1. Agyapong M, Mason L, Begum Ali J, Johnson MH, Charman T, Jones EJH. Infant Attention to Eyes Versus Mouth Varies With Mouth Movement Speed, Family History of Autism and Language Development. J Autism Dev Disord. 2026.

PURPOSE: Patterns of visual attention to faces are mixed in infants with a family history of autism relative to controls. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often co-occurs with autism and could represent one source of variance in findings. Heterogeneity in language skills may represent another source of variance. We investigated longitudinal patterns of attention to eyes and mouths in infants with and without an elevated familial likelihood (EL) of autism and/or ADHD, and examined associations with language development. METHODS: The sample included 160 infants (EL-autism = 79, EL-ADHD = 31, EL-autism+ADHD = 21, Typical Likelihood (TL) of autism and/or ADHD = 29). We measured eye-to-mouth looking ratios of 5, 10 and 14 month olds who viewed pairs of faces with mouths moving at low (1 Hz), medium (6 Hz) and high (10 Hz/15 Hz) temporal frequency. Language skills were measured throughout infancy and at 36 months. RESULTS: Eye looking (relative to mouth) decreased as a function of age and was reduced for speech-like frequencies (6 Hz) compared to slower frequencies. Infants with EL-autism looked more to the eyes than TL infants, but this effect was attenuated in the presence of familial ADHD. Controlling for 14 months word acquisition, higher receptive language at 36 months was associated with greater eye looking. CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm age-related changes in eye-to-mouth looking across development and suggest that variability in familial ADHD and heterogeneity in language skills influence attentional differences in infants with a family history of autism. Future family history studies should investigate this heterogeneity using neurophysiological methods.

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2. Borst H, Sieben J, van den Berg M, Vermeulen RJ, de Bie R. Priorities, facilitators and barriers regarding physical therapy for individuals with rett syndrome: perspectives of parents, caregivers and physical therapists. Dev Neurorehabil. 2026: 1-12.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to describe priorities, facilitators and barriers concerning physical therapy for individuals with Rett syndrome, as perceived by parents, physical therapists and professional caregivers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Parents, physical therapists and professional caregivers completed a questionnaire investigating important topics and priorities regarding physical therapy for individuals with Rett syndrome. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted among parents and physical therapists to explore priorities, facilitators and barriers. Coding resulted in several themes and subthemes, which were structured within the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF model). RESULTS: Forty-two questionnaires were completed: 12 by parents, 15 by physical therapists, and 15 by professional caregivers. Semi-structured interviews were performed with 7 parents and 5 physical therapists. Themes that emerged were (1) General treatment goals; (2) Focus of physical therapy; (3) Therapeutic alliance and (4) Knowledge and expectations. Within these, main themes, priorities, facilitators and barriers were described. CONCLUSIONS: Priorities within physical therapy are training gross motor skills and addressing musculoskeletal impairments. Important facilitators for physical therapy in Rett syndrome are a therapeutic environment within a knowledgeable multi-disciplinary team with a leading role for parents. Principal barriers are uncertainty, scarcity of knowledge, variability of skills and the delicate balance between goals and energy levels.

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3. Chastain AN, Dixon MR. Using Equivalence-Based Instruction to Teach Value-Congruent Action Identification to Autistic Teens. Behav Anal Pract. 2026; 19(3): 1413-9.

The current clinical evaluation used a multiple baseline across participants design to assess the effectiveness of intraverbal training in promoting value-congruent action identification among three autistic teenagers. Participants were taught to verbally relate value-congruent actions (A) to outcomes (B), and outcomes (B) to participant-identified values (C), with tests for emergent C-A relations. Two participants demonstrated emergent value-to-action intraverbals without direct training, while one required exemplar training for partial emergence. These findings support the use of relational training to establish derived intraverbals linking values to verbal identification of value-congruent actions. The approach may be especially useful in neurodiversity-affirming clinical practice to support clients in identifying their own value-congruent actions.

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4. Cherry M, Christian R. Implementation of components of a family navigation program for children with autism in a pediatric clinic: a best practice implementation project. JBI Evid Implement. 2026.

INTRODUCTION: Early diagnosis and intervention assists children with autism to reach their full potential. Children in rural areas experience extended wait times for early intervention, and parents are often concerned about meeting their child’s needs with minimal support during the waiting period. Family navigation programs can help fill this gap, providing tools and emotional support to parents while waiting for early intervention to begin. OBJECTIVE: This project aimed to implement components of a family navigation program for children with autism through the promotion of evidence-based practices in a pediatric clinic in the United States. METHODS: This project used the JBI Evidence Implementation Framework, including JBI PACES for pre- and post-audit data analysis and JBI GRiP for barrier analysis and strategy implementation. A follow-up audit was conducted to measure changes in compliance with recommendations. RESULTS: The follow-up results revealed a 23% increase Criterion 1, in which nurses received intensive training on the navigation program, and a 48% improvement in Criterion 2, in which patients received emotional support/anticipatory guidance after diagnosis of autism. There was 0% change in Criterion 3, where families received guidance on tracking the child’s referral and waitlists. Finally, there was a 14.28% decrease in Criterion 4, where parents received guidance to create an action plan for their child with autism. The impact on families was limited due to no newly diagnosed individuals during the short implementation phase. CONCLUSIONS: Staff training is beneficial in providing navigation to parents of children diagnosed with autism. Annual competency training to reinforce best practices will ensure the continuity of care for children with autism. SPANISH ABSTRACT: https://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A714.

