1. Al-Mazidi S, Alhowikan A, Elamin N, Abualnaja A, Al-Mnaizel A, Alharbi T, Al-Ayadhi L. Cognitive function and retinal biomarkers as novel approach to diagnosing and assessing autism spectrum disorder. Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1): 17946.

The retina is invariably considered an extension of the central nervous system and can predict cognitive impairment in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. This is due to the physiological and embryological link between the retina and the brain. Since this correlation was not previously tested in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we aim to provide evidence for a correlation between retinal dysfunction and cognitive impairment in ASD children through previously reported retina and cognitive dysfunction biomarkers. 80 children were recruited to test biomarkers of the retinal function, Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), and cognitive function A Disintegrin and Metalloproteases 10 (ADAM10). These biomarkers were correlated with the Childhood Autism Rating Score (CARS) to distinguish ASD from cognitive impairment disorders and the Short Sensory Profile (SSP) as a sensory impairment indicator, including vision. ADAM10 was significantly decreased in ASD children compared to neurotypical children (p < 0.01). It also decreased as the severity of autism increased, as measured by CARS. We also found that CNTF decreases in ASD children with moderate severity compared to neurotypical and severe ASD groups, indicating that CNTF can be an early indicator of ASD. ADAM10 was directly related to CNTF, implying the direct correlation between the eye and cognitive function in ASD. ADAM10 is a potential indicator of cognitive function in ASD, and CNTF can be an indicator of retina function. The relationship between both biomarkers might serve as early diagnosis biomarkers and a potential therapeutic target in ASD.

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2. Brambilla C, Nicora ML, Romeo L, Storm FA, D’Orazio T, Malosio M, Scano A. Biomechanical analysis on neurotypical and autism spectrum disorder people during human-cobot interaction. Appl Ergon. 2025; 128: 104557.

Biomechanical analysis is essential for assessing subjects interacting with robotic setups and platforms. However, in industrial scenarios, workers’ biomechanics are assessed mainly through questionnaires and scales which provide limited objectivity. Very few studies analyzed the biomechanics of workers in multiple sessions, and no study assessed diverse populations of workers. Therefore, we collected tracking data from 14 neurotypical and 7 participants with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) performing assembly tasks in a lab-based industrial collaborative workcell. Human tracking data were acquired by an Azure Kinect and elaborated with a biomechanical model that allowed to compute human kinematics and dynamics. The biomechanics of neurotypical and ASD operators were compared across two working sessions. Both neurotypical and people characterized by ASD decreased torque and power in the second session with respect to the first one, indicating adaptation to the working activity. Interestingly, ASD people expended more energy than neurotypical, suggesting a higher risk of fatigue. Overall, ASD people performed similarly to neurotypical people from a biomechanical point of view. In this study, we showed a protocol for multisession biomechanical monitoring of workers during industrial human-robot collaboration tasks that can be employed in real scenarios and with ASD workers. This approach can be useful in human-robot collaboration to design minimum-fatigue collaborative tasks, support physical health, and improve ergonomics for workers.

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3. Dobrachinski F, Ribeiro KA, Bezerra IC, da Silva AJ, Pereira CMM, Vellasques K, Padilha HA, Haas SE, Ávila DS, Gubert P. Nutraceutical approaches for Autism Spectrum Disorder treatment. Behav Brain Res. 2025; 492: 115653.

The Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that has been increasing in prevalence and is characterized by some degree of difficulty with social interaction, communication, and sensory response. According to the World Health Organization, ASD affects 1 in 100 children, and many factors may cause brain alterations, such as genetic and environmental factors. Currently, there is no standard treatment for ASD. Notably, one of the hallmarks of this condition is neuroinflammation since it has been suggested that autism results from central nervous system derangements due to chronic inflammatory reactions, with activation of microglial cells. Therefore, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds may be nutraceutical supplements of interest to attenuate the impacts of neuroinflammation in ASD subjects. This review highlights the main molecules that have been successful in preclinical and clinical trials, as well as potential associations that might be further strategies to investigate.

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4. Fox J, Carroll JA, Death J. ‘. . . there’s so much within the work that we do where all we kind of need is the space and the safety’: The experiences of Australian practitioners who support autistic survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Autism. 2025: 13623613251344425.

