1. Abhilasha P, Sharma M. Recent Advances in Pharmacological Management of Autism: A Narrative Review. Cureus;2026 (Jan);18(1):e101053.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental conditions defined by impairments in social communication, reciprocal interaction, and the presence of restricted or repetitive behaviors. While its « spectrum » nature highlights variability in symptom severity and presentation, ASD often coexists with conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, epilepsy, digestive, metabolic, and immune disorders. No pharmacological treatments currently address the core deficits of ASD; instead, behavioral and educational interventions remain central. Medications, including US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‑approved antipsychotics such as risperidone and aripiprazole, are used to manage comorbid irritability and aggression, stimulants and non‑stimulants (e.g., methylphenidate, atomoxetine, clonidine, guanfacine) to treat ADHD-like symptoms, and melatonin for sleep disturbances. Other off‑label agents like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) for anxiety/obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), anticonvulsants or mood stabilizers for mood dysregulation. Emerging compounds such as intranasal oxytocin and N‑acetylcysteine are under investigation but have not yet been formally approved. The future of ASD care hinges on the development of objective, biologically based diagnostic tools ranging from EEG and neuroimaging biomarkers to proteomic and metabolomic panels that could enable early, precise identification and guide personalized treatment strategies.

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2. Bouargane Z, Olucha-Bordonau FE, Bennis M, Ba-M’hamed S, Lamghari-Moubarrad FZ. Comparative analysis of BORIS, Ethovision, DeepLabCut, and SimBA for quantifying autism spectrum disorder-like behaviors in the valproic acid mouse model. Neurosci Lett;2026 (Feb 10);875:138542.

Preclinical research often relies on animal observation and subsequent behavioral analysis to study brain function; however, traditional methods are considered time-consuming and prone to human error. In contrast, emerging machine learning (ML) approaches now enable rapid, objective, and high-resolution behavioral assessment, such as DeepLabCut (DLC), combined with post-processing tools like Simple Behavioral Analysis (SimBA), which allow high-resolution behavioral classification. DLC provides accurate markerless tracking, while SimBA improves sensitivity and reliability in behavior identification. This study tests the hypothesis that pose-estimation-based behavioral analysis increases sensitivity for detecting functionally relevant impairments in social investigation and motor pattern organization in the valproic acid (VPA) mouse model of ASD, compared with conventional semi-automated tracking (Ethovision) and manual scoring (BORIS). Our results revealed significant and consistent core ASD-like symptoms in VPA-exposed mice across all methods. In the 3-chamber test, the tracking of the animal’s nose provided greater precision and accuracy in detecting sociability deficits in VPA-exposed mice compared to the Ethovision analysis method. Correlation and Bland-Altman analyses indicated moderate agreement between both approaches for chamber time, but low concordance for the time in the proximity of the cages. Additionally, VPA-exposed mice exhibited significantly more repetitive behaviors (self-grooming and rearing) across both scoring methods. Indeed, DLC and BORIS scoring results demonstrated a higher correlation coefficient and a lower bias in the Bland-Altman analysis. Overall, this study demonstrates that integrating DLC and SimBA enhances behavioral scoring precision, overcomes limitations of conventional methods, and surpasses commercial automated tracking systems in detecting ASD-like phenotypes in mice.

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3. Campbell A, Barroso J, Weitlauf A, Karp S, Mogos M. The Experiences of Mothers Feeding Their Infants Later Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Bottle Feeding and Complementary Feeding Challenges. J Pediatr Health Care;2026 (Feb 10)

INTRODUCTION: Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) more commonly experience feeding difficulty than their neurotypical (NT) peers, although less is known about how the feeding behaviors present during infancy. METHODS: Twenty-four mothers participated in interviews exploring their experiences feeding their autistic and NT children during the first year of life and the context behind feeding practices that may also contribute to feeding difficulty in autistic children during infancy. RESULTS: Thematic analysis identified four main themes: (1) bottle feeding and cup behaviors, (2) challenges in complementary food introduction, (3) continuing difficulty with complementary feeding, and (4) bottle feeding and complementary feeding in the NT sibling. CONCLUSIONS: Infant feeding behaviors during bottle feeding and complementary feeding may be indicative of early signs of ASD, including repetitive and restrictive interests, social communication differences, and sensory sensitivities.