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5. Chua SJS, Terrett G, Coundouris SP, Rendell PG, Suddendorf T, Henry JD. The Functional Application of Episodic Foresight in Autistic Children. J Autism Dev Disord. 2026.

PURPOSE: Challenges in daily living skills are well documented in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), even for those with preserved intellectual function. Since episodic foresight is critical to act with the future in mind, this study provides the first test of whether autistic children exhibit differences on a behavioral test of this capacity, and if so, whether these variations might be related to broader cognitive abilities involving executive control and/or retrospective memory. METHODS: Forty autistic children with no intellectual impairment (IQ > 80) aged 8-12 years and 55-age and IQmatched non-autistic controls completed a measure that met strict criteria for demonstrating episodic foresight, the child variant of Virtual-Week Episodic Foresight. This measure requires children to identify a problem, self-generate a resolution, and execute the appropriate future-directed intention. They also completed standardized tests of executive control (Trail Making Test and Color-Word Interference Test) and retrospective memory (delayed recall). RESULTS: The two groups did not differ in their capacity to take appropriate steps in the present in anticipation of potential future problems. However, autistic children were poorer than non-autistic controls at subsequently implementing actions at specific future points that allowed successful problem resolution. These difficulties could not be attributed to broader problems with retrospective memory or executive functioning. CONCLUSION: This study provides behavioral evidence that autistic children experience specific challenges with the functional application of episodic foresight. These findings are discussed in relation to their implications for important daily living skills.

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6. Cullingham T, Larkin M, Milton D, Rennard U, Taylor V, Solomon E, Creswell C, Green J. Anxiety Problems Experienced by Autistic Children: Child and Parent Perspectives. Autism. 2026: 13623613261487496.

Autistic people are at increased risk of psychological distress, particularly anxiety problems. Childhood anxiety problems can lead to various negative lifelong outcomes, including disrupted education and reduced quality of life. Working closely with an Expert Reference Group and co-researchers with lived experience of autism and parenting an autistic child, we explored the experience of autistic children’s anxiety to inform autism-specific intervention development. We interviewed nine autistic children with anxiety problems and 10 parents. Interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and Template Analysis. We report five themes: (a) Buffering the constant impact of anxiety; (b) Walking the cliff edge; (c) We’re on our own here; (d) Being understood is the safest path and (e) Pursuing a journey of learning. These themes illustrate how anxiety problems can affect autistic children and their families. Key learnings for intervention development include (a) the potential value of delivering support through an established relationship with a safe, trusted adult; (b) the possible amplifying effects of the combination of environmental factors with sensory sensitivities on anxiety and (c) acknowledging the difficult balance for families between helping the child to manage in a neurotypical world, and finding ways to adjust the environment to better meet their child’s needs.Lay AbstractAutistic children are more likely to experience problems with anxiety than non-autistic children, which can have lasting effects on their well-being and development. Understanding what anxiety problems feel like for autistic children and their parents can help create better support and interventions. In this study, a research team including autistic individuals, parents of autistic children and clinicians explored these experiences. We interviewed 10 parents and nine autistic children with anxiety problems. The interviews revealed five main themes: (a) Buffering the constant impact of anxiety; (b) Walking the cliff edge; (c) We’re on our own here; (d) Being understood is the safest path and (e) Pursuing a journey of learning. These findings highlight the complex and ongoing impact of anxiety problems on autistic children and their families. We found that helpful support for these children may come from a trusted adult with a preexisting relationship, recognising how external factors and sensory sensitivities can make anxiety worse, and considering the experiences of children and families within systems that are not designed for autistic people. This study offers important insights that can guide the development of more effective and compassionate interventions for autistic children experiencing problems with anxiety.

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7. de Los Santos M, Eslava VH, Guerra MA, Lozano-Ramirez JF, Enriquez J, Martinez AP, de la Cruz B. Correction: Applied Behavior Analysis in Mexico: Efforts and Challenges in Public Policy, Advocacy, and Autism Intervention. Behav Anal Pract. 2026; 19(3): 1499.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s40617-024-01031-y.].

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8. Ganguly J, Magrinelli F, Funcis A, Wong WK, Jurado EA, Latorre A, Bhatia K. AFF2 Repeat Expansion as a Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome Mimic: Expanding the Phenotypic Spectrum of Fragile XE Syndrome. Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2026.

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9. Girolamo T, Rivera D, Greene-Pendelton K, Suhrheinrich J. « It Is Awful for Your Morale »: A Need for Person-Centered Approaches to Speech-Language Services for Autistic Young Adults. Autism. 2026: 13623613261493269.

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10. Haidar BS, Meadan H. Navigating the Transition: Behavior Analysts’ Insights on Supporting Autistic Children Moving From Intensive Behavior Intervention to Public School. Behav Anal Pract. 2026; 19(3): 938-54.

The partnership between Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and schools in transitioning autistic (We intentionally use both identity-first (e.g., « autistic child ») and person-first language (e.g., « child with autism ») to respect the diverse language preferences of autistic individuals, caregivers, and professionals.) children from Intensive Behavioral Intervention (IBI) to public school is not well-documented. This qualitative study used focus groups to explore the experiences of nine BCBAs with this transition, examining facilitators, barriers, current practices, and recommendations for improvement. BCBAs described relationship-building and rapport as essential for successful transitions but noted that limited collaboration, knowledge gaps, and compensation issues often hindered their efforts. To address these barriers, this study provides practical tools to help BCBAs implement best practices and strengthen partnerships with schools. These findings underscore the need for future research and policy development to enhance transition support for autistic learners and their families. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-025-01092-7.

