1. Alday KG, Pellegrino A, Faja S. Executive Functioning Corresponds With Expression of Autism Features Among Preschoolers. J Autism Dev Disord;2026 (Jan 10)

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between executive functioning (EF) and core features associated with autism in children aged 2 and 4 years. EF encompasses a set of goal-directed skills that enable organized thoughts and behavior which develop rapidly during the preschool period. To examine concurrent associations between EF and early autism expression, we analyzed whether EF performance relates to observed social communication and repetitive behaviors during parent-child interactions. METHODS: Participants included 110 autistic children aged 24 to 60 months diagnosed with autism. Developmental and cognitive abilities were assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. Social communication and repetitive behaviors associated with autism were coded from 10-minute free play parent-child videos using the Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC), yielding total social communication, restricted/repetitive behaviors scores, and overall total scores. An EF score was derived from a test battery that included measurements of set-shifting, working memory, inhibition, and delay. Regression analyses were conducted to assess EF’s contribution to autism expression, controlling for cognitive ability. RESULTS: For 2-year-olds, EF was not related to observed autism behaviors after controlling for cognition. Conversely, for 4-year-olds, EF related to overall behaviors associated with autism observed during parent-child interactions. CONCLUSION: Findings of an association between EF and autism-related behaviors observed in parent-child interactions by preschool at age 4 but not in toddlerhood at age 2 highlight potential developmental differences in the relation between EF and autism-related behaviors. Longitudinal and experimental research is needed to establish directionality and malleability of EF and autism-related behaviors.

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2. Cesco M, Garzitto M, Croccia V, Bier F, Saetti L, Balestrieri M, Colizzi M. Eating Disorders and Autistic Traits Camouflaging: Insights from the EAT Study. Nutrients;2025 (Dec 21);18(1)

BACKGROUND: Feeding and eating disorders (FEDs) often present in comorbidity with other psychiatric conditions, with a growing body of evidence underscoring their association with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Individuals with ASD or significant autistic traits (ATs), especially females, often engage in camouflaging strategies to mask their symptoms. However, empirical research on the role of camouflaging within this association is still emerging. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of ATs in individuals with FEDs and to examine their connection with psychological well-being, along with the role of camouflaging as a potential mediator in this association. METHODS: A total of 131 individuals with FEDs were assessed through a medical record review, a socio-demographic form, and self-administered questionnaires evaluating FEDs symptoms (EDI-3) and ASD-related features (RAADS-R, AQ, EQ, CAT-Q). RESULTS: In total, 16% of patients scored above the possible high ATs in clinical settings (whereas 53% exceeded the original cut-off) and 25% showed significant camouflaging, without differences between FED diagnoses. ATs were associated with both FED symptom severity and general maladjustment. Importantly, the latter was not directly explained by ATs themselves, but was mediated separately by camouflaging and FED symptomatology. After statistical adjustments, the parallel mediating pathways contributed similarly (48% and 52%). CONCLUSIONS: A considerable subset of individuals with FEDs presents significant ATs, with camouflaging arguably linked to psychological distress through a pathway parallel to that of FED symptomatology. This overlap between FEDs and ASD may be clinically meaningful, highlighting the potential importance of assessing ATs and camouflaging to support personalized diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

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3. Chen Y, Tsou M, Nelson CA, Tager-Flusberg H, Wilkinson CL. Resting state aperiodic and periodic EEG activity in preschool-aged autistic children: differences from neurotypical peers and links to language skills. Mol Autism;2026 (Jan 10)

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4. Clark-Whitney E, Tully LA, Turnell AI, Leonard BE, Moelle EC, Dadds MR. Systematic review of measures and interventions for caregiver adjustment to child autism diagnosis. Autism;2026 (Jan 10):13623613251407305.

