1. Bent C, Dwyer P, Hudry K. Optimal amount of support for young Autistic children depends on their individual and family needs. Evid Based Nurs;2025 (Mar 26);28(2):66.

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2. Bjørklund G, Oleshchuk O, Ivankiv Y, Venger O, Liuta O, Mocherniuk K, Lukanyuk M, Shanaida M. Melatonin Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Sleep Regulation, Behavioral Outcomes, and Challenges Across the Lifespan. Mol Neurobiol;2025 (Mar 26)

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) poses complex challenges affecting social interaction, communication, and behavior, necessitating comprehensive and tailored interventions. Sleep disturbances, prevalent in up to 80% of individuals with ASD, significantly impact well-being. Central to circadian rhythms, melatonin emerges as a promising intervention, primarily recognized for its role in sleep regulation. This review explores melatonin’s multifactor impact on ASD, covering sleep regulation, behavioral outcomes, neuroprotection, and potential synergies with other therapies. Melatonin exhibits promise in ameliorating sleep disturbances and enhancing overall well-being, with implications for social behaviors, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties further suggest potential neuroprotective benefits. Future research directions focus on mechanistic insights, individualized medicine, and real-world effectiveness. As melatonin’s versatile role unfolds, it stands as a valuable component in the personalized care of individuals navigating the complexities of ASD.

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3. Brouzou KO, Kamp D, Hensel L, Lüdtke J, Lahnakoski JM, Dukart J, Mikus N, Mathys C, Eickhoff SB, Schilbach L. Using personalised brain stimulation to modulate social cognition in adults with autism-spectrum-disorder: protocol for a randomised single-blind rTMS study. BMC Psychiatry;2025 (Mar 25);25(1):281.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments of social interaction and communication as well as repetitive, stereotyped behaviour. Previous research indicates that ASD without intellectual impairment is associated with underactivity and reduced functional connectivity of the brain’s mentalizing pathway, to which the right temporo-parietal junction (rTPJ) serves as an important entry point and hub. In this study, we aim to utilize functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to localize activation maxima in the rTPJ and other regions involved in social cognition to generate individualized targets for neuro-navigated, intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) in order to modulate brain activity in a region centrally engaged in social information processing. METHODS: In this single-blind, randomized, between-subject neuroimaging-guided brain stimulation study we plan to recruit 52 participants with prediagnosed ASD and 52 controls without ASD aged between 18 and 65 years. Participants will be classified into two groups and will randomly receive one session of either verum- or sham-iTBS. Effects will be assessed by using well-established experimental tasks that interrogate social behaviour, but also use computational modelling to investigate brain stimulation effects at this level. DISCUSSION: This study aims to use personalized, non-invasive brain stimulation to alter social information processing in adults with and without high-functioning ASD, which has not been studied before with a similar protocol or a sample size of this magnitude. By doing so in combination with behavioural and computational tasks, this study has the potential to provide new mechanistic insights into the workings of the social brain. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trial Register, DRKS-ID: DRKS00028819. Registered 14 June 2022.

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4. Buehler R, Potocar L, Mikus N, Silani G. Autistic traits relate to reduced reward sensitivity in learning from point-light displays (PLDs). R Soc Open Sci;2025 (Mar);12(3):241349.

A number of studies have linked autistic traits to difficulties in learning from social (versus non-social) stimuli. However, these stimuli are often difficult to match on low-level visual properties, which is especially important given the impact of autistic traits on sensory processing. Additionally, studies often fail to account for dissociable aspects of the learning process in the specification of model parameters (learning rates and reward sensitivity). Here, we investigate whether learning deficits in individuals with high autistic traits exhibit deficits when learning from facial point-light displays (PLDs) depicting emotional expressions. Social and non-social stimuli were created from random arrangements of the same number of point-lights and carefully matched on low-level visual properties. Neurotypical participants (N = 63) were assessed using the autism spectrum quotient (AQ) and completed a total of 96 trials in a reinforcement learning task. Although linear multi-level modelling did not indicate learning deficits, pre-registered computational modelling using a Rescorla-Wagner framework revealed that higher autistic traits were associated with reduced reward sensitivity in the win domain, demonstrating an attenuated response to received feedback during learning. These findings suggest that autistic traits can significantly impact learning from PLD feedback beyond a general deficit in learning rates.

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5. Capisizu A, Zăgrean L, Poenaru E, Tudorache E, Bulf MA, Capisizu AS. Investigation of Electroencephalographic Aspects, Adaptive Features, and Clinical Phenotypes in a Group of Children with Autism-A Pilot Study. Clin Pract;2025 (Feb 27);15(3)

(1) Background: Autism, as an important global problem that affects many phenotypically different individuals, is associated with electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities and adaptability impairment. (2) Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study of a group of 101 autistic children, we aimed to evaluate the presence of EEG abnormalities, adaptive features, and clinical phenotypes via EEG, the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System II (ABAS II) scale, and neurological examination. (3) Results: Our results showed statistically significant associations between the level of adaptability obtained through the ABAS II scale and neurological deficit, specifically in terms of coordination impairment. There were also statistically significant differences between the level of adaptability and clinical phenotypes between autism type groups. (4) Conclusions: This study shows that children with autism are likely to exhibit neurological and adaptive abnormalities. Non-invasive assessment tools, such as EEG recordings, the ABAS II scale, and neurological examination offer valuable support for improved diagnosis and management.