Research has found that autistic women experience elevated rates of sexual and domestic violence and may benefit from accessing support to recover. This study aimed to explore the experiences of Australian practitioners and the approaches they use to support the recovery needs of autistic women who are survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 Australian practitioners to capture their experiences of supporting autistic women who are survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Data from these interviews were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis, which generated four themes about participants’ experiences in supporting autistic survivors: (1) unburdening the processing load of understanding violence and trauma, (2) understanding support and recovery needs as interconnected, (3) lived experience as a therapeutic tool, and (4) the challenges of practicing within unaffirming and invalidating systems. The findings illustrate how Australian practitioners help autistic survivors by accommodating their recovery support needs, and the systematic and structural issues that create barriers to recovery for autistic survivors while putting additional strain on the practitioners who support them. The findings also highlight practice implications around how supporting autistic survivors with interoceptive awareness and understanding their needs within relationships is beneficial to their recovery.Lay AbstractResearch has commonly found that autistic women are more likely than autistic men and non-autistic women to be harmed in their sexual and romantic relationships and may need support in healing from the impacts of these experiences. In this study, we wanted to find out more from the people who provide this support to autistic women. We asked 14 Australian practitioners about what they do to support autistic women who have experienced these types of harm in their relationships, and what makes this harder or easier for them to do. We then analysed the common patterns (themes) in what these practitioners said. From this we found that Australian practitioners often help autistic women to heal by providing a safe and supportive space to process their experiences and recover from what has happened to them. We also found that an important part of the support that practitioners provide autistic survivors is helping them to understand their experiences of violence and build awareness of feelings in their body (interoception). The practitioners in this study also talked about how the autistic women that they support often have bad experiences when getting help from support services and systems that commonly do not meet their needs. This often makes it harder for practitioners to help autistic women heal and a lot of them suggested that services could be made better by learning more about autistic people’s different support needs and how to accommodate these.

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5. Gaougaou G, Zahra R, Morel S, Bélanger V, Knoth IS, Cousineau D, D’Arc BF, Grzywacz K, Rousseau G, Déziel E, Godbout R, Lippé S, Millette M, Marcil V. Acceptability and safety of a probiotic beverage supplementation (Bio-K +) and feasibility of the proposed protocol in children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. J Neurodev Disord. 2025; 17(1): 30.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders defined by stereotyped behavior and challenges in social communication and social interaction. ASD is associated with various comorbidities, including anxiety, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and sleep disorders. Evidence supports an association between intestinal dysbiosis and the severity of ASD-related symptoms. Probiotic intake was suggested to restore microbial homeostasis and decrease neurobehavioral, GI and sleep symptoms in individuals diagnosed with autism. METHODS: This study aims to evaluate the acceptability and safety of a Bio-K + probiotics beverage in autistic children aged 4 to 11 years and the feasibility of the proposed research protocol to measure its impact on behaviors and comorbidities. The 30-week study consisted of daily supplementation with Bio-K + probiotics for 14 weeks. Acceptability and safety were monitored throughout the study. Feasibility was assessed by comparing recruitment and completion rates to pre-established thresholds. Preliminary impact of supplementation on behaviors (Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) score), GI symptoms and sleep disorders was evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 23 children recruited (mean age 6.7 ± 2.2 years, 70% males), 65% had GI problems and 91% had sleep disorders. Probiotic supplementation was accepted by all participants and no product-related adverse event was reported. Feasibility rates exceeded pre-established thresholds for almost all study outcomes including recruitment rate, compliance, electroencephalography, actigraphy and completion of questionnaires. Preliminary data suggest an improvement in behaviors associated with autism assessed with the total ATEC score, and in GI symptoms and sleep disorders. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates probiotic beverage acceptability and safety and protocol feasibility in autistic children. To further support our data, a double-blinded placebo-controlled study is needed to determine its efficacy.

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6. Khedr MA, Adly BAE, Hussein RM. Efficacy of resilience-based intervention on psychological capital and satisfaction with life among mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders. J Pediatr Nurs. 2025; 84: 88-96.