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11. Hata N, Hirai T, Umeda N, Xiao X, Morisseau CH, Hammock BD, Harada T, Okumura A, Nakayasu C, Tsuchiya KJ, Nishimura T, Matsuzaki H. Association of soluble epoxide hydrolase in neonatal cord blood with symptoms of autism spectrum disorder: Hamamatsu Birth Cohort for Mothers and Children (HBC Study). J Psychiatr Res. 2026; 204: 8-16.

OBJECTIVES: Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is involved in regulating neuroinflammation implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) pathophysiology. However, the relevance of perinatal sEH levels to later ASD symptoms remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between umbilical cord blood sEH concentrations and pediatric ASD symptoms. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Hamamatsu Birth Cohort for Mothers and Children, a prospective birth cohort study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure sEH concentrations in umbilical cord serum. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) concentrations were also measured to examine sEH-related inflammatory signaling pathways. ASD symptom severity was assessed at 6 years of age using the autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS). RESULTS: This study included 854 children. Overall, higher sEH concentrations were significantly associated with lower ADOS calibrated severity scores (CSS) after adjustment for confounding factors. In boys, higher sEH concentrations were significantly associated with lower restricted and repetitive behavior, social affect, and CSS scores. In both the overall sample and boys, sEH concentrations negatively correlated with MCP-1 levels. No significant associations were observed in girls. Furthermore, MCP-1 levels were not significantly associated with ADOS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Higher sEH concentrations in umbilical cord blood were associated with lower ASD symptom severity. Thus, sEH-related lipid metabolism may be associated with neurodevelopmental processes linked to ASD symptoms. However, given the observational design of the study, causal relationships remain unclear. Further longitudinal and mechanistic studies are warranted to clarify the role of sEH-related lipid pathways in neurodevelopment.

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12. Hosgoren Alici Y, Özbaran NB, Köse S, Gormez A, Kandeğer A, Algedik P, Erbaş S, Yenice HA, Mançe Çalışır Ö, Hasanli J, Asut G, Mısır E, Torenli ZK, Bağcaz A, Ceran S, Ayraler Taner H, Emekli E, Özel B, Aksoy UM, Tunç S, Buyuksandalcı E, Yazgan Y, Atbaşoğlu C. Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum Scale. Intellect Dev Disabil. 2026: 1-16.

Considering autism as a spectrum, dimensional measures such as the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum) have been increasingly emphasized. The AdAS Spectrum is a self-report questionnaire designed to characterize autistic traits and subthreshold manifestations rather than establish an autism diagnosis. This study aimed to culturally adapt the AdAS Spectrum for the Turkish population and evaluate its validity and reliability. A total of 99 individuals with autism spectrum disorder and 348 typically developing participants were enrolled in the study. Participants completed the AdAS Spectrum, Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), and Empathy Quotient (EQ) scales. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the seven-domain structure of the original AdAS Spectrum (χ(2)/df = 2.058, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.048, comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.952, Tucker-Lewis index [TLI] = 0.946, standardized root mean square residual [SRMR] = 0.038). The scale showed high internal consistency (Kuder-Richardson coefficient [KR-20] = 0.964), good-to-excellent test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.800 through 0.961), and expected associations with another dimensional measure of autistic traits. These findings support the Turkish AdAS Spectrum as a self-report measure for the dimensional characterization of autistic traits in research.

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13. Hou W, Su YE, Li L, Zhou M, Chu X. Contingent Interaction Contributes to Noun Generalization in Preschool Mandarin-Exposed Autistic Children. Autism Res. 2026: e70373.

Although numerous research has shown that joint attention plays a critical role in language development in autistic children, little is known about how it specifically influences the word learning process in this group. This study explored how both the quantity (frequency and duration) and quality (contingent interactions) of initiating joint attention (IJA) and responding to joint attention (RJA) during semistructured parent-child interactions contribute to noun generalization in Mandarin-exposed autistic children. Results revealed that children’s IJA was positively associated with their ability to generalize nouns based on shape and expressive vocabulary, while caregivers’ RJA was linked to autistic children’s shape-based noun generalization. Additionally, child-initiated contingent interactions enhance shape-based noun generalization in autistic children. These findings highlight the importance of both the quantity and quality of joint attention, suggesting that while joint attention broadly facilitates word learning, the temporal coordination of caregiver responses may play an important role in helping autistic children generalize object labels by shape.

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14. Jahandideh P, Bitaraf A. Pathological Priming and Developmental Heterochrony as Organizing Concepts in Human iPSC Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Mol Neurobiol. 2026; 63(1).

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition in which diverse genetic risk factors converge on molecular pathways governing early brain development. Human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and brain organoid models now permit direct interrogation of these pathways in patient-derived neural tissue and, in a subset of studies, reveal alterations in neural progenitor proliferation, cortical neurogenesis, synaptic maturation, and network excitability. A landmark iPSC study in macrocephalic idiopathic ASD introduced the concept of pathological priming of neural progenitors, durable reconfiguration of chromatin and transcriptional states that biases downstream developmental programs, and associated developmental heterochrony in neuronal gene networks, thereby linking early progenitor biology to selectively shifted trajectories of neuronal maturation and to macrostructural and functional abnormalities. This conceptual review synthesizes evidence for pathological priming and developmental heterochrony from human iPSC-derived neurons and brain organoids, focusing on the ASD subgroups in which timing mechanisms are best supported: macrocephalic idiopathic ASD, 16p11.2 and related copy number variants, and large-effect developmental regulators such as SYNGAP1. We summarize recurrent and inconsistent cellular and circuit phenotypes, evaluate multi-omic data implicating progenitor regulatory states in shaping developmental timing, and situate timing-focused mechanisms alongside synaptopathy, excitatory-inhibitory imbalance, critical-period, and neuroimmune models. We propose that disturbances in neurodevelopmental timing characterize specific ASD subgroups, particularly those with early brain overgrowth or large-effect developmental regulators, rather than ASD as a whole, and offer a useful organizing principle for integrating divergent findings and generating testable, timing-informed hypotheses for future experimental and translational work.