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6. Dencker A, Li H, Lyckestam Thelin I, Smith V, Nilsson C, Lundgren I, Ladfors L, Elfvin A. Health outcomes up to 5 years in children born as a second child after a previous caesarean section in a first pregnancy: a Swedish population-based register study between 1999 and 2015. BMJ Paediatr Open;2025 (Mar 25);9(1)

OBJECTIVE: To explore health outcomes up to 5 years of age, according to mode of birth, in a large cohort of Swedish children who were born as a second child to women who had a caesarean section (CS) in their first pregnancy. DESIGN: Retrospective population-based register study. POPULATION: All children (n=94 498) who were born as a second child (or children in cases of twins or higher-order multiple births) during 1999-2015 in Sweden in women who had a CS first birth. The children were followed up to 5 years of age. For inclusion, both births must have occurred in Sweden. METHODS: A nationwide cohort study using follow-up data up to 5 years of age. Maternal factors, including age, smoking, diabetes, obesity (body mass index ≥30), mental illness, pre-eclampsia, education, income, country of birth and the neonatal factors of being a singleton and prematurity (up to week 36+6) were adjusted for in regression models. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Developmental problems, asthma, allergy, hospital care and death within 5 years of age. RESULTS: A total of 94 498 children were included in the study. Risk for developmental problems, asthma and allergy was increased after repeat CS but not after vaginal birth. The need for hospital care was increased in all other birth modes compared with spontaneous vaginal birth. The risk of death within 5 years increased after instrumental vaginal birth and emergency repeat CS. CONCLUSIONS: All repeat CS compared with spontaneous vaginal birth was related to increased risks for developmental problems, asthma, allergy and hospital stay, and emergency repeat CS was associated with an increased risk of death within 5 years. The results of the present study support vaginal birth as the optimal mode of birth after previous CS for longer-term child health outcomes.

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7. Desroches ML. Nurses should prioritise constipation prevention for people with severe/profound intellectual and developmental disabilities and multiple long-term conditions. Evid Based Nurs;2025 (Mar 26);28(2):69.

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8. Diseases Editorial O. Expression of Concern: Gasser et al. Testosterone/Epitestosterone Ratios-Further Hints to Explain Hyperandrogenemia in Children with Autism. Diseases 2021, 9, 13. Diseases;2025 (Feb 21);13(3)

With this notice, the Diseases Editorial Office states their awareness of the concerns regarding potential scientific errors and an authorship dispute relating to this publication […].

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9. Doornaert EE, Mohamad AE, Johal G, Allman BL, Möhrle D, Schmid S. Postnatal environment affects auditory development and sensorimotor gating in a rat model for autism spectrum disorder. Front Neurosci;2025;19:1565919.

The homozygous Cntnap2 knockout (KO) rat is a well-established genetic model for neurodevelopmental disorders, exhibiting core features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including impaired sensory processing and sensorimotor gating. Recent findings indicate that the severity of ASD-like phenotypes in Cntnap2 KO offspring is influenced by the parental genotype, with more pronounced impairments observed in KO rats bred from homozygous pairs compared to heterozygous pairs (Cntnap2 HET). However, it is unclear to what extent this is due to in utero versus postnatal effects. We, therefore, investigated how early postnatal environmental factors, shaped by differences in parental and littermate genotypes, influence auditory processing and sensorimotor gating in Cntnap2 KO rats. To examine this, we cross-fostered Cntnap2 KO pups bred from Cntnap2 KO rats to be reared with litters of Cntnap2 HET dams. Cross-fostering Cntnap2 KO rats reversed or partially reversed delayed hearing sensitivity maturation, heightened acoustic startle responses, and deficits in prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response. However, cross-fostering also exacerbated deficits in the neural responsiveness and conductivity in the auditory brainstem, as well as in gap-induced prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response. These results emphasize the importance of considering the postnatal environment and breeding strategies in preclinical genetic models of neuropsychiatric disorders. More importantly, they also demonstrate that ASD-like traits, including alterations in brainstem sensory processing, are not strictly determined by genetic factors, but remain malleable by environmental factors during early postnatal development.

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10. Freitag CM, Kirchner M, Sauer LD, Kleber SK, Polzer L, Raji N, Lemler C, Fröhlich U, Jarczok T, Geissler J, Radtke F, Ring M, Roessner V, Taurines R, Noterdaeme M, Teufel K, Kim Z, Kitzerow-Cleven J. Complex, low-intensity, individualised naturalistic developmental behavioural intervention in toddlers and pre-schoolers with autism spectrum disorder: The multicentre, observer-blind, parallel-group randomised-controlled A-FFIP trial. J Child Psychol Psychiatry;2025 (Mar 26)