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4. Cola M, Schillinger S, Lyons M, Lee A, Faulk C, Covello M, Howard N, Franke H, Mulqueen A, Fulop L, Knox A, Cho S, Liberman MY, Pandey J, Yates Flanagan A, Donaher J, Schultz RT, Parish-Morris J. Sex-specific metrics for success: Gaps in social word use are bigger for autistic girls than boys. Autism;2026 (Feb 10):13623613261417535.

Autistic girls are often diagnosed late, missed, or misdiagnosed, which can negatively impact quality of life and mental health. Although research shows the social profiles of autistic girls differ from boys in systematic ways that might explain gaps in diagnosis, little is known about how autistic girls’ social language compares to their same-sex non-autistic peers. This study investigated social words-words that make reference to other people-produced by 138 age- and IQ-matched autistic and non-autistic youth (ages 6-15) during one Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition task. Girls used significantly more social words than boys across both diagnostic groups. There was a larger gap in social word production between autistic girls and non-autistic girls than autistic boys and non-autistic boys, with non-autistic girls using the most social words. Non-autistic girls’ social language behavior-including their social word production-sets an especially high bar for autistic girls, who often report trying to blend in with other girls. Growing evidence of the distinct social language profiles of autistic and non-autistic girls versus boys should guide researchers and clinicians to assess autism in ways that are sensitive to sex-associated differences and develop interventions that consider the norms of youth’s target social circles.Lay AbstractAutism is often diagnosed later in girls and women as compared to boys and men. More research is needed to understand how autism presents differently in girls. This study investigates how autistic and non-autistic youth aged 6 to 15 years use social words (e.g. « friend, » « mom, » « help, » « talk ») during an interview about friends, relationships, and marriage as part of an autism diagnostic assessment. Overall, girls used more social words compared to boys and talked more about friends. Specifically, non-autistic girls used the most social words in comparison with other groups. Highly social language produced by non-autistic girls may make it especially hard for autistic girls to blend in with other girls and could lead them to engage in more camouflaging behaviors to hide their autistic characteristics. With such different average social language behavior from girls and boys, researchers should consider adapting autism assessments and interventions to support the unique needs of autistic girls.

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5. Cremer S, Antezana L, Conner CM, Eack SM, Mazefsky CA, Northrup JB. The relationship between age of autism diagnosis and life satisfaction in adulthood. Autism;2026 (Feb 10):13623613261416672.

This study examined how age of autism diagnosis relates to adult life satisfaction in a sample of 769 self-reporting autistic adults. We analyzed how demographic and clinical variables related to age of diagnosis and then analyzed the relationship between age of diagnosis and scores on four measures of life satisfaction while controlling for variables significantly associated with age of diagnosis. Participants diagnosed in adulthood were older, less likely to have an intellectual disability, more likely to be assigned female at birth, more likely to identify as a sexual minority, and had higher self-reported autistic traits than those diagnosed earlier. Controlling for these factors, participants diagnosed between ages 3 and 5 reported higher levels of flourishing, autonomy satisfaction, and social satisfaction than those diagnosed in adulthood. Diagnosis before 3 was also associated with more social satisfaction and autonomy satisfaction than adult diagnosis. Individuals diagnosed in adulthood did not significantly differ from those diagnosed between ages 6 and 11 or 12 and 17 on any outcome. These findings indicate that age of autism diagnosis is nonlinearly related to adult life satisfaction. Early childhood diagnosis was associated with more life satisfaction, but beyond early childhood, age of diagnosis was not reliably linked to adult life satisfaction.Lay AbstractMore people are getting diagnosed with autism as teens and adults, and autism affects people throughout their lives. We need to know what factors, including age of diagnosis, affect how autistic adults are doing so that we can support them and create a world where they can thrive. In this study, we wanted to understand how people’s age of diagnosis relates to their life satisfaction as adults. Most of the research about the age of autism diagnosis focuses on childhood diagnosis and outcomes; thus, we wanted to study a wider range of diagnosis ages (including adult diagnosis) and life satisfaction in adulthood, an understudied area that is a focus for the autistic community. We surveyed 769 autistic adults about the age they were diagnosed, aspects of their identity (e.g., race/ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation), and four measures of life satisfaction: flourishing and satisfaction with social relationships, employment/school, and autonomy. We used this data to look for patterns about how parts of adults’ identity relate to their age of diagnosis and how age of diagnosis relates to life satisfaction. We found that people diagnosed between 3 and 5 years old reported more flourishing and more satisfaction with their autonomy and social lives than people diagnosed as adults. However, people diagnosed later in childhood or adolescence were not more satisfied with those things than people diagnosed as adults. This suggests there may be something especially helpful about being diagnosed early. It is important to note, however, that because the study was correlational, we cannot say that being diagnosed early causes better outcomes in adulthood.