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15. Jiang M, Li R, Yang X, Ren Z, Yang Z, Azevedo F, Sharma J, Menegas W, Choi S, Yang L, Li M, Su Z, Zhu L, Guo P, He Z, Huang W, Anteraper S, Dai J, Wang L, Yang S, Desimone R, Feng G, Lu Z. Behavioral phenotypes and neuronal biomarkers in F1 mutant macaque model of SHANK3-associated autism spectrum disorders. Neuron. 2026; 114(19): 3684-99.e5.

Haploinsufficiency of the SHANK3 gene is the primary cause of Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS), a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. We previously reported that founder SHANK3 macaques had behaviors reminiscent of some aspects of PMS. However, insights into behavioral, physiological, and cognitive changes were limited due to the small cohort and mosaicism. We therefore generated a larger, F1 generation of heterozygous SHANK3(+/-) macaques to conduct more thorough studies. We found sleep disturbances, diminished exploration, atypical social interactions, stereotypical behaviors, and altered brain functional connectivity in SHANK3(+/-) macaques. Electroencephalogram recordings revealed a markedly diminished response to auditory stimulation. Cognitively, SHANK3(+/-) monkeys did not show major deficits in working memory tests but exhibited an impaired ability to learn and execute a paired-association memory task. We further developed a multi-task array to systemically evaluate autism-related phenotypes, which revealed the heterogeneity of phenotypes and established potential biomarkers for testing therapeutics.

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16. Khosrofar R, Morshedi I, Behzadpour M, Afzali N, Hosseini RS, Aghili A. Recent Advances in Autism Spectrum Disorder Research on Epigenetics and Personalised Medicine. Int J Dev Neurosci. 2026; 86(6): e70184.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted neurodevelopmental condition characterised by impairments in social interaction and communication, repetitive and restricted patterns of behaviour and atypical sensory processing. Although genetic susceptibility accounts for a substantial proportion of ASD risk, increasing evidence indicates that epigenetic modifications and environmental exposures play pivotal roles in disease development and progression. PURPOSE: This review provides an updated overview of the current understanding of ASD pathogenesis, focusing on the interplay between epigenetic regulation, maternal health and the gut microbiome. It also highlights emerging diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic strategies that have the potential to enhance early diagnosis and improve clinical management. MAIN FINDINGS: Recent studies indicate that maternal immune dysregulation, nutritional status, metabolic disorders and alterations in the maternal gut microbiota during pregnancy may contribute to ASD risk by inducing epigenetic changes and disrupting neurodevelopmental pathways. At the same time, novel pharmacological interventions aimed at alleviating behavioural symptoms and targeting epigenetic mechanisms are being actively explored. Advances in diagnostic technologies, including saliva-based microRNA profiling and epigenetic biomarkers, offer promising opportunities for earlier and more accurate ASD detection. Furthermore, genome-wide analyses and multi-omics approaches are facilitating the development of personalised diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. CONCLUSION: Despite considerable progress in elucidating the genetic and environmental factors associated with ASD, the disorder remains highly heterogeneous and biologically complex. Future research integrating epigenetic insights, microbiome investigations and precision medicine approaches will be crucial for uncovering the underlying molecular mechanisms and translating these discoveries into more effective diagnostic tools and targeted therapies.

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17. Kim SY, Gillespie-Lynch K, Kapp SK, Yang LQ, Wallington AF, Raymaker DM, Moura I, McDonald K, Maslak J, Kripke-Ludwig R, Joyce A, Horner-Johnson W, Frowner E, Baker-Ericzén M, Nicolaidis C. Self- and Caregiver-Reported Choice-Making in Autistic Adults: Development and Validation of the AASPIRE-Choices and Decisions Scale. Autism Res. 2026: e70374.

Self-determination has been assessed as an internal psychological construct. External factors may also affect self-determination, but opportunities to make choices and decisions remain understudied. We developed and evaluated the AASPIRE-Choices and Decisions Scale (AASPIRE-CDS), a new measure of autistic adults’ opportunities to make choices and decisions, using a community-based participatory approach. We created and refined the AASPIRE-CDS through an iterative process. Data from the AASPIRE Outcomes Project included 839 autistic adults participating through direct report, direct-report caregiver-supported, and caregiver report (CR). Exploratory and confirmatory analyses supported a unidimensional structure. Measurement invariance analyses supported configural, metric, and partial scalar invariance across report type without CR, and across living status, with and without CR. The AASPIRE-CDS showed high internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and preliminary responsiveness to change over time. Convergent validity analyses showed that higher AASPIRE-CDS scores were associated with greater self-determination and communication fluency, more independent living, and fewer support needs. The AASPIRE-CDS showed weaker (albeit significant) associations with quality of life, overall health, and employment satisfaction than the self-determination measure showed with these variables. This pattern suggests that opportunities for choice-making are related to, but distinct from, commonly used measures of self-determination. Findings support the AASPIRE-CDS as a valid and reliable measure of choice-making opportunities in autistic adults across support needs but suggest caution interpreting CR. They underscore the importance of supporting autistic adults’ choice-making and evaluating opportunities for choice alongside internal self-determination. Future research should use larger CR samples to examine the validity of caregiver-reported choice-making opportunities. Self‐determination means having control over your own life and being able to make choices. We created a new measure to better understand whether autistic adults have real opportunities to make their own choices in everyday life. Findings show the importance of giving autistic adults the support they need to make choices and making sure they have real opportunities to make choices. eng.