BACKGROUND: Naturalistic developmental behavioural interventions (NDBI) may improve social communication in toddlers/pre-school aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, we study efficacy of the low-intensity, complex NDBI ‘Frankfurt Early Intervention Program for ASD’ (A-FFIP) over 1 year by a confirmatory phase-III, prospective, randomised, controlled, parallel-group study with two treatment arms over four centres. METHODS: Main inclusion criteria: ASD (DSM-5), age 24-66 months, developmental quotient >30. INTERVENTION: Manualised A-FFIP intervention. Control intervention: Early intervention as usual (EIAU). PRIMARY OUTCOME: Change in core ASD symptoms from baseline (T2) to immediate intervention endpoint at 12 months (T6) based on the blindly rated Brief Observation for Communication Change (BOSCC) total score. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Mixed model for repeated measures with covariates baseline BOSCC-total, chronological age and centre. RESULTS: Between July 2018 and October 2021, N = 134 children with ASD were randomly allocated to intervention (A-FFIP: n = 68, EIAU: n = 66). Groups did not differ at baseline, with a mean age of 49 (SD 10) months, a mean developmental age of 23.3 (SD 13.6) months and 26 (19.4%) females. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic interfered severely with trial procedures. Intention-to-treat analysis in the primary analysis set, with at least one postbaseline BOSCC measure (A-FFIP n = 64, EIAU n = 60), did not find differences in the primary outcome by group (adjusted ES -0.06, 95% CI to -0.24 to 0.11). SARS-CoV2-related lockdown led to less improvement across groups. Secondary outcomes showed stronger improvements in parent-rated repetitive behaviour as well as parent- and teacher-rated executive functions for A-FFIP versus EIAU. Adverse events were comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The manualised NDBI program A-FFIP, which allows individually targeting six core basic abilities and five developmental domains related to longitudinal development in ASD, did not improve social communication, cognitive or behavioural outcomes beyond EIAU after 1 year, but may improve repetitive behaviour and executive function.

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11. García-García L, Martí-Vilar M, Hidalgo-Fuentes S, Cabedo-Peris J. Enhancing Emotional Intelligence in Autism Spectrum Disorder Through Intervention: A Systematic Review. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ;2025 (Mar 10);15(3)

Limitations in some emotional characteristics that are conceptualized in the definition of emotional intelligence can be seen among people with autism spectrum disorder. The main objective of this study is the analysis of the effectiveness of interventions directed to enhance emotional recognition and emotional regulation among this specific population. A systematic review was carried out in databases such as Psycinfo, WoS, SCOPUS, and PubMed, identifying a total of 572 articles, of which 29 met the inclusion criteria. The total sample included 1061 participants, mainly children aged between 4 and 13 years. The analyzed interventions focused on improving emotional recognition, with significant results in the identification of emotions such as happiness, sadness, and anger, although some showed limitations in the duration of these effects. The most used programs included training in facial recognition, virtual reality, and the use of new technologies such as robots. These showed improvements in both emotional recognition and social skills. Other types of interventions such as music therapy or the use of drama techniques were also implemented. However, a gender bias and lack of consistency between results from different cultures were observed. The conclusions indicate that, although the interventions reviewed seem effective, more research is needed to maximize their impact on the ASD population.

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12. Gutierrez J, Ramos AK. A Brief Report of Self-Care Practices and Respite Use Among Hispanic/Latina Mothers of Children with Developmental Disabilities. Matern Child Health J;2025 (Mar 26)

INTRODUCTION: Caring for a child with disabilities is challenging and sometimes overwhelming. Self-care and use of respite services can be important strategies for caregivers to relieve stress, prevent burnout, and reduce the risk of poor physical and mental health. Little is known about the use of self-care and respite care services among Hispanic/Latino caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify: (1) if Hispanic/Latina mothers of children with developmental disabilities in Nebraska practiced self-care or used respite support services, (2) what types of self-care practices were used, and (3) what if anything prevented these mothers from practicing self-care or using respite services. METHODS: A total of 75 Hispanic/Latina mothers were interviewed between August-September 2022. RESULTS: We found that 73.3% of participants reported practicing self-care, but even more (80%) reported engaging in specific self-care activities. Participants who were living in the United States without legal permission were significantly less likely to report practicing self-care compared to those who were U.S. citizens, residents, or were in process for residency (38.2% vs. 61.8%), p = .02. Only 6.8% of participants reported using respite services. Of those who did not use respite services, 60% reported that they did not know about such services. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Promoting the availability of supportive resources for caregivers in culturally, linguistically, and contextually relevant formats (especially those that are available regardless of immigration status) could be valuable. Institutionalizing caregiver navigation programs and addressing cultural and structural barriers to respite service uptake could have positive benefits for caregivers of children with disabilities.

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13. Hollingdale J, Woodhouse E, Deeley Q. The role of impairment in the diagnosis of autism. Br J Psychiatry;2025 (Mar 26):1-3.

Within the medical model, ‘impairment’ is required for a diagnosis of autism. However, the diagnostic manuals provide limited guidance as to how to interpret impairment, which can impact diagnostic rates and the provision of support. Impairment is discussed within the context of the medical model and current sociocultural landscape.

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14. Jassim N, McCoy B, Yip EW, Allison C, Baron-Cohen S, Lawson RP. The « Tetris effect »: autistic and non-autistic people share an implicit drive for perceptual cohesion. Mol Autism;2025 (Mar 26);16(1):22.

BACKGROUND: When working on jigsaw puzzles, we mentally « combine » two pieces to form a composite image even before physically fitting them together. This happens when the separate pieces could logically create a cohesive picture and not when they are mismatched or incoherent. The capacity of the brain to combine individual elements to form possible wholes serves as the basis of perceptual organisation. This drive for perceptual cohesion-the « Tetris effect »-can be seen in the famous game, where people automatically perceive logical combinations from separate pieces. However, it is unclear how this presents in populations known to have perceptual differences, such as autistic people. Theories on the inclination to process local over global details in autism and autistic strengths in pattern recognition lead to conflicting predictions regarding the drive for perceptual cohesion in autistic compared to non-autistic people. METHODS: In this large-scale (n = 470) pre-registered online behavioural study, we aimed to replicate previous research conducted on neurotypical participants and to extend this work to autistic participants. We used two tasks with Tetris-style stimuli to examine how autistic (n = 196) and non-autistic (n = 274) adults implicitly perceive possible wholes from individual parts. Data were analysed using logistic mixed-effects regression models and hierarchical Signal Detection Theory modelling. RESULTS: Overall, we replicated the results from the original study in finding participants are more likely to perceive parts as wholes when there is the potential to form a whole, compared to when there is not. However, we found no differences between autistic and non-autistic participants across both tasks. LIMITATIONS: Although power calculations were carried out to assess sample sizes needed to detect a group difference, given the small effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.37) in the original study, it may be that any existing group differences are still undetectable with the current sample size. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the « Tetris effect » is ubiquitous and seen in both neurotypical and neurodiverse populations. Our findings challenge the deficit-focussed narrative often seen in the autism literature and highlight the similarities in task performance between autistic and non-autistic participants.