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6. Fan J, Zeng J, Li H. Effects of conversational AI-enhanced peer-mediated intervention by peers with intellectual disabilities on conversational skills in children with ASD. Res Dev Disabil;2026 (Feb 10);170:105249.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience conversational difficulties that hinder social interactions and peer relationships. This study examined whether a conversational AI-enhanced peer-mediated intervention delivered by peers with intellectual disabilities (CAI-PMI-ID) yielded superior outcomes in improving conversational skills in children with ASD compared with PMI-ID-only. METHOD: This study employed a multiple-probe across participants design and an alternating treatments design to compare the effects of CAI-PMI-ID and PMI-ID-only. Conversational outcomes included quantitative measures (frequency of appropriate initiations and responses) and qualitative measures (mean length of utterance in morphemes, MLU-M; number of different words, NDW; and total number of words, TNW). RESULTS: CAI-PMI-ID produced greater improvements in the frequency of appropriate conversational initiations and responses than PMI-ID-only. It also yielded superior outcomes in lexical diversity and productivity, as reflected in NDW and TNW. The two intervention conditions resulted in limited and variable effects on MLU-M. CAI-PMI-ID facilitated the successful generalization of conversational skills to interact with different peers. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: These preliminary findings support the feasibility and added value of CAI-PMI-ID for enhancing core conversational behaviors and lexical productivity among children with ASD. Future research should integrate evidence-based syntactic supports to promote MLU-M, leverage multimodal and scenario-based AI in natural settings, strengthen AI-peer collaboration, and improve AI speech recognition to enhance intervention effects.

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7. Fulda KG, Walters ST, Barnett TE, Espinoza AM, Fleming M, Muzaffar O, Manning S, Jones K, Arellano E, Rivera J, Lopez C. Substance use disorder among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a narrative review. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse;2026 (Feb 10):1-15.

Background: Research on substance use disorder (SUD) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is limited. Literature suggests people with IDD are less likely to use substances; however, they are more susceptible to SUD if they do.Objectives: To better understand the relationship between IDD and SUD and identify best practices to improve adherence to treatment and health outcomes.Methods: A narrative review of English peer-reviewed sources published between January 2000-May 15, 2025 was conducted using CINAHL, Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, and PsychINFO. Measures of interest included co-occurrence of SUD and IDD, and risk factors, treatment options, and barriers to receiving or adhering to treatment for adults with IDD and SUD.Results: Prevalence of substance use is lower in adults with IDD than without IDD. Adults with IDD and SUD are most commonly encountered in outpatient mental health settings. Cannabis, alcohol, and cocaine are the most frequent substances used by individuals with IDD. Risk factors for IDD and SUD include male gender, family history of SUD, exposure to peers who use substances, psychiatric comorbidities, and mild/borderline IDD as compared to no IDD. Approximately 42-54% of individuals with IDD and SUD have co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Staff who provide SUD treatment are not trained to work with IDD.Conclusions: Outcomes for individuals with IDD and SUD would improve with development of SUD and IDD specific training for providers and treatment protocols that account for risk factors such as peer relationships, family history of SUD, and co-morbid mental health diagnoses.

