1. Amor AM, Sánchez-Gómez V, Verdugo M, Aza A, Wolowiec Z. A new quality of life index to enhance the inclusion of primary education students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Spain: A preliminary study. Res Dev Disabil;2025 (Mar 22);161:104975.

BACKGROUND: The Quality of Life Index-Primary Education (QoLI-PE) is a quality of life (QoL) assessment instrument under development that seeks to enhance the inclusion of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) enrolled in primary, general education in Spain. The goal of this work was to report evidence on its functioning through a pilot study and characterize the QoL of the participating students with IDD. METHODS: 130 primary education students with IDD were assessed with the QoLI-PE. The pilot study involved analyzing the quality of the items, the internal structure of the tool using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and its internal consistency (Cronbach’s α, ordinal α, and ω). Descriptive statistics were calculated for each QoL domain to characterize the QoL of students with IDD. Repeated-measures ANOVA were run to compare the domains at the within-subjects level, while independent samples t test and one-way ANOVAs were performed to test for between-groups comparisons. RESULTS: After refining the items, the CFA supported the internal structure of the instrument based on the theoretical model of QoL composed by eight first-order intercorrelated domains (χ²/df = 1.266; RMSEA =.045; CFI =.985; TLI =.984). Internal consistency was excellent for all the domains (all indices above.75). Emotional wellbeing and self-determination were identified as areas of concern. Significant differences were found between the levels of disability according to limitations in social skills (for material wellbeing) and in practical skills (physical wellbeing and self-determination). CONCLUSIONS: The QoLI-PE stands as a robust tool for its purpose. Strategies for QoL improvement are outlined, and future lines of research are provided.

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2. Brittenham C, DiCriscio AS, Troiani V, Hu Y, Wagner JB. Task-evoked pupil responses during free-viewing of hierarchical figures in relation to autistic traits in adults. Sci Rep;2025 (Mar 21);15(1):9778.

Sensory processing differences, particularly within the visual domain, are common in neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism. Studies examining hierarchical processing of figures containing global (i.e., gist) and local (i.e., detail) elements are inconsistent but converge on a common theme in relation to autism: slowed global processing and a locally-oriented default. We examined behavioral and pupillary responses in adults with varying levels of autistic traits during a free-viewing hierarchical processing task. Results showed that participants were both more likely and faster to report global elements, but contrary to our hypothesis, differences in level of autistic traits were unrelated to spontaneous reporting of global vs. local elements. When examining phase-based analysis of pupillary responses, participants high on autistic traits showed more early and less later constriction within trials. Further, trajectory-based pupillary analysis revealed two trajectories, one characterized by constriction and the other dilation, and results showed that the dilation group disproportionately included low traits individuals. Findings suggest that although high and low traits groups showed similar behavioral responses, visual strategies used may differ, as indicated by pupillometry. This study advances our understanding of the relationship between autistic traits and visual processing, laying groundwork for further investigations into neurodivergent visual processing mechanisms.

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3. Guan J, Li H, Yang Q, Lv Y, Zhang L, Wang Y, Li S. Improving brain difference identification in autism spectrum disorder through enhanced head motion correction in ICA-AROMA. Commun Biol;2025 (Mar 21);8(1):473.

Head motion during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations of patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can influence the identification of brain differences as well as early diagnosis and precise MRI-based interventions for ASD. This study aims to address head motion issues in resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data by comparing various correction methods. Specifically, we evaluate the independent component analysis-based automatic removal of motion artifacts (ICA-AROMA) against traditional preprocessing pipelines, including head motion realignment parameters and global signal regression (GSR). Our dataset consisted of 306 participants, including 148 individuals with ASD and 158 participants with typical development (TD). We find that ICA-AROMA, particularly when combined with GSR and physiological noise correction, outperformed other strategies in differentiating ASD from TD participants based on functional connectivity (FC) analyses. The correlation of quality control with functional connectivity (QC-FC) is statistically significant in proportion and distance after applying each denoising pipeline. The mean FC between groups is significant for Yeo’s 17-Network in each denoising strategy. ICA-AROMA head motion correction outperformed other strategies, revealing more significant FC networks and distinct brain regions linked to the posterior cingulate cortex and postcentral gyrus. This suggests ICA-AROMA enhances fMRI preprocessing, aiding ASD diagnosis and biomarker development.