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15. Jung J, Cattan S, Powell C, Barlow J, Liu M, Clery A, Mc Grath-Lone L, Bunting C, Woodman J. Early child development in England: cross-sectional analysis of ASQ(®)-3 records from the 2-2½-year universal health visiting review using national administrative data (Community Service Dataset, CSDS). Int J Popul Data Sci;2024;9(2):2459.

INTRODUCTION: The Ages & Stages Questionnaire 3rd Edition (ASQ(®)-3) is a tool to measure developmental delay for children aged between 1 – 66 months originally developed in the United States. This measure has been collected in England since 2015 as a part of mandated 2-2½-year health visiting reviews and collated nationally in the Community Services Dataset (CSDS). CSDS is known to be incomplete and to-date there have not been any published analyses of ASQ(®)-3 held within CSDS. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to a) identify a subset of complete child development data for children aged two in England using ASQ(®)-3 data in CSDS between 2018/19-2020/21; b) use this subset of data to analyse child development age 2-2½-years in England. METHODS: This study compared counts of ASQ(®)-3 records in CSDS by local authority and financial quarter against national, publicly available Health Visitor Service Delivery Metrics (HVSDM) to identify local authorities with complete ASQ(®)-3 records in CSDS. This study described child development in this subset of the data using both a binary cut-off of whether a child reached expected level of development and the continuous ASQ(®)-3 score. RESULTS: Among the 226,505 children from 64 local authorities in the sample with complete ASQ(®)-3 data, 86.2% met expected level of development. Children from the most deprived neighbourhoods (82.6%), children recorded as Black (78.9%), and boys (81.7%) were less likely to meet expected level of development. CONCLUSIONS: To fully understand early child development across England, the completeness of ASQ(®)-3 data in the CSDS requires improvement. Second, in order to interpret the national CSDS data on child development, ASQ(®)-3 should be standardised and validated in an English context with attention paid to implementation and subsequent referral and support pathways. Our study provides a minimum estimate of children needing developmental support (13.8%), with many more children likely to be experiencing moderate or mild delay but not identified by the ASQ(®)-3 cut-offs for expected development.

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16. Kan DDD, Lee CL, Poon KLK. Health-related quality of life of children with developmental disabilities in Singapore and associated factors: A broad-based examination. Res Dev Disabil;2025 (Mar 26);161:104997.

The study investigates the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of elementary-aged children with developmental disabilities in Singapore, focusing on the influences of individual and family factors. Data from 113 students from special education schools was examined, with data collected from parents, teachers, and direct assessments of the children. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) was used to measure HRQoL across four domains: physical, emotional, social, and school functioning. Results showed that children with developmental disabilities generally experience lower HRQoL compared to typically developing peers, with the social functioning domain presenting the greatest challenges. Executive functioning difficulties emerged as the most significant predictor of overall HRQoL, affecting all domains, particularly social and school functioning. Parental psychological well-being was also significantly associated with children’s emotional functioning, highlighting the broader influence of family factors on children’s well-being. This study contributes to the literature by examining a broad-based sample in a multicultural Asian context. Results underscores the importance of addressing both child-specific challenges, such as executive functioning, and family-centered interventions to improve parental mental wellbeing. In the pursuit of positive quality of life for children with developmental disabilities across multiple domains, this study’s findings highlight the need for a multi-component approach. Limitations and future directions, including the use of proxy reports and the need for culturally relevant interventions, are discussed.

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17. Kim S, Jeon B. Inequities in cardiovascular risk and lifestyle factors among individuals with developmental disabilities: evidence from Korea’s national health screening program. Sci Rep;2025 (Mar 26);15(1):10463.

Significant gaps persist in the awareness and understanding of the health challenges faced by individuals with developmental disabilities. This study aims to examine health disparities among individuals with developmental disabilities in South Korea, focusing on cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, and lifestyle factors like physical activity, smoking, and drinking behaviors. We analyzed data from the National General Health Screening Program for 2019 and 2020, including a sample of 17,012 persons with disabilities and 5,623,993 persons without disabilities. We utilized propensity score matching (1:1) and multivariable logistic regression estimated outcomes. After matching, each group included 13,863 individuals with balanced baseline characteristics. Individuals with disability had higher risks of overall and abdominal obesity and lower risks of smoking and drinking. No significant differences were found in blood pressure and fasting blood sugar levels post-matching. In addition, individuals with disability showed lower risks of abnormal cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels, but higher risks for abnormal high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and lower physical activity levels. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions to address obesity and promote physical activity, while also acknowledging the lower risks of smoking and drinking in individuals with developmental disabilities.