Caregivers’ adjustment to their child’s autism diagnosis has important implications for child and caregiver outcomes. However, there has been substantial variability in definitions and measurement of caregiver adjustment to autism diagnosis. This study reports a systematic review of measures of caregivers’ adjustment to their child’s autism diagnosis, and the effectiveness of intervention for caregiver adjustment. A systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42023463196) was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Adjustment was defined as caregivers’ psychological response to their child’s autism diagnosis. Database searches yielded 6345 unique articles, which were title and abstract screened. Full text screening was completed for 428 articles. Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to assess study quality. The review identified 78 articles, which included 42 measures of adjustment and eight interventions targeting adjustment, four of which produced significant improvement in adjustment. Study quality was mostly adequate. The review identified a need for consensus on defining and measuring caregiver adjustment. The review also identified the need for fathers, caregivers who are autistic, and caregivers of adults to be more included in adjustment research. There is preliminary evidence for interventions supporting adjustment, but further research is needed.Lay abstractThe process of understanding and accepting a child’s diagnosis of autism, known as adjustment, is important for the ongoing well-being of autistic people and their caregivers. The way that researchers have defined and measured adjustment has not been consistent. This article reports a systematic review aiming to identify how adjustment has been defined and measured in published research. The review also aimed to identify interventions that have targeted caregiver adjustment and see whether they are effective. The review identified 78 articles, which included 42 measures of adjustment and eight interventions. Four of the interventions demonstrated significant benefits for adjustment. There is a need for further research to develop a consensus regarding definition and measurement of adjustment, so that adjustment can be measured more consistently across studies. There is also a need for research looking at whether existing interventions for autism have benefits for caregiver adjustment, and to conduct more rigorous evaluations of any new adjustment interventions that are developed.

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5. Conti MV, Breda C, Zambon I, Basilico S, Ruggeri S, Scalvedi ML, Antonazzi F, Cena H. AUT-MENU Project: A Bicentric Intervention Study to Improve the Meal Acceptance of Subjects with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Nutrients;2026 (Jan 4);18(1)

Background/Objectives: Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often exhibit low dietary diversity due to Food Selectivity (FS), leading to various forms of malnutrition, such as obesity and/or micronutrient deficiencies. The main objective of the AUT-MENU project is to improve meal acceptance among individuals with ASD. A secondary goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of a nutrition education course for parents of enrolled participants to reduce FS. Methods: The study is a bicentric intervention conducted in three care centers (Northern area, Pavia and Milan) and one secondary school (Southern area, Rome), involving individuals with ASD aged 3 to 35 years. The study consists of an observational phase (T0) and an intervention phase (T1). At T0, biographical data, clinical characteristics, and dietary patterns of participants are collected. Based on T0 findings and existing nutritional recommendations for ASD individuals, targeted menus are developed and tested. At T1, the same assessment tools used at T0 will be applied to evaluate intervention effects. Additionally, a nutrition education course for caregivers will be implemented between T0 and T1, with a pre- and post-course knowledge questionnaire to assess its effectiveness. Results: This paper reports the results from the care centers in the Northern Area. Conclusions: Menu adaptations, developed according to individual preferences and nutritional guidelines, did not significantly modify food consumption but were well tolerated, allowing for an improvement in the nutritional profile of meals without reducing acceptability. These findings support the feasibility of implementing tailored menu strategies in collective catering for individuals with ASD.

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6. Cukier SH, Maglio A, Berman J, Arduini M, Barrios N, Ngue M, Montiel C, Ferrea ME, Gutson K, Zieba E, Menassé M, Grodberg D. [Not Available]. Vertex;2026 (Jan 10);36(170, oct.-dic.):14-30.

Introducción: El examen del estado mental en autismo (AMSE, por sus siglas en inglés) es un instrumento breve completado por el clínico que estructura la observación y documentación de los signos y características socio-comunicativas y conductuales del autismo. En su versión original en inglés demostró alta precisión en la identificación del trastorno del espectro autista (TEA). El presente estudio explora la sensibilidad y especificidad de una versión de AMSE en lengua española en una muestra argentina de 313 sujetos, frente al diagnóstico de consenso clínico utilizando los criterios del DSM-5. Materiales y métodos: Se calcularon los valores de corte mediante el análisis de la curva ROC (Característica Operativa del Receptor por sus siglas en inglés: Receiver Operating Characteristic), identificando la sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo (VPP) y valor predictivo negativo (VPN) correspondientes. La homogeneidad interna de los ítems fue evaluada a través del coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. Asimismo, se calculó el coeficiente Kappa de Cohen para estimar la confiabilidad interevaluador. Resultados: Los hallazgos indican una sensibilidad optimizada del 90,71 % y una especificidad del 92,17 % para esta muestra de 313 pacientes. AMSE mostró una consistencia interna aceptable de .75 y una alta confiabilidad entre evaluadores (K = .97). Discusión y conclusiones: AMSE se perfila como una herramienta prometedora para la evaluación diagnóstica de TEA en niños, adolescentes y adultos en riesgo, destacándose por su alta utilidad clínica. Su aplicación es especialmente relevante en regiones como América Latina, donde el acceso a la capacitación y uso de las escalas que son estándar de oro es limitado. Estos resultados respaldan el uso de AMSE como una herramienta diagnóstica breve, confiable y culturalmente adaptada para apoyar el diagnóstico clínico de autismo en contextos de habla hispana con recursos limitados.