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4. Levy-Shraga Y, Goldmann S, Gruber N, Tripto-Shkolnik L, Modan-Moses D, Givon U, Ben-Zeev B. Bone health and bisphosphonate treatment in females with Rett syndrome in a national center. Pediatr Res;2025 (Mar 21)

BACKGROUND: Impaired bone health is a common morbidity in Rett syndrome (RTT). We aimed to assess lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) in females with RTT, and to evaluate the effectiveness of bisphosphonate treatment. METHODS: This retrospective study included 40 females with RTT, aged 5-22 years, who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans during 2019-2024 at a national center for RTT. Data collected included medical treatment, anthropometric measurements, and functional scores. RESULTS: The median age at the first DXA scan was 10.8 years. The mean L1-4 BMD Z-score was -2.1 ± 1.4, and the mean TBS Z-score was -0.4 ± 1.3. The L1-4 BMD Z-score correlated with height (r = 0.407, p = 0.009), weight (r = 0.551, p < 0.001), BMI (r = 0.644, p < 0.001), and TBS Z-scores (r = 0.594, p = 0.009). Poor L1-4 BMD Z-scores were associated with poor mobility scores (p = 0.05) and valproate treatment (p = 0.016). Nine patients (23%) received zoledronate, for a mean 2 years. The mean age at zoledronate initiation was 9.7 ± 2.3 years. Four completed two DXA scans (pre- and post-treatment); the mean BMD Z-score improved from -2.2 ± 0.9 to -1.4 ± 0.9 after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Females with RTT have reduced lumbar BMD, which was associated with anthropometric factors, TBS, mobility, and valproate use. Zoledronate may be effective for some patients. IMPACT: In a retrospective study of 40 females with Rett syndrome (RTT), low bone mineral density (BMD) correlated with lower anthropometric measurements, impaired mobility, and valproic acid use. The association between BMD and trabecular bone score (TBS) in the context of RTT is a novel finding. Our preliminary data support the effectiveness and safety of zoledronate for treating osteoporosis in patients with RTT. Our findings are important in light of the increasing life expectancy of individuals with RTT, and the consequent need to prioritize bone health in this population.

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5. Longhurst P, Aspell JE, Todd J, Swami V. Body appreciation mediates the association between satisfaction with autistic identity and flourishing in autistic adults. Body Image;2025 (Mar 20);53:101876.

Underpinned by the neurodiversity paradigm, scholars are increasingly interested in relationships between positive autistic identity (i.e., feeling satisfaction and pride with being autistic) and states of flourishing (i.e., where numerous aspects of a person’s life and well-being are good) in autistic people. However, possible mediational pathways between these constructs remain relatively under-researched. Here, we propose a conceptual model wherein positive autistic identity is associated with flourishing in autistic adults via positive body image. To test this model, we recruited an online sample of 384 autistic adults (189 women, 195 men; M = 34.66 years, SD = 10.77) from the United Kingdom. Participants were asked to complete measures of satisfaction with autistic identity, body appreciation, and flourishing, and provide their demographic information. Structural equation modelling showed that body appreciation mediated the association between satisfaction with autistic identity and flourishing. The mediational triangle remained significantly robust after controlling for participant demographics. Future research should consider promoting positive autistic identity as a means of developing more positive body image and capacities to flourish in autistic adults.

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6. Monteiro-Fernandes D, Charles I, Guerreiro S, Cunha-Garcia D, Pereira-Sousa J, Oliveira S, Teixeira-Castro A, Varney MA, Kleven MS, Newman-Tancredi A, A PSA, Duarte-Silva S, Maciel P. Rescue of respiratory and cognitive impairments in Rett Syndrome mice using NLX-101, a selective 5-HT(1A) receptor biased agonist. Biomed Pharmacother;2025 (Mar 22);186:117989.