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18. Klila H, Giuliani F. [The mind without images : aphantasia and autism spectrum disorder, an invisible connection.]. Rev Med Suisse;2025 (Mar 26);21(911):618-621.

For people with aphantasia, the ability to form mental images is absent or markedly impaired. In this article, we define aphantasia and explore the links between mental imagery and autism spectrum disorder. Through our clinical experiences, we highlight the repercussions the impact of aphantasia on autism spectrum disorder functioning, share the specific challenges we face in psychotherapy and propose therapeutic approaches.

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19. Lee JE, Kim S, Park S, Choi H, Park BY, Park H. Atypical maturation of the functional connectome hierarchy in autism. Mol Autism;2025 (Mar 26);16(1):21.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is marked by disruptions in low-level sensory processing and higher-order sociocognitive functions, suggesting a complex interplay between different brain regions across the cortical hierarchy. However, the developmental trajectory of this hierarchical organization in ASD remains underexplored. Herein, we investigated the maturational abnormalities in the cortical hierarchy among individuals with ASD. METHODS: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from three large-scale datasets were analyzed: Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange I and II and Lifespan Human Connectome Project Development (aged 5-22 years). The principal functional connectivity gradient representing cortical hierarchy was estimated using diffusion map embedding. By applying normative modeling with the generalized additive model for location, scale, and shape (GAMLSS), we captured the nonlinear trajectories of the developing functional gradient, as well as the individual-level deviations in ASD from typical development based on centile scores measured as deviations from the normative curves. A whole-brain summary metric, the functional hierarchy score, was derived to measure the extent of abnormal maturation in individuals with ASD. Finally, through a series of mediation analyses, we examined the potential role of network-level connectomic disruptions between the diagnoses and deviations in the cortical hierarchy. RESULTS: The maturation of cortical hierarchy in individuals with ASD followed a non-linear trajectory, showing delayed maturation during childhood compared to that of typically developing individuals, followed by an accelerated « catch-up » phase during adolescence and a subsequent decline in young adulthood. The nature of these deviations varied across networks, with sensory and attention networks displaying the most pronounced abnormalities in childhood, while higher-order networks, particularly the default mode network (DMN), remaining impaired from childhood to adolescence. Mediation analyses revealed that the persistent reduction in DMN segregation throughout development was a key contributor to the atypical development of cortical hierarchy in ASD. LIMITATIONS: The uneven distribution of samples across age groups, particularly in the later stages of development, limited our ability to fully capture developmental trajectories among older individuals. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of understanding the developmental trajectories of cortical organization in ASD, collectively suggesting that early interventions aimed at promoting the normative development of higher-order networks may be critical for improving outcomes in individuals with ASD.

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20. McLeod JD, Anderson EM. Correction: Autistic Traits and College Adjustment. J Autism Dev Disord;2025 (Mar 26)

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21. Narita H, Natsume J, Suzuki T, Shiohama T, Kawaguchi M, Okazaki M, Hashizume A, Naganawa S, Ito Y, Yamamoto H, Nakata T, Kidokoro H, Takahashi Y, Takahashi S, Tsujimura K. Diffuse but Non-homogeneous Brain Atrophy: Identification of Specific Brain Regions and Their Correlation with Clinical Severity in Rett Syndrome. Brain Dev;2025 (Mar 26);47(3):104348.

BACKGROUND: Rett syndrome is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder that predominantly affects girls. While microcephaly is a common feature, there is limited information on the detailed structural changes in the brain. This study aimed to identify regional brain volume abnormalities and explore the correlation between brain volume and clinical characteristics. METHODS: We compared the regional brain volumes of 20 female children with Rett syndrome to those of 25 healthy female children. Additionally, we assessed the correlation between regional brain volume, Clinical Severity Scores, and epilepsy status. RESULTS: Significantly smaller volumes were observed in all brain regions, including the cerebral cortex, cerebral white matter, subcortical gray matter, cerebellum, and brainstem. Within the cortical regions, volume reduction was prominent in the left precentral, right lateral occipital, left precuneus, left inferior parietal, and right medial orbitofrontal cortices. After correcting for intracranial volumes, volume reduction was more prominent in the cerebral cortices than in the cerebral white matter. Small volumes were consistently observed, regardless of age. Negative correlations were observed between the volumes of multiple regions and the Clinical Severity Scores. There were no correlations among regional brain volume, seizure control, or duration of epilepsy. CONCLUSION: The mechanism underlying the cortical-dominant volume reduction remains unclear; however, it may be caused by altered synapse development associated with methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 gene abnormalities. Characteristic impairments in visual recognition and deterioration of motor function in Rett syndrome may be associated with significant volume reduction in specific cortical regions, such as the lateral occipital cortex, precuneus, and precentral gyrus.

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22. Poyas Naharan R, Estrugo Y, Bar Yehuda S, Bauminger-Zviely N. Motor and socio-cognitive mechanisms explaining peers’ synchronization of joint action across development in autistic and non-autistic children. Autism;2025 (Mar 26):13623613251328437.