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18. Liang S, Zhang Z, Du W, Gu F. A multi-atlas ensemble learning framework for autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Biomed Phys Eng Express. 2026; 12(5).

Objective.Clinical autism spectrum disorder (ASD) relies on subjective scales and neuroimaging, with traditional approaches suffering from high subjectivity and insufficient feature extraction, increasing misdiagnoses risk.Approach.To improve the diagnostic accuracy, we propose a multimodal ASD prediction network (APN) that integrates resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging with non-imaging data. Algorithmically, we first introduce a novel cumulative distribution divergence score (CDDS) feature selection method based on the multi-atlas functional connectivity (FC), which quantifies statistical distributional differences between positive and negative samples, effectively addressing the limitations of the traditionalF-score in overlapping or weakly discriminative features. Building upon this, we adapt existing deep learning (DL) paradigms to construct a deep neural architecture (variational autoencoder-denoising autoencoder (VAEA)), combining a variational autoencoder (VAE), a denoising autoencoder, and a multilayer perceptron. The combination of these modules is non-trivial: the novel CDDS first purifies the high-dimensional feature space, enabling the VAEA to learn robust latent probabilistic representations via unsupervised pre-training without suffering from the curse of dimensionality. This is followed by the supervised fine-tuning to optimize parameters. We further incorporate demographic factors including age, full-scale intelligence quotient, and gender via a late-fusion strategy to prevent them from being overshadowed by imaging features, thereby enhancing the discriminability. FC features from three atlases including AAL, CC400, and Dosenbach160 are weighted and integrated to achieve the effective multi-source fusion.Main results.We conduct 10-fold cross-validations on the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) dataset, and the proposed APN achieves 81.63% accuracy, 81.89% sensitivity and 81.46% specificity, significantly outperforming state-of-the-art methods. Interpretability analysis identifies hippocampus, amygdala, and cingulate gyrus as strongly ASD-associated regions, offering neural mechanistic insights.Significance.This study provides an efficient, objective, and interpretable multimodal DL framework for ASD assisted diagnosis, with substantial clinical application and neuroscience value.

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19. Linnehan AM. Teaching Autistic Adolescents to Identify Fear and Anger: A Preliminary Study. Behav Anal Pract. 2026; 19(3): 1272-86.

Individuals with a diagnosis of autism are often reported to have challenges recognizing emotions in themselves and others, and many teaching programs for emotional recognition utilize facial expressions as an emotional indicator of what is felt. Although facial expression is an important component, research suggests emotions are not universally expressed. Initial steps in teaching emotion recognition may require teaching both the shared meaning of the emotion words used within a given environmental context and the effects these words produce on the verbal community. The present study employed a concept analysis of « fear » and « anger, » from which rational sets of examples and non-examples were created. Four cis-gender, adolescent, male learners diagnosed with autism were shown computer animations of examples and non-examples of fear and anger and asked to provide the emotion word and describe the corresponding contingency. A test-revise-test control analysis was used to make iterative changes in the program until the learners emitted correct responses when shown novel exemplars. Baseline and test scores indicate that learner behavior was controlled by the instructional program, demonstrating learners identified and tracked changes in the depicted environments that led to descriptions of fear and anger. This study illustrates how data-driven refinements and instructional design methodologies can lead to carefully sequenced, individualized, efficient teaching procedures for individuals with autism. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-025-01129-x.

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20. Lopez K, Dueñas AD, Schuck RK. Editorial: Diversity and equity in autism research. Front Psychiatry. 2026; 17: 1974136.

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21. Mahajan GB. Gut microbiome modulation by diet and lifestyle in kidney stone disease and autism spectrum disorder: emerging mechanisms and translational prospects. Front Microbiomes. 2026; 5: 1901989.

BACKGROUND: The gut microbiome occupies a central position in mediating the physiological consequences of diet, lifestyle, and physical activity. While this interplay is broadly recognized, its mechanistic consequences in two clinically underserved conditions-urolithiasis (kidney stone disease) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-remain poorly explained. Both conditions share convergent pathophysiology rooted in metabolic dysregulation, impaired epithelial barrier function, immune dysregulation, and altered microbial metabolite profiles, all of which are modifiable through dietary and behavioral interventions. METHODS: This minireview synthesizes current evidence from clinical, epidemiological, and mechanistic studies to evaluate the bidirectional relationship between gut microbial ecology and disease pathogenesis in urolithiasis and ASD, with emphasis on dietary compounds, fermented foods, probiotics, and lifestyle behaviors as modulatory factors. RESULTS: In urolithiasis, evidence implicates reduced abundance of oxalate-degrading taxa (notably Oxalobacter formigenes), dysbiotic short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles, and urinary microbiome perturbations in stone formation and recurrence. In ASD, microbial alterations in gastrointestinal-symptomatic individuals converge on reduced butyrate-producing taxa, elevated pro-inflammatory species, and altered serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) biosynthetic pathways. CONCLUSION: Dietary interventions-particularly high-fiber regimens, polyphenol-rich foods, fermented products, and targeted probiotic formulations-show mechanistic plausibility for microbiome restoration in both conditions. However, clinical translation is constrained by methodological heterogeneity, confounding lifestyle variables, and a paucity of longitudinal, mechanistically anchored trials. We outline a research agenda prioritizing standardized multi-omics, paired gut-urine sampling protocols, and rigorously controlled dietary interventions to bridge this gap.