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7. Han E, Canada KA, Puglia MH, Pelphrey KA, Evans TM. The Convergence of Early-Life Stress and Autism Spectrum Disorder on the Epigenetics of Genes Key to the HPA Axis. Biology (Basel);2025 (Dec 30);15(1)

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) arises from complex genetic and environmental influences. Despite its prevalence and being the focus of study for several decades, its causes and their underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. However, one consistent causal mechanism of interest is epigenetic modification. While some risk factors, such as maternal stress, nutrition, and environmental toxins, have a more established epigenetic connection, early-life stress (ELS) in the postnatal years is less studied but may be just as impactful in terms of phenotypic outcomes. A major intermediary between ELS and ASD is likely the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis), which has been shown to be epigenetically modified by ELS and whose genes and dysfunction overlap with ASD genes and symptoms. In this narrative review, we synthesize human and animal evidence to examine the relationships between ELS and ASD through epigenetic regulation of a non-exhaustive list of autism candidate genes involved in the HPA axis, including NR3C1, FKBP5, MECP2, GAD1, RELN, SHANK3, OXTR, and BDNF. We discuss how ELS-induced epigenetics may modulate HPA axis negative feedback, and how epigenetic alterations in this pathway and associated genes could affect ASD phenotypes.

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8. Hickman LJ, Fraser DS, Galea JM, Happé F, Cook JL. An assessment of autistic and parkinsonian movement profiles to inform selective classification algorithms. J Neurodev Disord;2026 (Jan 10)

BACKGROUND: Movement differences in autism have attracted growing attention in recent years. Anecdotally, autistic movement has been likened to that of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Given that PD assessments are primarily movement-based, it is important to ensure that autistic individuals are not scoring highly on PD diagnostic criteria due to autism-related movement differences. Quantifying overlap in movement profiles and identifying distinguishing features is essential, particularly given increased PD diagnosis rates in the autistic population. METHODS: We conducted the first direct comparison study of autistic and parkinsonian movement. Autistic individuals (N = 31), individuals with PD (N = 32) and control participants (N = 31) completed a Shapes Tracing Task and a Reaction Time Task. Kinematic features were compared between groups and classification algorithms were run to distinguish between groups. RESULTS: Groups were distinguishable based on kinematic features. The autistic group differed from both PD and control groups in speed modulation and sub-movements, and from the PD group in reaction time. Classification algorithms for clinical (autism and PD) versus non-clinical groups, and for autism versus PD, were most accurate when combining kinematic and questionnaire data. There were no kinematic similarities between autism and PD that were also distinct from controls. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst kinematic features did not appear similar between autism and PD, they were informative for group classification. This proof-of-concept study highlights that movement-based metrics may aid in identifying whether someone belongs to a clinical group, and which one – suggesting potential for refining diagnostic approaches for both autism and PD.

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9. Huang J, Liao J, Chen X, Lin G, De Y, Shangguan H, Tao W. Deletion of Glutamate Delta 1 Receptor Leads to Heterogeneous Transcription and Synaptic Gene Alterations Across Brain Regions. Int J Mol Sci;2025 (Dec 20);27(1)

Glutamate delta 1 receptor (GluD1) has various functional roles in the brain, such as high-frequency hearing, synapse formation and maintenance, and regulation of cognition disorders and neurodevelopmental disease. However, the underlying molecular mechanism, especially at the genetic level, remains to be elucidated. In this study, we use transcriptomics analysis to define the genetic impact of GluD1 across the brain regions in GluD1 knockout mice. Our results show that GluD1 deletion induced pronounced differences in gene expression both across the four brain regions (cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, and striatum) and the distinct hippocampal subregions. Despite differences in transcriptional profiles, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across all four brain regions show significant enrichment in synaptic signaling pathways, highlighting the critical role of GluD1 in synaptic function. The GluD1 interaction network and its downstream target genes are closely linked to the pathogenesis of intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). In conclusion, our work reveals that GluD1 deletion leads to brain-region-specific transcriptional changes and establishes a genetic link between the interaction network with GluD1 and the risk genes for ID and ASD.