When partners coordinate their movement in time and space to reach a goal, they perform joint action, an important part of every interaction. Joint action involves motor abilities and socio-cognitive skills like theory of mind. Autistic children’s lower joint motor coordination (joint action) abilities as well as their motor functioning and theory of mind difficulties may interfere with efficient peer interaction. However, the shared contribution of motor and theory of mind to partners’ joint action was not yet explored. This study investigated those contributors (motor and theory of mind) along with group and age differences in 84 autistic children ages 6-16 years and 64 non-autistic children matched by age, sex, and IQ across three age-groups: early-childhood, preadolescence, and adolescence. Basic and advanced theory of mind skills and most motor tasks were higher among adolescents versus early-childhood. However, the autistic group consistently underperformed the non-autistic group in basic and advanced theory of mind levels and in all gross- and fine-motor tasks across all age-groups, revealing unique motor development characteristics in autism. A significant joint full mediation effect emerged for motor and theory of mind skills on joint action performance in both study groups. Understanding that motor and theory of mind skills together underlie joint action opens up a new channel of intervention to facilitate peer interaction.Lay abstractWhen two or more people move together in a coordinated way at the same time and in the same place, they perform « joint action, » which is an important part of everyday social interaction. Joint action involves the activation of both motor skills and the social-cognitive understanding of others’ thoughts, feelings, and desires-their ability to hold « Theory of Mind. » Motor functioning and Theory of Mind may be challenging for autistic individuals. We wanted to investigate how motor skills and the ability to understand others’ minds develop in autistic and non-autistic children and adolescents and to explore how these skills contribute to joint action performance. We compared 84 autistic children with 64 non-autistic children matched by age, sex, and IQ. Among these 6- to 16-year-olds, we examined three age-groups: early-childhood, preadolescence, and adolescence. We found that older participants, both in the autistic and non-autistic groups, showed better abilities than younger participants in basic and advanced Theory of Mind skills and in most motor tasks. However, non-autistic children outperformed autistic children in Theory of Mind (at basic and advanced levels) and also in all gross-motor and fine-motor tasks, across all age-groups. The autistic group’s motor patterns were characterized by greater variability in tasks’ rated difficulty levels compared to their non-autistic peers, who showed more intact, uniform patterns. Both motor and Theory of Mind skills were found to significantly impact joint action performance in both study groups. These findings are important for understanding joint action’s underlying mechanisms and for refining social intervention programs for autistic individuals.

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23. Quinton AMG, Rumball F, Ronald A, Fisher HL, Arseneault L, Happé F, Danese A. Autistic traits in childhood and post-traumatic stress disorder as young adults: a cohort study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry;2025 (Mar 25)

BACKGROUND: Despite the higher prevalence of childhood traumatic experiences and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in autistic adults, research on trauma-related psychopathology and autistic traits in young people is lacking. This study examined if high autistic traits in childhood predispose individuals to traumatic experiences, the development of PTSD and general psychopathology, and greater functional impairment by age 18, in both the general population and a subsample of trauma-exposed young people. METHODS: Data were utilised from the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study, a nationally representative cohort of 2,232 same-sex twins born in 1994-1995 across England and Wales. Participants were a subset of children whose parents completed the Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST), during assessments at ages 8, 9 and/or 12 years (N = 1,504). We tested associations between autistic traits in childhood and age-18 reports of lifetime trauma exposure, lifetime PTSD diagnosis, general psychopathology (‘p-factor’) and NEET status (‘not in employment, education or training’). Analyses were conducted controlling for sex, family socioeconomic status (SES), intelligence quotient (IQ) and accounting for family clustering. RESULTS: Higher autistic traits in childhood were significantly associated with greater reports of lifetime trauma exposure (Odd Ratio [OR] = 1.26, 95% Confidence Intervals [CI] = 1.03; 1.54), lifetime PTSD diagnosis (OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.29; 2.82), general psychopathology (beta = 3.22, 95% CI = 1.84; 4.60) and NEET status (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.05; 2.09) at age 18. Only the associations of autistic traits with PTSD and general psychopathology were robust to adjustment for potential confounders. Among trauma-exposed children, autistic traits were also significantly associated with lifetime PTSD diagnosis (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.15; 2.68) and psychopathology (beta = 3.36, 95% CI = 0.68; 6.04) at age 18, but only the association with PTSD held when adjusted for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a need to develop targeted assessments and evidence-based treatments for PTSD to meet the needs of children with high autistic traits. However, whether our findings extend to diagnosed autistic children requires further investigation.

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24. Ramachandra V, Sugimoto K, Ziskind K, Verma A, Ahmad I, Godoy M, Watanabe K. The influence of iconicity and autistic traits on novel word learning: a cross-cultural investigation. R Soc Open Sci;2025 (Mar);12(3):242161.

The effects of iconicity and autistic traits on novel word learning were investigated through an online experiment involving 1481 healthy adult participants aged between 18 and 40 years from four countries: Brazil (N = 261), India (N = 416), Japan (N = 493) and the USA (N = 311). Participants completed a bouba-kiki-based word learning task, viewing novel images paired with either iconic names (congruent condition) or arbitrary names (incongruent condition). Word recognition was assessed using a three-alternative forced-choice procedure, and autistic traits were measured with the autism spectrum quotient (AQ). Results showed a significant benefit of iconicity across all countries, with better performance in the congruent condition. While a linear mixed model revealed no significant effect of AQ on bouba-kiki scores overall, a country-specific analysis found a weak but significant positive correlation between AQ scores and bouba-kiki performance in Japanese participants. This country-specific finding should be interpreted cautiously and warrants further exploration. Overall, the findings demonstrate the robustness and universality of the bouba-kiki effect on word learning across both Western and Eastern cultures. However, the relationship between autistic traits and iconicity was not consistent across all countries and may depend on cultural factors. Further research is needed to explore this in more detail.