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8. Janicki MP, McCallion P, Jokinen N, Larsen FK, Mughal DT, Service KP, Gomiero T, Marsack-Topolewski CN, Watchman K, Santos FH, Keller SM, Shooshtari S, Thakur A, Palanisamy V. Autism, dementia, and post-diagnostic support: A consensus report from the Second International Summit on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia. Autism;2026 (Feb 9):13623613261416670.

Post-diagnostic support is a critical yet underdeveloped aspect of dementia care, especially for autistic adults who present with distinct cognitive, sensory, and communication needs. Although interventions such as medication management, psychosocial support, environmental modifications, and carer training are known to improve outcomes, their relevance and accessibility for autistic individuals remain poorly understood. As part of the Second International Summit on Intellectual Disability and Dementia, an international working group examined the intersection of autism and dementia with a focus on post-diagnostic care. Drawing on interdisciplinary expertise, the group identified key barriers and opportunities in clinical practice, caregiving, and service delivery. Recommendations are organized across seven areas, including models of post-diagnostic support, caregiving contexts, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, environmental adaptations, and care planning. The discussion emphasizes the complex needs of autistic adults-many of whom have co-occurring intellectual disabilities, psychiatric conditions, or chronic health issues-and the need for individualized approaches that account for sensory sensitivities and communication differences. Existing dementia care frameworks often fail to address these complexities, resulting in significant service gaps. The report calls for urgent investment in research, workforce training, and policy reform to promote equitable, autism-informed post-diagnostic support and improve quality of life for this underserved population.Lay AbstractAutistic adults who develop dementia often experience challenges that are not well addressed by current dementia care systems. After a dementia diagnosis, people may need help with memory, communication, behavior changes, and daily living. For autistic adults, these supports must be adapted to their individual sensory sensitivities, communication styles, and social differences. This article reports on the work of an international group of researchers, clinicians, and advocates who met during the Second International Summit on Intellectual Disability and Dementia. The group examined how post-diagnostic support for autistic adults with dementia could be improved. They reviewed existing evidence, identified key barriers to care, and proposed strategies to strengthen services in areas such as medication use, environmental design, caregiver training, and personalized care planning. The report emphasizes that many autistic adults also have intellectual disabilities, mental health conditions, or long-term physical health issues, which can make care more complex. Current dementia care frameworks often overlook these overlapping needs, resulting in limited or unsuitable supports. The authors call for more research, workforce training, and autism-informed policy changes to ensure that post-diagnostic care is equitable, individualized, and responsive. Enhancing understanding and adapting support can help autistic adults with dementia maintain dignity, comfort, and quality of life.

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9. Joseph LS, Perez M, Perry A, Koller J. ToM(2): Parental Perception of Theory of Mind Abilities in Autistic Children. Autism Res;2026 (Feb 10)

Understanding how parents perceive their children’s abilities is crucial for family dynamics and intervention strategies, particularly in autism, where accurate parental assessment of social-cognitive capabilities can influence support approaches and developmental outcomes. This study introduces ToM(2), a novel measure examining parents’ ability to predict their autistic child’s Theory of Mind (ToM) performance, representing a form of mentalization that requires parents to evaluate how their child understands others’ mental states. We recruited 54 parent-child dyads (43 included in final analyses) from families with children diagnosed with autism (ages 42-70 months). Children completed a six-task ToM scale, while parents predicted their child’s responses to each task. ToM(2) accuracy was calculated based on the match between parental predictions and child performance. We examined the relationships between ToM(2) accuracy and family accommodation for restricted and repetitive behaviors, autism symptom severity, and parental broader autism phenotype characteristics using logistic mixed-effects modeling. Results revealed that parents with higher levels of family accommodation demonstrated significantly lower ToM(2) accuracy (p = 0.030), suggesting that higher accommodation is associated with reduced accuracy in perceiving social-cognitive abilities, consistent with bidirectional parent-child interaction patterns. Greater autism symptom severity showed a trend toward reduced ToM(2) accuracy (p = 0.051), possibly suggesting that more pronounced autism characteristics may present greater challenges for parental mentalization. Parental broader autism phenotype was not associated with ToM(2) accuracy. These findings suggest that ToM(2) represents a useful framework for parental mentalization in autism and may inform family-centered interventions targeting both accommodation behaviors and parental perception accuracy. Understanding how accurately parents assess their child’s abilities is important for providing proper support. This study looked at how accurately parents of autistic children predicted their child’s performance on social understanding tasks. We asked 43 children and their parents to complete the same set of tasks that measure theory of mind—the ability to understand what others are thinking and feeling. Parents who less accurately predicted their child’s abilities were also those that engaged in more family accommodation, referring to modifications designed to reduce their child’s stress stemming from their autism symptoms. This suggests that when families adjust too much to help their child, parents might lose touch with what their child can actually do. These findings could help families and professionals find the right balance between supporting autistic children and encouraging their independence. eng