Rett Syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the X-linked gene encoding the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). Impaired function of this transcriptional regulator leads to profound neurological defects, among which respiratory distress, motor function and cognitive disorders are prominent. Despite great advances in understanding RTT neurobiology, therapies that can meaningfully improve patients’ symptoms are still needed. Here, we focused on 5-HT(1A) receptor-mediated serotonergic signaling as a potential therapeutical route for RTT. We report the effects of a drug candidate, NLX-101, a highly selective, biased agonist of 5-HT(1A) post-synaptic receptors at brainstem and cortical regions, on key phenotypes of RTT. Unrestrained whole-body plethysmography studies confirmed and extended the previous observation that single i.p. administration of NLX-101 dose-dependently reduced the occurrence and length of apneic events in Mecp2(tm1.1Bird) heterozygous female mice and largely corrected respiratory irregularity. Although no preservation of motor function was observed, early onset chronic administration of NLX-101 entirely prevented the cognitive deficits of the Mecp2(tm1.1Bird) mice both in the short and the long-term memory paradigms of the Novel Object Recognition upon 10 weeks of treatment, an effect that was maintained throughout animals’ age. Similar effects were observed in the Fear Conditioning paradigm, with treated Rett mice performing as well as wild-type controls, highlighting the procognitive properties of NLX-101. This work provides compelling evidence of the therapeutic potential of targeting post-synaptic 5-HT(1A) receptors to improve cognitive function in patients with RTT while supporting its respiratory-rescue properties.

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7. Mortamais M, Ongono JS, Michelon C, Hough I, Seyve E, Kloog I, Zaros C, Charles MA, Lepeule J, Baghdadli A. Prenatal Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children, a Case Control Study in France. J Autism Dev Disord;2025 (Mar 22)

A series of epidemiological studies conducted in the United States have consistently shown an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children associated with pre- and postnatal exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM). In Europe, studies are scarce and results are inconsistent. We aimed to investigate the association between prenatal exposure to PM and the risk of ASD in France. ASD cases were participants from the ELENA cohort. Controls children from the ELFE cohort were matched by sex, year (± 2) and region of birth. Prenatal exposures to PM10 and to PM2.5 were estimated between 2008 and 2013 using innovative hybrid spatio-temporal models developed for France. Conditional logistic regression models adjusted for birth season, parent’s age at the child birth and parental education level were run. We included 125 ASD cases and 500 controls. Prenatal PM2.5 and PM10 median (IQR) concentration estimates were respectively 16.3 (3.9) µg/m(3) and 22.9 (6.6) µg/m(3) in the whole sample. The conditional logistic regression models showed Odds Ratios (ORs) (Confidence Interval 95%) for ASD risk of 0.72 (0.52-1.01) and 0.84 (0.58-1.22) for an IQR increase in PM2.5 and PM10 prenatal levels, respectively. When restricting population of ASD cases to children born the same year of controls, ORs were 1.79 (0.80-4.01) and 2.23 (0.71-9.04), respectively. Our results did not show that prenatal exposures to PM2.5 and PM10 were associated with the risk of ASD in children in France.Trial Registration Number NCT02625116.

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8. Roizen N, Friedman S, Vanderbilt D, Cacia J, Fussell J, Hansen R, Hofer J, Sideridis G, Stein REK, Barbaresi W. Developmental Profiles of Young Children Referred for Concern for Autism Spectrum Disorder: DBPNet Study. J Autism Dev Disord;2025 (Mar 22)

The aim of this study was to compare differences in cognitive, adaptive, and language function in young children referred for concerns for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are diagnosed with ASD vs those not diagnosed with ASD (no ASD). This prospective diagnostic study of 349 children < 6 years of age, with 250 diagnosed with ASD and 99 with no ASD, was conducted at 8 diagnostic centers. There were no differences in cognition between those diagnosed with ASD and those with no ASD. As compared to those with no ASD, children with ASD had significantly lower language and adaptive functioning. Children with no ASD had language and adaptive functioning similar to their cognitive function. Differences between developmental domains were also compared within the ASD and no ASD groups. There were no differences between any 2 areas of function in the no ASD group. However, there were significant differences within the ASD group, with cognitive function significantly higher than both language function and adaptive function. This study suggests that a discrepancy between adaptive and language skills beyond that expected based on cognitive function should heighten concern for ASD. Beyond the categorical diagnosis of ASD, it is important to assess all these developmental domains to develop comprehensive plans for interventions.

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9. Song Y, Kong X, Fu W, Song F. Parent-mediated Interventions Based on the NDBI for Children With ASD: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Autism Dev Disord;2025 (Mar 22)

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that warrants early intervention. This systematic review evaluated the efficacy of parent-mediated natural developmental behavioral interventions (NDBIs) for children aged 0-6 with ASD across various randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and explored the limitations of these interventions. A systematic search was conducted across the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus databases to identify RCTs, and the selected studies were assessed for quality. The search was conducted through January 2024 and identified eight RCTs that, despite varying methodological rigor, collectively suggest benefits for social communication, language skills, and parent‒child interactions in individuals with ASD. Future research should implement standardized intervention protocols, employ sensitive assessment tools, and provide detailed statistical analysis plans to improve the generalizability and reliability of the outcomes of this study.

