (1 and 2 mg/animal). The endpoints evaluated were anxiety, grooming time, exploratory activity, sociability, the social preference index, and hippocampal and cerebral cortex histology. All formulations were characterized as nanoemulsions and showed a reduced vesicle size (107.6 – 72.6 nm), low PDI (0.290-0.432), negative zeta potential (-40.6 mv), and good stability. Prenatal exposure to VPA increased anxiety and grooming time, and reduced exploratory activity, sociability, and the social preference index in the animals. Furthermore, VPA-exposed animals exhibited elevated neuronal death and a reduction in viable cells in the hippocampus. In conclusion, CBD nanoemulsion treatment reversed autistic-like behaviors, potentially by protecting against hippocampal neuronal death.

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18. Walker D, Palermo R, Gignac GG. EXPRESS: The Inter-Association Between Face Processing, Intelligence, and Autistic-like Nonverbal Communication. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove). 2025: 17470218251323388.

The degree to which face processing abilities inter-relate, and associate with general intelligence, remains a contentious issue. Furthermore, poorer face processing abilities may be a result of reduced social interest associated with higher levels of trait-autism, consistent with the social motivation theory of autism. However, the association between multiple dimensions of face processing (i.e., a general face factor) and trait-autism, specifically autistic-like nonverbal communication, has not been estimated. Consequently, we administered four face processing ability tests (assessing face detection, the perception and memory of face identity, and expression recognition), four cognitive ability tests, and the Autism Quotient to a sample of 253 general community adults. Based on latent variable modelling, we identified a general face processing ability factor (f), and it was positively associated with general intelligence (g; λ = .48). We conclude that face processing abilities may be a candidate ability within the Cattel-Horn-Carroll model of intelligence. Moreover, face memory was positively associated with g (β = .31). We discuss the possibility of developmental prosopagnosia, i.e., deficits in face memory, being diagnosed as a learning disability. Furthermore, autistic-like nonverbal communication was a significant, negative predictor (β = -.45) of f, and g was neither a mediator nor suppressor of the effect. Finally, the unique effect between autistic-like nonverbal communication difficulties and face processing abilities, independently of intelligence, was considered in line with the social motivation theory of autism.

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19. Wei X, Jiawei Z, Maoyuan N, Weiyong Y, Zhenbo C, Hongwei B, Jianjun L, Qi L, Xinyu D, Jiaerheng B, Qiang W, Hao Z. Efficacy and Safety of Propofol as a Sole Sedative for fMRI Sedation in Autism Spectrum Disorder Individuals with Low IQ. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of complicated neurodevelopmental disorders. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can help to analyze the aberrant neurological functioning in ASD. However, due to their limited cognitive abilities, ASD individuals with low IQ may face challenges in cooperating during fMRI scanning. Consequently, sedation becomes necessary for them. To analyze and evaluate the sedative efficacy and safety of a single intravenous propofol sedation regimen for ASD individuals with low IQ undergoing fMRI examination. Seventy-seven ASD individuals with low IQ, aged 4 to 23 years, who underwent fMRI examination under propofol sedation, were included. Details of the sedation protocol, evaluation indices for effectiveness such as framewise displacement (FD) and temporal signal-to-noise ratio (tSNR), as well as safety assessment measures including pulse oxygen saturation (S(P)O2) and blood pressure were collected. Adverse events were also recorded. Data analysis was conducted upon completion of the study. Body movement was observed in 12 patients. The median and quartiles (25th percentile, 75th percentile) of FD was 0.065 (0.057, 0.086) mm, while the tSNR averaged at 89.6 ± 11.4. The image data from sixty-two cases (80.5%) were classified as high quality based on their tSNR surpassing 80. No serious adverse events, such as oxygen desaturation, hypotension, nausea, or vomiting, occurred that necessitated hospitalization. The exclusive propofol intravenous sedation protocol employed in this study demonstrates efficacy and safety for administering fMRI examinations to ASD individuals with low IQ, thereby warranting further investigation and validation towards its adoption in clinical practice.

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20. Wei Y, Ji Y, Chen M, Deng T, Liu S, Dai Y, Zhang L. Affiliate Stigma and Its Predictors in Parents of Children With Autism in the Early Post-diagnosis Phase. Child Care Health Dev. 2025; 51(2): e70048.