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10. Kornfeld-Sylla SS, Gelegen C, Norris JE, Chaloner FA, Lee M, Khela M, Heinrich MJ, Finnie PSB, Ethridge LE, Erickson CA, Schmitt LM, Cooke SF, Wilkinson CL, Bear MF. A human electrophysiological signature of Fragile X pathophysiology is shared in V1 of Fmr1(-/y) mice. Nat Commun;2026 (Feb 9);17(1):1497.

Predicting clinical therapeutic outcomes from animal studies using conserved electrophysiological phenotypes could facilitate developing treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders. Alpha oscillations in human resting-state electroencephalogram recordings are altered in many disorders, but whether these disruptions exist in mouse models is unknown. Here, we employed a uniform analytical method to show in males with fragile X syndrome (FXS) that alpha oscillations in humans and alpha-like oscillations in the visual cortex of Fmr1(-/y) mice are slowed, with a stronger phenotype in adults than juveniles and a juvenile-specific power phenotype in both species. We find that alpha-like oscillations are disrupted by deletion of Fmr1 in cortical excitatory neurons and glia, reflect differential activity of two classes of GABAergic interneurons, and are more sensitive to activation of GABA(B) receptors by Arbaclofen in wild-type than Fmr1(-/y) mice. Our framework reveals evolutionary conservation of alpha oscillation disruptions, enables a deeper understanding of FXS pathophysiology, and narrows the gap between treatment promise and practice.

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11. Lau-Zhu A, Quinton AMG, Stacey J, Roberts-Davis R, Cooper M, Chan C, Happé F. Experiences of Trauma and PTSD Symptoms in Autistic Adolescents: Preliminary Findings. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry;2026 (Feb 9):13591045261418319.

Psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are under-researched in autistic individuals. We explored the experience of trauma and PTSD symptoms in a sample of autistic adolescents (n = 30) aged 10-16 years (without a maltreatment history; 47% female), compared to a group of typically-developing (TD; n = 29) and a group of (non-autistic) maltreatment-exposed adolescents (n = 28), matched on key demographics. Caregiver reports indicated that a wide range of events were deemed traumatic to autistic adolescents, including those not meeting DSM-5’s Criterion A for trauma for a PTSD diagnosis (e.g., bullying and bereavement). Caregiver- and self-reports converged to show more severe PTSD symptoms, and higher rates of probable PTSD, in autistic adolescents (43-57%) relative to the TD adolescents (7-32%). Symptom severity and rates of probable PTSD were comparable between the autistic and maltreatment-exposed adolescents (50-54%), except that, for autistic adolescents, the index trauma mostly did not match DSM-5 criteria, whereas it did for maltreatment-exposed adolescents. This short report’s early findings supports the need for improved assessment of trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms in autistic adolescents. A flexible approach to how trauma is defined in this population may be needed, considering subjective experiences and autism-related processing differences. Psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are not well studied in autistic young people. We looked at experiences of trauma and PTSD symptoms in autistic adolescents aged 10–16 years (n = 30; 47% female) who did not have a history of maltreatment. We compared them with two groups of adolescents: typically developing (TD; n = 29) and maltreatment-exposed (n = 28), with similar ages and other key characteristics. Caregivers reported that autistic adolescents experienced a wide range of events as traumatic, including events that would not usually count as trauma under standard PTSD rules (DSM-5), such as bullying or the death of a loved one. Both caregiver and adolescent reports showed that autistic adolescents had more severe PTSD symptoms and higher rates of probable PTSD (43–57%) compared with TD adolescents (7–32%). Interestingly, the severity of symptoms and rates of probable PTSD in autistic adolescents were similar to those in the maltreatment-exposed group (50–54%). However, while the maltreatment group’s trauma usually met DSM-5 criteria, the traumatic experiences in the autistic group often did not. These early findings highlight the importance of recognising trauma and PTSD symptoms in autistic adolescents, even when the events do not meet standard definitions of trauma. Assessments may need to be more flexible and consider each young person’s subjective experience, as well as differences in how autistic adolescents process events. Overall, the study suggests that autistic adolescents can be highly affected by stressful or upsetting experiences, and mental health support should take their unique perspectives into account. eng