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10. Tan C, Zhou H, Yang M, Li C, Chen H, He L, Yang T, Chen J, Zhang J, Li T. The discriminate value of event-related potentials in executive function of ADHD and comorbidity of ADHD and ASD. Sci Rep;2025 (Mar 21);15(1):9802.

Purpose The study aimed to assess the value of event-related potentials (ERP) of executive functions in distinguishing between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and ADHD combined with autism spectrum disorder (ADHD&ASD). Methods This retrospective analysis included 204 participants divided into three groups: ADHD&ASD (64/204), ADHD (70/204), and typical development (TD) (70/204). Neuropsychological tests, including the Digit Span Test, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), Trail Making Test at its Chinese equivalent version, the Shape Trail Test (STT), and the Stroop Color Word Interference Test, were compared across groups. ERP measures, such as latency and amplitude at the frontal zone (Fz), central zone (Cz), and parietal zone (Pz), along with reaction times and target stimulus hits using an oddball paradigm, were analyzed. Post-hoc analyses and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves identified key indicators for distinguishing ADHD from ADHD&ASD. Results Significant differences were found in ERP and BRIEF indicators (P < 0.001), as well as selected TMT and Stroop parameters (P < 0.05) across the groups. The ADHD&ASD group exhibited notably higher Fz, Cz, and Pz latencies, interference times, and reaction times compared to the ADHD group (P < 0.05). With the exception of word meaning interference time, the area under ROC curves (AUC) of the remaining five indicators exceeds 0.8. Particularly noteworthy is the combined ROC curve of Fz latency and average reaction time, which demonstrated a sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of 88.68%, 97.14%, and 0.938 (95%CI: 0.885-0.990, P < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion ERP measurements using oddball paradigms hold strong potential for distinguishing ADHD from ADHD&ASD, enabling the development of more targeted treatment approaches through precise neurophysiological markers.

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11. Tsegaye M, Menbere F, Godie Y, Birhanu D. Preschool and primary school teachers’ attitude towards inclusive education for students with autism spectrum disorders in Ethiopian public schools: multicenter cross-sectional study. BMC Neurol;2025 (Mar 21);25(1):123.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder primarily impacting social communication and behavior. The prevalence of ASD has been rapidly increasing, leading to a corresponding rise in the number of children with ASD attending mainstream schools. Preschool and primary school teachers have a vital role in identifying and supporting these children. However, the extent of teachers’ Attitudes towards including children with ASD in their classrooms remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitude towards including children with autism spectrum disorders in their classrooms, and the associated factors among preschool and primary school teachers in public schools in Addis Ababa. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Data from preschool and primary school teachers were collected using a self-administered questionnaire between September 2023 and December 2023. The collected data were analyzed utilizing SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were employed to summarize the findings, while bivariate binary logistic regression was utilized to examine associations between variables. RESULTS: The study findings revealed that from a total sample of 416 teachers, only 35.5% of teachers had adequate knowledge, and the mean attitude score was 3.4, indicating a slight positive inclination towards inclusive education. Furthermore, teachers who have previous experience with students with special needs are six times more likely to have a positive attitude towards inclusive education (AOR = 6, 95% CI = 1.05-40.7). Teachers with a positive attitude towards including students in regular classes were 72% more likely to have adequate knowledge (AOR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.1-0.6). Teachers with a positive attitude towards including students in regular classes were 72% more likely to have adequate knowledge (AOR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.1-0.6). Conversely, teachers who identify behavioral and emotional problems of autistic children as a challenge are 94% less likely to have a positive attitude towards inclusive education (AOR = 0.06, 95% CI = 0.05-0.7). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The findings of this study indicate that teachers displayed a generally positive attitude towards ASD. This highlights the need for increased emphasis on educational interventions aimed at enhancing attitudes towards ASD further.