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25. Rodriguez-Perez M, Chandler S, Kennedy M, Charman T, Simonoff E, Sonuga-Barke E. What Is Distinctive About Autism Arising Following Severe Institutional Deprivation? A Direct Comparison With a Community Sample of Early Diagnosed Autistic People. Autism Res;2025 (Mar 26)

In the English and Romanian Adoptees study, a substantial proportion of adoptees who suffered extended severe deprivation (26 of 101) displayed autistic characteristics termed quasi-autism (QA). Here we directly compare this group with a community sample of early diagnosed autistic individuals (community autism; CA). First, we characterized the QA autism symptom profile (61.5% females) by calculating which of the 32 Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) items were statistically more common in the QA group than in a control group of 52 non-deprived UK adoptees (UK Control, 34.6% females) at ages 11, 15, and/or 23 years of age. The latent structure of these QA-characteristic items was explored using confirmatory factor analyses. Second, we compared the QA symptom profiles with CA profiles using a sample from the QUEST study (Salazar et al. 2015). To do this, we identified two QUEST groups, one aged 11 years on average (n = 21) and one aged 15 years (n = 24). The former were compared to ERA SCQ scores at age 11, and the latter at age 15. Nineteen SCQ items were statistically significantly more common in the QA group than in the ERA UK control group at ages 11 and 15. Ten differences persisted into adulthood. These QA-characteristic items ranged across and mapped onto all three standard SCQ domains (social reciprocity, communication, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors). The age 11 CA group scored higher than QA at 11 years across each subscale when all items were considered. However, when only QA-characteristic items were included, only scores for the Repetitive and Stereotyped subscale differentiated QA and CA. When the age 15 comparison was made, no differences were found between CA and QA subscales. QA and CA were associated with similar levels of emotional and conduct problems and overactivity/inattention levels. QA shared many features with CA. QA difficulties extended across all autism domains and were associated to a similar degree with emotional and behavioral problems. However, there were some distinctive elements. Compared to the classic autism profile, the communication domain mainly comprised persistent abnormalities of linguistic expression. In contrast, social reciprocity problems were diffuse, less severe, and declined over time. QA-characteristic repetitive and stereotyped behaviors are broadly expressed and endure into adulthood.

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26. Song W, Tao S, Grest CV, McLean KJ, Mookerjee V, Shea LL. Health disparities between autistic non-citizen adults and US citizens enrolled in Medicaid: An analysis of Medicaid claims data from 2017-2019. Disabil Health J;2025 (Mar 20):101825.

BACKGROUND: This study addresses critical gaps in our understanding of how immigration status intersects with autism related to health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: We aim to quantify physical and mental health disparities between autistic non-citizen adults and US citizens, among those who were enrolled in the Medicaid program. METHODS: We analyzed 2017-2019 Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System Analytic Files to identify autistic adults and categorize them into US citizens and non-citizens. Using propensity score matching (PSM) based on demographic and eligibility variables, we created comparable groups for comparative analysis of health conditions. We used modified Poisson regression models with robust standard errors to quantify the differences in mental and physical health outcomes between the groups, adjusted for co-occurring intellectual disabilities. RESULTS: Autistic non-citizens had a 45 % higher prevalence of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders than autistic citizens, while there were no significant differences in the prevalence of other mental health conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression). Autistic non-citizens also had a higher prevalence of numerous physical conditions (e.g., cancer, diabetes, and kidney disease) than autistic citizens. These patterns were unaffected by adjusting for co-occurring intellectual disabilities. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the heightened vulnerability of Medicaid-enrolled autistic non-citizens compared to their US citizen counterparts. Our findings indicate the critical need for Medicaid policy enhancements to better serve the unique challenges of autistic non-citizen adults, emphasizing the development of practice guidelines that incorporate cross-cultural and immigrant experiences and a culturally and linguistically competent provider base.

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27. Thom RP, Warren TL, Khan S, Muhle RA, Wang PP, Brennand K, Zürcher NR, Veenstra-VanderWeele J, Hoffman EJ. A Blueprint for Translational Precision Medicine in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Related Neurogenetic Syndromes. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol;2025 (Mar 26)

Objectives: Despite growing knowledge of the underlying neurobiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related neurogenetic syndromes, treatment discovery has remained elusive. In this review, we provide a blueprint for translational precision medicine in ASD and related neurogenetic syndromes. Methods: The discovery of trofinetide for Rett syndrome (RTT) is described, and the role of nonmammalian, mammalian, and stem cell model systems in the identification of molecular targets and drug screening is discussed. We then provide a framework for translating preclinical findings to human clinical trials, including the role of biomarkers in selecting molecular targets and evaluating target engagement, and discuss how to leverage these findings for future ASD drug development. Results: Multiple preclinical model systems for ASD have been developed, each with tradeoffs with regard to suitability for high-throughput small molecule screening, conservation across species, and behavioral face validity. Future clinical trials should incorporate biomarkers and intermediate phenotypes to demonstrate target engagement. Factors that contributed to the approval of trofinetide for RTT included replicated findings in mouse models, a well-studied natural history of the syndrome, development of RTT-specific outcome measures, and strong engagement of the RTT family community. Conclusions: The translation of our growing understanding of the neurobiology of ASD to human drug discovery will require a precision medicine approach, including the use of multiple model systems for molecular target selection, evaluation of target engagement, and clinical trial design strategies that address heterogeneity, power, and the placebo response.