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10. Kolisnyk M, Lyons K, Choi EJ, Vandewouw MM, Stojanoski B, Anagnostou E, Kushki A, Nicolson R, Kelley E, Georgiades S, Lerch J, Crosbie J, Schachar R, Ayub M, Jones J, Arnold P, Liu X, Stevenson R. Decoding the neural basis of sensory phenotypes in autism. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging;2026 (Jan 10)

BACKGROUND: Differences in sensory processing are a defining characteristic of autism, affecting up to 87% of autistic individuals. These differences cause widespread perceptual changes that can negatively impact cognition, development, and daily functioning. Our research identified five sensory processing ‘phenotypes’ with varied behavioural presentations; however, their neural basis remains unclear. This study aims to ground these sensory phenotypes in unique patterns of functional connectivity. METHODS: We analyzed data from 146 autistic participants from the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Network. We classified participants into five sensory phenotypes using k-means clustering of scores from the Short Sensory Profile. We then computed a connectivity matrix from 200 cortical and 32 subcortical regions and calculated graph-theoretic measures (betweenness centrality, strength, local efficiency, and clustering coefficient) to assess information exchange between these regions. We then trained machine learning models to use these measures to classify between all pairs of sensory phenotypes. RESULTS: Our sample was clustered into five sensory phenotypes. The machine learning models distinguished seven of the ten total pairs of sensory phenotypes using graph-theoretic measures (p < 0.005). Information exchange within and between the somatomotor network, orbitofrontal cortex, posterior parietal cortex, prefrontal cortex and subcortical areas was predictive of sensory phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: Sensory phenotypes in autism correspond to differences in functional connectivity across cortical, subcortical, and network levels. These findings support the view that variability in sensory processing is reflected in measurable neural patterns and motivate continued work to refine models of sensory processing, with the goal of better understanding and capturing the heterogeneity implicit in autism.

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11. Li C, Wei L, Chen W, Ran G, Liu L, Li Z, Song A, Liu M, Huang D, Tang K, Zeng X, Wang L. Cell death-associated genes as novel diagnostic biomarkers for autism spectrum disorder. Apoptosis;2026 (Jan 10);31(1):23.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) involves neuroinflammation and dysregulated neuronal death but lacks objective diagnostic biomarkers. This study investigated whether cell death could serve as a molecular basis for ASD diagnosis. We identified cell death-associated genes (CDGs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells between ASD and control groups and performed functional enrichment, protein-protein interaction, immune characteristics, and non-negative matrix factorization clustering analyses. Key genes were further selected using 6 machine learning algorithms and weighted gene co-expression network analysis to construct a diagnostic model, which was subsequently validated using external human blood samples and mice prefrontal cortex samples. We explored microRNAs (miRNAs), transcription factors (TFs), and drugs potentially interacted with the key genes. Fourteen CDGs and 4 out of 22 types of immune cells were differentially expressed between ASD and controls in GSE18123. These genes were enriched in pathways such as neuron apoptosis and RAGE receptor binding. Among 6 machine learning models, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) model exhibited the best performance. Six key genes were selected as the most important hub genes and used to construct the diagnostic model. The model showed AUCs of 0.722 in GSE42133, 0.781 in our local samples, and 0.889 in mice prefrontal cortex samples. A total of 172 miRNAs, 111 TFs, and 98 drugs were found to interact with these key genes. The expression patterns of CDGs in the peripheral blood of children with ASD demonstrate potential diagnostic value. Further studies are warranted to validate their diagnostic performance in real-world settings and to elucidate the role of cell death dysregulation in ASD.

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12. Lim TSH, Anand P, Kang YQ, Kiing JSH, Tan MY, Chong SC, Shen L, Mulay KV, Aishworiya R. Correlates of Presence of Feeding Difficulties in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Developmental Conditions. Nutrients;2025 (Dec 19);18(1)