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12. Liu K, Sun B, Wang BK, Chen J, Westover MB, Tian FY, Sun H, Kong XJ. An Electroencephalographic Study of Sleep Spindle and Infraslow Oscillation in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Sleep Res;2026 (Feb 10):e70309.

We investigated whether sleep microstructures show spatial differences in young children with autism compared with typically developing peers. 32-channel electroencephalography (EEG) during natural sleep after 5-6 h of partial sleep deprivation was recorded from 53 children (26 with autism, 27 typically developing; 1.1-5.1 years). Quantified EEG features included spindle density, frequency, morphology, slow oscillations and the relative power of infraslow oscillations (0.005-0.03 Hz). Clinical associations were examined using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale and the Gesell Developmental Schedules. Children with autism showed greater modulation of spindle frequency by the phase of slow oscillations at a right frontal scalp electrode (F8). An infraslow peak slightly below 0.02 Hz was present in both groups. Although group differences in infraslow power did not remain significant after correction for multiple comparisons, infraslow power correlated positively with autism severity in males, over posterior and temporal regions. These findings indicate that sleep microstructures in early childhood reflect thalamocortical and cortical dysfunction with sex-specific clinical associations.

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13. Morales A, Korsakova E, Mansooralavi N, Ravikumar A, Rivas G, Soliman P, Rodriguez L, Galvan C, McDaniel T, Lund A, Cooper B, Bhaduri A, Lowry WE. Probing DNA damage in Rett syndrome neurons uncovers a role for MECP2 regulation of PARP1. Stem Cell Reports;2026 (Feb 10);21(2):102819.

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14. Nicklas PR, Cruz LN, Terilli C, Bojanek EK, De Sanctis P, Freedman EG, Molholm S, Foxe JJ. A symphony of functioning: exploring the interplay of cognition, movement, and visual demands in adolescents on the autism spectrum using mobile brain-body imaging (MoBI). J Neurodev Disord;2026 (Feb 10)