BACKGROUND: Affiliated stigma refers to internalized stigma among family members of stigmatized individuals. Affiliate stigma experienced by parents of children with autism plays a vital role in both the child’s rehabilitation and the parents’ well-being, whereas the affiliate stigma and its possible predictors need to be further examined. AIMS: The study aims to describe the characteristics of affiliate stigma experienced by parents of children with autism in the early post-diagnosis period and to explore its predictors. METHODS: The study was conducted from September 2020 to March 2022 in Guangzhou, China. Participants included 116 parents of children newly diagnosed with autism who completed baseline self-report measures of affiliate stigma (Affiliate Stigma Scale [ASS]), coping style (Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire [SCSQ]) and social support (Social Support Rating Scale [SSRS]) at the initial diagnosis (T1) and 1-year follow-up (T2). Autism features were assessed by parents using the Autism Behavior Checklist at T1. Generalized estimating equations were used to identify the key predictors of affiliate stigma. RESULTS: Scores for parental affiliate stigma were 43.4 ± 13.7 at the initial diagnosis and 44.7 ± 15.9 one year later. Parents of children with siblings or co-occurring conditions experienced higher levels of affiliate stigma, and negative coping styles and lower levels of subjective support predicted higher affiliate stigma during the first year after autism diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Parents experienced moderate and stable affiliate stigma during the first year after their children’s autism diagnosis, especially those with children who have siblings or co-occurring conditions and thus need additional support. Interventions should be focused on reducing negative coping and providing more subjective social support.

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21. Yerys BE, Tao S, Shea L, Wallace GL. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Medicaid-Enrolled Autistic Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 2025; 8(2): e2453402.

IMPORTANCE: Autistic adults experience suboptimal health outcomes. Likewise, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is linked to poor health outcomes in the general population, yet little is known about co-occurring ADHD and its links with poor health outcomes among autistic adults. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of ADHD and ADHD medication prescriptions and to examine associations between health outcomes and both ADHD co-occurrence and ADHD medication prescriptions among autistic adults. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Population-based cohort study of US Medicaid-enrolled adults aged 18 years and older, including autistic adults with and without co-occurring intellectual disability (ID), adults with ID without autism, and adults from a random sample of Medicaid-enrolled individuals from 2008 to 2019. Analyses were completed September 2023 to September 2024. EXPOSURES: Autism, ADHD, and ID using validated algorithms from the Chronic Conditions Warehouse. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Prevalence rates of co-occurring ADHD, ADHD medication prescriptions, substance use, cardiovascular conditions, injury in autism without ID, ID without autism, autism with ID, and the general population. RESULTS: The study included 3 506 661 patients (mean [SD] age, 33.5 [15.6] years; 1 854 892 [52.9%] female; 702 694 [20.0%] Black, 587 048 [16.7%] Hispanic, and 1 786 703 [60.0%] White). Compared with the general Medicaid-enrolled population (1 846 102 patients), which had 49 523 patients (2.7%) with co-occurring ADHD diagnoses, this study found elevated rates of ADHD in autism without ID (280 195 patients [26.7%]; prevalence ratio [PR], 5.1; 95% CI, 4.4-5.9), autism with ID (261 061 patients [40.2%]; PR, 6.8; 95% CI, 6.0-7.7), and ID without autism (1 119 303 patients [19.0%]; PR, 4.4; 95% CI, 4.0-5.0). A total of 117 704 adults (26.6%) with ADHD received an ADHD medication prescription. The study identified that rates of substance use were higher among clinical groups with co-occurring ADHD. For example, 9886 of 74 675 autistic adults with ADHD (13.2%) had substance use disorder, compared with 11 782 of 205 520 autistic adults with no ADHD (5.7%). ADHD diagnoses were associated with higher rates of all health outcomes, regardless of group. Substance use was higher in both ID groups with ADHD diagnoses and ADHD medications, whereas injury and cardiovascular condition rates were lower in all ADHD groups who received ADHD medications. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cohort study of Medicaid-enrolled adults, autistic adults experienced high rates of co-occurring ADHD and were more likely to receive ADHD medication prescriptions than adults in the general population. Negative health outcome rates are higher among autistic people with co-occurring ADHD, although ADHD medication prescriptions are associated with lower rates of negative health outcomes. Treating ADHD may improve health among autistic adults.

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