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28. Touali R, Zerouaoui J, Chakir EM, Bui HT, Leone M, Allisse M. Impact of a Sensorimotor Integration and Hyperstimulation Program on Global Motor Skills in Moroccan Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Exploratory Clinical Quasi-Experimental Study. JMIR Form Res;2025 (Mar 26);9:e65767.

BACKGROUND: Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) often struggle with processing information, which can impact their coordination, balance, and other motor skills. Studies have demonstrated that intervention programs based on sensory integration can enhance motor performance in these children. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the applicability of a standardized battery of gross motor skill tests for Moroccan children aged 6 to 12 years with ASD. The objective is to assess the potential efficacy of an innovative pedagogical approach focused on sensorimotor integration and hyperstimulation. This approach will be compared to traditional physical education (PE) sessions to determine its feasibility and potential to bridge the developmental gaps in motor skills between children with ASD and those with a neurotypical profile. METHODS: A convenience sample of 14 Moroccan children with ASD aged 6 to 12 years participated in this exploratory study. Children with ASD were divided into an experimental group (n=7) and a control group (n=7) based on age, sex, motor performance, and socioeconomic status. The control group followed the standard PE program, while the experimental group underwent a specialized program combining sensorimotor integration and hyperstimulation for a period of 15 weeks. All participants were classified as level 2 (moderate) on the Autism Severity Rating Scale based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) criteria. Gross motor skills were measured at baseline and after 15 weeks of intervention using the UQAC-UQAM (University of Québec in Chicoutimi-University of Québec in Montréal) test battery protocol, which includes 10 items. RESULTS: At baseline (T1), no significant difference was observed between the control and experimental groups of children with ASD. Following the 15-week intervention, the group participating in traditional PE showed an overall improvement in motor skills of approximately 14.5%. Conversely, the results of the ASD experimental group suggest a more substantial improvement of 44.5%. Additionally, the experimental group exhibited significant better performance across all motor skill variables compared to the control group (minimum P values of <.02) with large effect sizes (>0.80). In this regard, a 2-way repeated measures ANOVA confirms the efficiency of the program implemented within the experimental group, demonstrating significant effects associated with both group and time factors as well as a clinically highly significant group×time interaction across all measured variables (η(2)p>0.14). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the approach that emphasizes sensorimotor integration and management of hyperstimulation was more effective in improving motor skills in this population. However, other more exhaustive studies will need to be carried out in order to be able to more precisely measure the full potential of this approach.

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29. Wang L, Qi X, Meng Z, Xiang M, Li Z, Zhang S, Hu L, Hirai HW, To CKS, Wong PCM. Assessing Social Communication and Measuring Changes in Chinese Autistic Preschoolers: A Preliminary Study Using the Social Communication Scale. J Speech Lang Hear Res;2025 (Mar 26):1-16.

PURPOSE: Assessing social communication and measuring its changes among young autistic children presents significant challenges, particularly when tracking intervention effects within short timeframes. Existing measures, mostly validated in Western contexts, may not be suitable for culturally diverse populations. Addressing this gap, the Social Communication Scale (SCS) was developed to provide a culturally accessible and reliable measure for the Chinese population. This study explores the psychometric properties of the SCS and its ability to capture intervention-induced changes. METHOD: Fifty-two autistic children aged 2-5 years were recruited from China. One parent per family participated in a 20-week support program aimed at enhancing parents’ communication strategies to prompt social communication with their children at home. The SCS was administered before and after the program. RESULTS: The SCS exhibited outstanding overall interrater reliability (ICC = .91) and convergent validity with established measures, including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition, the Communication subdomain of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning, and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Third Edition. Notably, the SCS effectively captured subtle changes during the 20-week intervention. CONCLUSIONS: As the first social communication scale developed for Chinese autistic preschoolers, the SCS proves to be a reliable and valid measure. This addresses unique challenges in autism assessment and intervention in China. To strengthen its broader applicability, future research should prioritize validating the SCS with larger and more diverse samples across various regions, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of its value and limitations. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.28569035.

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30. Wang Q, Jia S, Cai Z, Jiang W, Wang X, Wang J. The canonical correlation between executive function and social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder and potential pathways to physical fitness. Sci Rep;2025 (Mar 26);15(1):10367.

Research on the relationship between core and comorbid features in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), particularly executive function, remains limited. Additionally, the role of physical fitness in supporting ASD children’s growth and development appears critical. This study investigates the relationship between executive function, social skills, and physical health in children with ASD. A total of 428 male participants were enrolled, including 117 diagnosed with ASD (mean age: 10.25 ± 1.481 years) and 311 with typical development (mean age: 9.56 ± 1.261 years). The results showed that children with ASD had significantly lower executive function and social interaction abilities than those with typical development (P < 0.05). A strong correlation was found between executive function and social skills (first canonical correlation coefficient: 0.641, P < 0.001), with 20.4% of the variation in social abilities explained by executive function. Specifically, emotional control, working memory, social perception, social cognition, and autistic behaviors influenced ASD children's development. While balance did not correlate significantly with physical fitness (P > 0.05), muscle strength showed a stronger effect (r = -0.485 to -0.535, P < 0.05). Improving physical fitness may help alleviate deficits in executive function and social skills. These findings provide early insights into the relationship between executive function and social skills in ASD, emphasizing the potential role of physical activity.

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31. Ye CW, Lin CH, Wang SJ. Olanzapine-Associated Hyperbilirubinemia in an Adolescent With Autistic Spectrum Disorder Comorbid With Schizophrenia: A Case Report. J Clin Psychopharmacol;2025 (Mar 26)

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