Background/Objectives: Feeding difficulties are more common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental conditions and are associated with nutritional risk and caregiver stress. However, they may be overlooked as growth tends to be preserved. We aimed to identify clinical and behavioral features associated with feeding difficulties among children with developmental conditions. Methods: This cross-sectional study included caregiver-child dyads, with children aged 1-7 years with ASD and other developmental conditions. Caregivers completed the Repetitive Behavior Questionnaire, Second Edition (RBQ-2) to assess child restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) and the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS) to assess feeding difficulties. Demographics, anthropometric measures and cognitive and adaptive scores were retrieved from medical records. Results: Of the 132 participants (mean age 41.8 months, range 15-67; 74.2% male) included, majority had normal weight (87.7%) and height (89.2%) z scores. Among participants, 54.5% had autism, 26.5% language delay and 18.9% other developmental diagnoses. Over half (53.0%) had elevated BPFAS scores. Children not enrolled in school showed significantly more feeding difficulties compared to those who were enrolled (32.6% vs. 16.7%, p < 0.05). The RBQ-2 total score positively correlated with the BPFAS total frequency score (r = 0.33, p = 0.01) after adjusting for gender, age and developmental diagnosis. Conclusions: Feeding difficulties were common in this sample. Higher RRBs and absence of formal schooling were associated with higher rates of feeding difficulties. Longitudinal studies are needed to ascertain the role of RRBs and school enrollment as clinical indicators associated with feeding difficulties.

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13. Mazefsky CA, Bradley M, Duman K, Beck KB, Conner CM, Powell N, Siegle GJ, Jones S, Trabert C, Tonarely-Busto N, Shaw AM, de Abril Cameron F, Kolko DJ, Kang C, Ehrenreich-May J, Farchione TJ, White SW. Study protocol for a comparative effectiveness randomized controlled trial comparing the emotion awareness and skills enhancement program to the unified protocol in autistic youth and young adults with emotion dysregulation. BMC Psychol;2026 (Jan 9)

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14. Pelizza L, Federico A, Leuci E, Quattrone E, Palmisano D, Pupo S, Paulillo G, Pellegrini C, Pellegrini P, Menchetti M. What Does the PANSS Autism Severity Score (PAUSS) Really Measure in Patients With First Episode Psychosis? Critical Considerations. J Autism Dev Disord;2026 (Jan 10)

PURPOSE: The PANSS Autism Severity Score (PAUSS) has recently become a popular measure of autistic features in psychosis populations, but evidence on its longitudinal reliability and factor configuration is poor. The aims of this investigation were to examine psychometric characteristics of the PAUSS in young patients with First Episode Psychosis (FEP) treated in an early intervention service, with primary interest for its long-term stability across 2 years of follow-up and factor configuration. METHODS: All FEP participants completed the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Autism Quotient (AQ) at baseline and across the follow-up. Statistical analysis mainly included Cronbach’s α to examine internal consistency of the PAUSS, Cohen’s k statistics and Spearman’s ρ correlation coefficients for its longitudinal stability and convergent validity with AQ scores, and exploratory factor analysis to explore its dimensions’ configuration. RESULTS: 301 FEP participants were recruited (170 with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder [SSD]). Cronbach’s α value for the PAUSS was 0.806, but with unacceptable inter-item correlations for PANSS G5 and G15 items. K value for examining PAUSS convergent validity with AQ score was unacceptable (0.295), as well as ρ and k values to quantify long-term test-retest reliability (< 0.750 and < 0.600, respectively). No long-term stability of the PAUSS scores across the follow-up was also found using Wilcoxon's test for repeated measure. Our EFA found a 2-factor model in the FEP total sample and a 3-factor configuration in the SSD subgroup. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the PAUSS does not represent a valid instrument to assess autistic features in FEP and SSD. Indeed, the it probably captures psychotic symptom severity rather than autistic features, especially reflecting negative symptom load.

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15. Rodrigo PG, Mara PG, Beatriz GV, Gisselle LV, Cecilia GM, Rubén CL, Luis TH, Yazmín RC. Altered structural plasticity mediated by mGlu and NMDA receptors and impaired cognition in a genetic ASD model (Shank3(+/-) mice). J Neurosci;2026 (Jan 9)