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22. Ning X, Yu Z, Liu L, Xie X, Guo L. Salidroside regulates hippocampal neuronal autophagy in ASD mice via the SIRT2/FoxO1 pathway. Brain Res Bull. 2026; 246: 112161.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by neuronal dysfunction and impaired autophagy. Salidroside (SAL), a bioactive component derived from Rhodiola, exhibits neuroprotective activity; however, its effects and mechanisms in ASD remain largely unknown. Here, we examined the effects of SAL on valproic acid (VPA)-induced neuronal injury and ASD-related behaviors and assessed the role of the sirtuin 2 (SIRT2)/forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) pathway. VPA-induced HT22 cell injury models and ASD mouse models were used in this study. HT22 cells were exposed to 2 mM VPA and treated with 20 μM SAL, with AGK2 applied for SIRT2 inhibition. ASD mice received SAL administration from postnatal day 21 for 14 days, and AK-7 was used to further evaluate SIRT2 involvement. VPA exposure decreased HT22 cell viability, caused neuronal damage, increased autophagosome accumulation, and induced ASD-like behaviors in mice, including impaired social interaction, enhanced repetitive grooming, and reduced exploratory activity. SAL treatment improved cell viability, alleviated neuronal damage, attenuated autophagy-related changes, and improved behavioral abnormalities, whereas these effects were partially blocked by AGK2 or AK-7. Furthermore, SAL reversed VPA-induced alterations in autophagy-related proteins, including decreased Beclin-1 and LC3 expression and increased p62 expression, while restoring SIRT2, FoxO1, NeuN, and MAP2 levels and reducing the Ac-FoxO1/FoxO1 ratio in HT22 cells and hippocampal tissues. These findings indicate that SAL protects against VPA-induced neuronal injury and ASD-related behavioral deficits, which are associated with changes in the SIRT2/FoxO1 pathway and autophagy-related processes.

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23. Papastavridou D, Baldimtsi E, Katsiana A, Tsolaki M. Effects of High-Phenolic Extra Virgin Olive Oil on Sensory Processing in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study. Int J Dev Neurosci. 2026; 86(6): e70181.

No approved treatments currently exist for the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), prompting clinicians and families to seek alternative approaches, including dietary and nutritional interventions. The Mediterranean diet (MeDi), characterized by a high intake of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components, is associated with improved health outcomes and reduced risk of chronic diseases. A key element of the MeDi is extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), which is rich in bioactive phenolics, including oleocanthal, oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol. Through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, EVOO may contribute to regulating pathological processes in both the central nervous system (CNS) and the gastrointestinal tract, offering a promising avenue for pharmacological and nutritional intervention in children with ASD. This pilot study investigated the effects of a three-month intervention combining the MeDi with EVOO supplementation on ASD symptoms. Ten children diagnosed with ASD aged 5.00-11.7 years, all boys, were recruited from Northern Greece. The changes in social interaction and communication were evaluated using standardized instruments: the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), Word Finding Vocabulary Test (WFVT), Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and the Sensory Profile (SP). Paired-sample t-tests revealed significant improvements post-intervention in SRS (p = 0.034), ADI-R A (p = 0.008), WFVT (p = 0.020) and ADI-R B (p = 0.022) scores. These findings suggest that EVOO supplementation may reduce the severity of social deficits and enhance communication skills in children with ASD.

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24. Perovic A, Ferré S, Manenti M, Novogrodsky R, Panzeri F, Prévost P, Tuller L, Schaeffer J. On markers of linguistic impairment in autism and their implementation. J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2026.

Language abilities in autism show considerable variability across linguistic domains: vocabulary, grammar/structural language, and pragmatics (language in context) may be affected to differing degrees and not always simultaneously, as is the case in other neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs), e.g. Down syndrome, Williams syndrome, or Developmental Language Disorder. This selective review synthesises empirical markers of language impairment across linguistic domains in autism, sometimes in comparison to other NDCs, while also evaluating theoretically driven assessment tools, both established and currently under development, that implement these markers. Core linguistic markers across the autism spectrum include ‘social pragmatic’ difficulties, i.e. challenges with irony comprehension, referential expression use, and narrative coherence. Impairment in grammar/structural language, such as morphosyntax (e.g., tense marking, passives, relative clauses) and phonology (e.g., consonant clusters, as in str), is observed in a substantial subset of autistic individuals and many other NDCs. Aspects of ‘linguistic pragmatics,’ such as understanding metaphor and indirect requests, tend to be impaired mainly in autistic individuals who also have structural language difficulties. Other challenges have been reported, including in prosody, semantics and lexical-pragmatics (e.g., mental state terms such as think, fear, happy), but remain underexplored. We further evaluate several existing and emerging screening tools that target specific linguistic markers and accommodate a wide range of populations, including males and females, multilingual speakers, minimally speaking individuals, and those with varying intellectual abilities. Grounded in theoretical linguistics, these tools are designed to facilitate detailed profiling of language strengths and challenges in autism. Their cross-linguistic design and applicability make them well-suited for cross-syndrome comparisons and the development of tailored interventions.

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25. Rodríguez Gutiérrez DA, Cárdenas Prieto R, Rueda-Gaitán P, Gomez-Lopera N, Estrada-Serrato C, Isaza-Ruget M, López Rivera JJ. Phenotypic Complexity and Diagnostic Utility of Exome Sequencing in ASD: Real-World Insights from Colombia. Int J Mol Sci. 2026; 27(19).