PURPOSE: Examine the impact of a resilience-focused intervention on psychological capital and overall life satisfaction of mothers who provide care to children with autism spectrum disorders. DESIGN AND METHODS: A quasi-experimental design was executed at the Abdullah Altamimi Centre in Unaizah City, Qassim region. Eighty mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders participated, divided into intervention and control groups. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires, including the 24-item Psychological Capital Questionnaire and the five-item Satisfaction with Life Scale. The intervention consisted of eight weekly sessions on building resilience and psychological capital. RESULTS: The results revealed significant improvements in psychological capital and life satisfaction among mothers in the intervention group (p = 0.000). Specifically, mean scores for overall psychological capital increased from 62.7 to 100.7, while life satisfaction scores rose from 12.8 to 28.3. Additionally, strong correlations were found between psychological capital and life satisfaction post-intervention (p < 0.001), indicating that enhanced psychological resources were associated with improved life satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The study found that resilience-based training can improve psychological capital and life satisfaction among mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. This cost-effective method provides essential tools and resources for parents, particularly mothers, who play a vital role in their children's development. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: By enhancing psychological capital-encompassing optimism, hope, self-efficacy, and resilience-healthcare providers can equip these mothers with effective coping strategies to manage caregiving challenges. Nurses and mental health professionals should consider developing tailored training sessions and support groups that focus on building resilience, which can significantly improve the well-being and life satisfaction of caregivers.

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7. Némorin H, Michelon C, Peyre H, Monnier M, Périés M, Baghdadli A. Profiling clinical heterogeneity in Autism Spectrum Disorder at time of children’s diagnosis: A cluster analysis from the ELENA cohort. Res Dev Disabil. 2025; 163: 105040.

BACKGROUND: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) encompass a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by deficits in social communication and repetitive behaviors. The rising prevalence of ASD highlights the urgent need for effective diagnostic and intervention strategies. However, the significant clinical, cognitive and etiological heterogeneity within ASD populations poses substantial challenges to these efforts. AIMS: This study aimed to identify distinct ASD subtypes at time of diagnosis within the ELENA cohort by incorporating not only DSM-5 criteria but also measures of adaptive functioning and behavioral problems. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from 458 children and adolescents with ASD were analyzed using hierarchical agglomerative clustering. Variables included autistic symptoms, intellectual quotient, adaptive behavior and behavioral problems. Clusters were identified based on these parameters, and post-hoc analyses were conducted to assess statistically significant differences in sex and age among the four clusters using Chi-square test and Student’s t-tests. RESULTS: Four distinct clusters were identified from the analysis: (1) High Autistic Symptom Severity with Lowest Behavioral Problems, (2) High Autistic Symptom Severity with High Behavioral Problems, (3) Low Autistic Symptom Severity with Highest Behavioral Problems and (4) Low Autistic Symptom Severity with low behavioral problems, while significant age differences were observed across clusters, no significant sex differences were found. DISCUSSION: These clusters exhibited significant variability in adaptive functioning and behavioral problems, suggesting that DSM-5 criteria alone do not fully capture the complexity of ASD. The findings underscore the importance of incorporating measures of adaptive functioning and behavioral problems into ASD assessments and interventions. Future research should aim to validate these clusters in larger and more diverse populations and explore the integration of genetic and neuroimaging data to further refine the characterization of ASD subtypes. Additionally, longitudinal studies are needed to assess the stability and clinical relevance of these subtypes over time. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02625116.

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8. Trauner D, Umlauf A, Grelotti DJ, Fitzgerald R, Hannawi A, Marcotte TD, Knight C, Smith L, Paez G, Crowhurst J, Brown A, Suhandynata RT, Lund K, Menlyadiev M, Grant I. Cannabidiol (CBD) Treatment for Severe Problem Behaviors in Autistic Boys: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

Open-label and observational studies suggest cannabidiol (CBD) reduces problematic behaviors in autistic children. No controlled clinical trials have addressed safety, tolerability, and efficacy. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of plant-derived CBD (Epidiolex®) to determine safety, tolerability, and behavior effects in autistic boys. Autistic boys with severe behavior problems age 7-14 years were randomized to eight weeks of CBD up to 20 mg/kg/day and eight weeks of placebo separated by a four-week washout. Behavioral assessments were completed before and after each treatment phase. Plasma concentrations of CBD were quantified. Primary outcomes were changes in total score of the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2). Both groups improved on the RBS-R and CBCL, with no significant difference between groups. ADOS-2 scores improved in placebo group only, but this improvement disappeared when other medications taken by the children were included in the analyses. Blinded clinical impressions showed almost 2/3 of the participants had behavioral improvements with CBD; 1/3 showed either no change or improvement on placebo. A strong placebo effect was observed. CBD had an acceptable safety profile. We did not find CBD to be clearly effective at reducing the broad range of behaviors characterized by the primary outcome measures. There was clinically evident improvement with CBD in 2/3 of participants. A prominent placebo effect demonstrates the importance of placebo control in treatment studies. Medications taken for behavior may reduce blood levels of CBD and may affect outcome measures.Trial Registration https://clinicaltrials.gov NCT04517799 start date 6/1/2020.

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