Dendritic spine morphology is strongly associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Synaptic plasticity alters spine volume, a phenomenon known as structural plasticity, which influences information processing within neuronal circuits. Structural changes at dendritic spines are linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASD), particularly those involving gene mutations that result in synaptopathy. Loss of a single copy of the Shank3 gene leads to Phelan-McDermid syndrome, a synaptopathy, as Shank3 encodes SHANK3, a scaffold protein in the postsynaptic density of glutamatergic neurons. In this study, the structural plasticity of dendritic spines was evaluated in male and female Shank3(+/-) and wild-type (WT) mice in response to synaptic plasticity. Two-photon imaging and glutamate uncaging were employed in organotypic hippocampal cultures. Cognitive function in adult Shank3(+/-) mice was also assessed using a novel object recognition test. The results indicate that Shank3(+/-) mice exhibit altered structural plasticity in response to long-term depression (LTD) and display a heterosynaptic response in neighboring spines. Increased GluN2B expression and NMDA currents underlie these effects and may influence object recognition memory in Shank3(+/-) mice. These findings suggest that Shank3 haploinsufficiency induces synaptic alterations during postnatal development that impact memory in adulthood.Significance statement Alterations in the morphology and density of dendritic spines, which are the sites of approximately 90% of synapses, have been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although these associations have been established, it is unclear how dendritic spine structural changes affect synaptic responses and cognitive function in ASD. This study uses a genetic mouse model of ASD (Shank3 heterozygous mice with a deletion of exons 4-9) to investigate synaptic responses and their structural correlates. The aim is to elucidate the neurobiology of ASD and determine how these modifications may affect memory in adulthood.

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16. Vietti MB, Chamorro N, Maxit C, Gonzalez A, Mendoza A, Vaucheret Paz E. Gait Disturbance Secondary to Scurvy in Patients with ASD and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): Presentation of a Case Series. J Autism Dev Disord;2026 (Jan 10)

PURPOSE: Scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, occurs in populations at high risk for nutritional deficiencies. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), a condition frequently associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), represents a predisposing factor for this and other micronutrient deficiencies. The purpose of this article is to report a case series of patients with ASD who presented with gait disturbance as the first manifestation of scurvy, emphasizing the importance of early diagnostic suspicion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of electronic medical records of patients with ASD and gait abnormalities evaluated at the pediatric neurology department of Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires between 2013 and 2025. Inclusion criteria were ASD, restrictive eating patterns, and clinical features compatible with scurvy. Cases with conditions or medications that could alter vitamin C metabolism were excluded. RESULTS: Nine patients met inclusion criteria. All presented with subacute gait disturbance (limping, antalgic gait, or refusal to walk) associated with pain, cramps, or weakness. Five showed petechiae or purpura. None had a prior ARFID diagnosis despite marked dietary restriction, and all ultimately fulfilled diagnostic criteria during follow-up. Anthropometric parameters were within normal ranges in all cases. A targeted dietary history revealed severely restricted food intake. Based on clinical suspicion of scurvy, plasma vitamin C levels were measured and found to be significantly low. Treatment with ascorbic acid led to significant symptom improvement within the first week and full recovery of gait. CONCLUSIONS: Scurvy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of children with ASD who present with restrictive eating behaviors and gait disturbances, even in the presence of normal anthropometric measurements or absence of a prior ARFID diagnosis. Early recognition and targeted laboratory testing enable timely treatment, preventing unnecessary investigations and allowing for rapid clinical recovery.

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17. Wang YCM, Poon KK. The Evaluation of a Multiple Strategies Approach to Teach Social Inferential Reading Comprehension to Elementary Students with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord;2026 (Jan 10)

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to investigate whether an intervention combining explicit and visually cued instruction could help upper primary students with ASD improve their social inferential reading comprehension performance. METHODS: A multiple probe design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention on four children with ASD, aged 10 to 11 years. The study was conducted two to three times per week, each lasting 60 min, over ten weeks. The interventionist used think-alouds to explicitly model cognitive processes, error correction prompts to scaffold thinking, and a graphic organiser worksheet to simplify the social inferential reading comprehension process. All test probes used in the study were developed based on the ‘Strange Stories’ test by Happé (1994), and they were statistically equated using Rasch analysis. RESULTS: Results indicated a mean improvement ranging from 40% to 56% between baseline and intervention phases across different students. Supporting this finding, the effect size calculations using PND, PEM, PAND and Tau-U suggested an effective intervention. To reject the null hypothesis of no treatment effect, a randomization test was conducted using the SCRT-R software, yielding a p-value of 0.008. CONCLUSIONS: With appropriate support, children with ASD may be able to develop the complex reading skills needed to interpret the emotions and intentions of story characters. While the findings of this study are promising, they should be considered preliminary. This exploratory research provides a foundation for future studies to build upon and to further investigate effective interventions for improving social inferential reading comprehension in students with ASD.

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