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a genetically heterogeneous condition; however, genomic data from Latin American populations remain limited. We investigated the molecular and phenotypic landscape of ASD in 916 Colombian patients who underwent whole-exome sequencing (WES) between 2022 and 2025. Clinical and genomic data were retrospectively analyzed, and phenotypes were standardized using Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) terms. Variants were classified per ACMG/ClinGen guidelines, and we assessed phenotypic burden, predictors of molecular diagnosis, copy number variants (CNVs), and functional convergence of candidate genes. A molecular diagnosis was identified in 112 patients (12.2%), including 82 with variants in ASD-associated genes or regions and 30 with findings related to other clinical features. We identified 16 novel pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants, along with 10 CNVs. Among trio-based patients, 70.9% of molecular diagnoses were de novo. Higher phenotypic burden was associated with molecular diagnosis, and global developmental delay was the strongest predictor after correction for multiple testing. Functional enrichment analysis of candidate genes showed convergence on pathways related to neuronal development, synaptic function, and ion transport. These findings highlight the genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of ASD and support the value of integrating standardized genomic and phenotypic characterization in Colombian populations.

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26. Roper S, Barbinta A, Quinton AMG, Charlton RA, Happé F, Stewart GR. Sleep Problems and Mental Health in Middle-Aged and Older Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2026; 41(10): e70259.

BACKGROUND: Sleep is a vital biological function, and impaired sleep can lead to a range of problems, including poor health and wellbeing. Poor sleep and higher rates of sleep-related problems and difficulties are often reported by autistic people of all ages, however, these experiences and problems have seldom been studied in diagnosed autistic populations in midlife and old age. METHODS: This study used data from the first wave of the AgeWellAutism cohort, from a sample of 265 autistic and 167 age- and gender-matched non-autistic adults aged 40-93 years (mean = ∼60 years; ∼50% female). Participants completed widely used and standardised measures of sleep quality and mental health symptoms. RESULTS: The autistic group reported significantly greater sleep problems than the non-autistic group, with poorer overall sleep across all domains (all p < 0.001), with autistic women reporting greatest difficulties. The largest differences between groups were observed in sleep disturbances and daytime dysfunction (χ(2) = 101.8 and 95.1, respectively, both p < 0.001). These differences remained significant after controlling for age and symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD. Across both groups, poorer sleep was associated with older age and higher levels of anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms, with a stronger association between sleep problems and anxiety symptoms in the autistic group. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with prior autism trait-based research in the general population, middle-aged and older autistic adults report more extensive sleep problems and worse sleep quality than non-autistic adults. Sleep problems were associated with older age and poorer mental health. Though the study is cross-sectional, the findings highlight the need to explore causal links through intervention. Addressing anxiety, and mental health problems more broadly, may improve sleep quality in ageing autistic populations.

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27. Sikora V, Bove M, Agosti LP, Palmieri RP, Zafar M, Tucci P, Morgese MG, Schiavone S, Trabace L. Effects of lifelong sulforaphane intake on behavioural, neurochemical and biomolecular dysfunctions in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J mouse model of autism spectrum disorders. Br J Pharmacol. 2026.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are multifactorial neurodevelopmental conditions associated with oxidative stress and neuroinflammation across critical developmental periods. Sulforaphane (SFN), a natural compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, is a potential therapeutic strategy for ASD-related alterations. Therefore, we investigated the effects of lifelong SFN exposure on behavioural, neurochemical and biomolecular dysfunctions in BTBR T + Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) male and female mice. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Self-Grooming, Marble Burying, Hole Board, Open Field and Social Interaction tests were conducted on C57BL/6 and BTBR male and female mice, fed standard or SFN-enriched diet. Moreover, we quantified cortical levels of neurochemical, redox and neuroinflammatory biomarkers, and plasma proinflammatory cytokines. KEY RESULTS: Lifelong SFN-enriched diet attenuated stereotyped repertoire, improved exploratory activity and social interactions in both BTBR sexes. SFN decreased cortical serotonergic-, noradrenergic- and kynurenine-pathway-related alterations selectively in BTBR males. SFN supplementation enhanced cortical levels of NRF2, NRF2 DNA-binding activity, haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) 1 in both BTBR sexes, elevated SOD activity in males and glutathione levels in females, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in males, without affecting NRF2 phosphorylation and kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (KEAP1). Furthermore, SFN intake rescued central and peripheral IL-6 and TNF-α levels in BTBR mice of both sexes, while reducing IL-1β and IL-17A levels in males. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our findings suggest that lifelong SFN supplementation ameliorates ASD-like behavioural phenotypes in male and female BTBR mice and reveal sex-specific differences in mitigating biomolecular alterations, thereby pointing towards SFN’s potential in sex/gender-personalized preventive and therapeutic approaches.

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28. Suman P, Kaur J, Pal S, Mehta A, Prajapati J. Effectiveness of Parent-mediated Intervention Versus Standard Therapist-based Intervention in Indian Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2026.