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12. Wang G, Ategbole M, Luo X, Wang K, Xu C. Gender differences in the associations between developmental disabilities and anxiety and depression symptoms among U.S. children: Insights from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey. J Affect Disord;2025 (Mar 19)

BACKGROUND: Limited research has explored the associations between developmental disabilities and symptoms of anxiety and depression among U.S. children during the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the associations between developmental disabilities and symptoms of anxiety and depression among U.S. children and examines whether these associations differ by gender. METHODS: The analysis included 6092 children aged 5-17 from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Key risk factors for anxiety and depression symptoms included attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID), learning disability (LD), and developmental delay (DD). Weighted multivariable logistic regression (MLR) was conducted to evaluate associations with anxiety and depression symptoms. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of anxiety was 14.8 % (12.8 % for males and 17.0 % for females), while depression prevalence was 5.1 % (4.2 % for males; and 6.0 % for females). Children with developmental disabilities had significantly higher prevalence rates of anxiety and depression compared to their peers without such conditions (p < 0.05). MLR analysis revealed that being female and having a history of ADHD, ASD, LD, and DD were associated with increased odds of both anxiety and depression (p < 0.05). ID was associated with increased odds of anxiety but not depression. COVID-19 was not significantly associated with either anxiety or depression. Furthermore, the associations of ASD, LD, ID, and DD with anxiety and depression varied by gender. CONCLUSIONS: Developmental disabilities were significantly associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression among U.S. children in 2021, with notable gender differences. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating gender-sensitive approaches in designing effective prevention and intervention strategies.

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13. Wang H, Zhao P, Hu X, Han ZR. Daily Dynamics of Parental Sleep Quality and Parenting in Chinese Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord;2025 (Mar 22)

High sleep quality in parents has been linked to positive parenting outcomes, including reduced parenting stress and increased life satisfaction. However, the daily dynamics of these factors remain underexplored, especially in families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study examined the reciprocal relationships between daily sleep quality, parenting stress, and life satisfaction among parents of children with ASD. Seventy-five Chinese parents (M = 36.21 years, SD = 3.77 years; 57 mothers) of children with ASD (M = 5.43 years, SD = 1.56 years; 67 boys) participated in a 14-day diary study. Parents reported their subjective sleep quality, parenting stress, and life satisfaction at the same time each day across 7 survey questions. Dynamic structural equation modeling revealed two significant autoregressive effects: parents’ perceptions of parenting stress and life satisfaction on a given day tended to persist into the following day. Moreover, better-than-average sleep quality on a given night predicted lower parenting stress and higher life satisfaction the next day. However, daytime fluctuations in parenting stress and life satisfaction did not influence sleep quality that night. hese preliminary findings suggest a unidirectional impact of sleep quality on perceived parenting stress and life satisfaction among these parents. Target interventions aimed at improving sleep quality, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) or structured sleep hygiene programs, may be essential for reducing parenting stress and enhancing life satisfaction in parents of children with ASD. These interventions should prioritize promoting consistent sleep routines and managing stress-related sleep disruptions.

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14. Wang Y, Li Z, Ye Y, Li Y, Wei R, Gan K, Qian Y, Xu L, Kong Y, Guan L, Fang H, Jiao G, Ke X. HD-tDCS effects on social impairment in autism spectrum disorder with sensory processing abnormalities: a randomized controlled trial. Sci Rep;2025 (Mar 21);15(1):9772.

This study examined the effects of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on social impairment in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), focusing on those with and without sensory processing abnormalities. A randomized double-blind sham-controlled trial involved 72 children with ASD, divided into three groups based on sensory integration status. A post-hoc analysis of 51 children aged 4-8 years who received true HD-tDCS was conducted, categorizing them into hypo-tactile, hyper-tactile, and typical tactile sensitivity groups. Therapeutic efficacy was compared across these groups. (1) The randomized cntrolled Trial: The typical sensory integration group showed significant improvements in social awareness (t = 5.032, p < 0.000) and autistic mannerisms (t = 3.085, p = 0.004) compared to the sensory integration dysfunction group. (2)The result of the post-hoc analysis: The hypo-tactile and typical tactile sensitivity groups exhibited notable improvements in social awareness, cognition, communication, autistic mannerisms, and total SRS scores. In contrast, the hyper-tactile group only had a significant reduction in social communication (t = 2.385, p = 0.022) post-intervention. HD-tDCS effectively improved social impairment symptoms in children with ASD, particularly those with typical sensory integration and either typical or hypo-tactile responsiveness.

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