OBJECTIVE: The global prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased substantially in recent decades. In India, prevalence estimates range from 0.74% to 1.68% among children aged 2 to 6 years. Therapist-based interventions are resource-intensive and impractical in low- and middle-income countries. Parent-mediated interventions (PMIs) offer an alternative; however, Indian comparative data are limited. This RCT compared the effectiveness of the Value-based, Quality interaction, Unique for the child, Responsive and Adapted for family (VQURA), a PMI, with standard Therapist-Based Intervention in young children with ASD. METHODS: This prospective RCT included 24 to 36-month-old children fulfilling DSM-5 criteria for ASD. Participants were randomized to either the Parent-Mediated Intervention group, involving parent-delivered intervention with therapist guidance, or the Therapist-Based Intervention group, involving therapist-led sessions. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and 6 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Vineland Social Maturity Scale (VSMS), and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. Both interventions resulted in significant within-group improvements across developmental domains. The PMI group demonstrated significantly greater reductions in autism symptom severity (CARS score mean change -4.40 vs -2.60; p = 0.005) and larger gains in social and adaptive functioning (VSMS Social Quotient +17.22 vs +11.18; p = 0.015). Longitudinal analysis confirmed superior improvement trajectories for PMI in autism severity (p = 0.005) and social functioning (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: The VQURA Parent-Mediated Intervention was more effective than therapist-based intervention in improving autism severity and social functioning, supporting its use as a scalable early intervention model in resource limited settings.

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29. Xu L, Zhang JY, Huang HB, Huang YY, Chen YY, Wu Y, Wei R, Zhong H, Yan BQ, Lv HT, Jin H. Mapping the knowledge structure and emerging trends of blood-based biomarkers in autism spectrum disorder: A bibliometric analysis (2016-2026). IBRO Neurosci Rep. 2026; 21: 884-900.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a clinically heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition, and its diagnosis still relies mainly on behavioral assessment. Blood-based biomarkers may provide objective support for early detection, biological subgrouping, clinical monitoring, and individualized intervention. However, findings in this field remain dispersed across multiple biological pathways. This study aimed to map the knowledge structure and emerging trends of ASD blood-based biomarker research. METHODS: Publications on ASD blood-based biomarkers from 2016 to 2026 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. After duplicate removal and eligibility screening, 1785 English-language articles and reviews were included. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Microsoft Excel were used to examine publication trends, collaboration networks, influential journals and authors, co-cited references, keyword clusters, and citation bursts. RESULTS: Research output increased steadily, with the United States and China contributing the largest number of publications and the United States showing stronger international connectivity. Co-cited reference and keyword analyses identified oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, gut microbiota, metabolomics, mitochondrial respiration, and gastrointestinal symptoms as major knowledge clusters. Recent burst terms, including machine learning, Mendelian randomization, gut-brain axis, innate immunity, sex differences, and neurological disorders, indicate a shift toward causal inference, multi-omics integration, and data-driven biomarker prediction. CONCLUSIONS: ASD blood-based biomarker research has grown steadily over the past decade and is moving from descriptive clinical observations toward mechanistic, multi-omics, and computational approaches. Oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, gut-brain interactions, inflammatory responses, and machine learning-based prediction now represent major directions in this field. Future studies should focus on multicenter longitudinal cohorts, standardized analytical workflows, detailed clinical phenotyping, and independent validation to improve reproducibility and support clinical translation.

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30. Yan C, Zhu G, Liang S, Zhao Y, Chen W, Xia Q, Jian J, Wang Z, Zhang B, Ao L. Feasibility and Safety of Transcranial Focused Ultrasound on Language Impairment in a Patient with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Report. Int Med Case Rep J. 2026; 19: 653087.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined by persistent difficulties with social communication and language, and a subset of children stay minimally verbal despite intensive interventions. The left amygdala and ventral-anterior superior temporal sulcus (STSva) form a key circuit for social-language integration, but how transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) might modulate in minimally verbal ASD has not been explored. CASE PRESENTATION: An 11-year-old minimally verbal ASD boy received 4 weeks of sequential tFUS stimulation (0.5 MHz). The treatment targeted the left amygdala and STSva, five times per week. Outcome assessments included the Mandarin Clinical Evaluation of Language for Preschoolers’ Core Scale (MCELP-CS), Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) at pre-tFUS, post-tFUS, and a 4-week follow-up. The boy tolerated the intervention well, with no adverse events. Significant improvements in key language skills (vocabulary naming +10%, sentence structure imitation +22%) and reduced ASD symptoms (ABC language -40%, social interaction -26%) were observed post-tFUS and sustained at follow-up. fNIRS confirmed altered cortical activation and reorganized functional connectivity in language-related brain regions. CONCLUSION: This single-case observational report describes acceptable tolerance to sequential tFUS targeting the left amygdala-STSva circuit in a minimally verbal child with ASD, alongside concomitant behavioural and neuroimaging changes. These preliminary observations provide descriptive, hypothesis-generating data for this circuit-directed intervention strategy and highlight the necessity of larger controlled trials to further evaluate its potential clinical utility.

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31. Yingling ME, Hamilton J, Nastally BL, Dubuque EM. Estimating Network Adequacy of Autism Service Providers in Affordable Care Act Markets. Behav Anal Pract. 2026; 19(3): 955-66.

In the past two decades, behavioral health care for children on the autism spectrum has changed considerably. As demand for applied behavior analysis (ABA) services escalated, government policies broadened health insurance coverage and the number of Board Certified Behavior Analysts increased. Yet, the network adequacy of these providers is unknown. Applying new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) distance standards, we estimated county-level network adequacy in Affordable Care Act plan markets. All states had at least one county estimate out of compliance with distance standards. In 43 states and DC, the median per county estimate of adequacy was less than 50%, and in 29 of these states, it was less than 20%. Only 12 of 3143 (~0.38%) county estimates met CMS standards. Amid new adequacy standards, estimates suggest that the vast majority of ABA provider networks remain inadequate, which may disadvantage autistic enrollees who seek behavioral health services. As policymakers, providers, funders, and consumers work to improve access to autism services nationally, the present study contributes a prototype of measuring adequacy for ABA service providers that can be used in other US health insurance markets. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-025-01103-7.

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