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15. Pancheva R, Ilhan M, Chamova R, Tsvetanova S, Koleva K, Georgieva M, Braykova R, Hadzhieva S, Toneva A, Fiore M, Iotova V. Growth and neuropsychological developmental correlates in children with autism and cerebral palsy – a pilot study. Riv Psichiatr;2026 (Jan-Feb);61(1):12-22.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy (CP) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are neurodevelopmental conditions that affect physical growth and developmental outcomes. While distinct, both can influence neuropsychological development, yet limited research has examined how growth indicators relate to developmental profiles in these groups. This pilot cross-sectional study examines the relationship between physical growth and neuropsychological development in children with CP and ASD, and compares their developmental characteristics. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 27 children (CP: n=14; ASD: n=13). Anthropometric assessments included height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), BMI-for-age (BMIAZ), mid-upper arm circumference-for-age (MUACAZ), and skinfold thickness Z-scores (TSFAZ, SSFAZ). Neuropsychological development was measured using the Developmental Profile 3 (DP-3), covering physical, adaptive, cognitive, social-emotional, and communication domains. RESULTS: Children with ASD had significantly higher scores in physical development (median: 83.5 vs. 54.0, p=0.006), adaptive behavior (81.0 vs. 53.0, p=0.003), and overall development (78.0 vs. 58.0, p=0.035) than those with CP. No differences were found in cognitive, social-emotional, or communication domains. In the full sample, WAZ significantly correlated with adaptive behavior (r=0.491, p=0.015) and overall development (r=0.439, p=0.032). MUACAZ and TSFAZ were also associated with specific developmental domains (e.g., MUACAZ and adaptive behavior: r=0.445, p=0.033). Linear regression analysis confirmed that WAZ significantly predicted neurodevelopmental scores (β=6.20, p=0.022), explaining 46.5% of the variance when adjusted for age, gender, and parental age (Adjusted R²=0.465; p=0.040). CONCLUSIONS: Children with CP show greater growth and developmental delays than those with ASD. Weight-for-age is a key predictor of neurodevelopment, especially adaptive behavior. These findings support integrating nutritional and developmental care in neurodevelopmental interventions.

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16. Qiu MH, Zhong ZG, Song PW, Tao GJ, Zhang JT, Chen YH, Song TJ, Qu WM, Zhang R, Huang ZL. Early-life sleep disruption in Shank3-deficient rats: A preclinical model for autism-related sleep mechanisms and interventions. Transl Psychiatry;2026 (Feb 10)

Sleep disturbances are among the most prevalent and early-emerging features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), often preceding core behavioral symptoms. Despite their clinical relevance, the neurobiological mechanisms driving early-life sleep disruption in ASD remain poorly understood. Shank3, encoding a synaptic scaffolding protein at excitatory synapses, is one of the most well-established monogenic risk factors for ASD. Here, we systematically investigated sleep architecture and homeostatic regulation in juvenile Shank3(Δe11-21) rats, which lack Shank3 protein and display ASD-like behavioral and sensory phenotypes. EEG/EMG recordings revealed sex-specific abnormalities: males exhibited fragmented sleep with frequent brief arousals, whereas females showed prolonged wakefulness. Both sexes demonstrated reduced NREM sleep δ power, indicating diminished sleep depth. Following 6-h sleep deprivation, Shank3(-/-) rats displayed blunted homeostatic rebound. Additionally, Clock and Bmal1 mRNA were significantly downregulated in prefrontal cortex and striatum, implicating circadian dysregulation within corticostriatal circuits. Collectively, these findings indicate that Shank3 deficiency leads to early-onset, low-quality sleep accompanied by impaired homeostatic and circadian regulation. This phenotype mirrors clinical sleep disturbances in children with ASD, supporting sleep dysfunction as an intrinsic, early feature of Shank3-related pathophysiology. Together with prior behavioral evidence, this study establishes the Shank3(Δe11-21) rat as a preclinical model for elucidating mechanisms of Shank3-related neurodevelopmental disorders and for evaluating potential early-life therapeutic interventions, including sleep-targeted strategies.

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17. Rodríguez Ferrante G, Munson J, St John T, Pandey J, Zwaigenbaum L, Dager SR, Marrus N, Hazlett HC, Piven J, de la Iglesia HO, Estes A. Lunar rhythms in sleep patterns of children with a family history of autism. Sleep;2026 (Feb 10);49(2)

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18. Sari FA, Pohan RA, Andrianie S, Suhardita K. Unveiling untapped potential: A reevaluation of communication and intelligence in nonspeaking autistic individuals. Explore (NY);2026 (Feb 10);22(3):103342.

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19. Schmidt EK, Bauzá de García J, Espinosa SM, Clausen L. Identity Development for LGBTQIA+ Autistic Adults in the United States: A Mixed-Methods Study. Am J Occup Ther;2026 (Mar 1);80(2)

IMPORTANCE: Development of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and other gender and sexual minority (LGBTQIA+) identities and a disability identity is critical for positive mental health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ autistic individuals. OBJECTIVE: To understand identity development and evaluate the resonance of support among a large sample of LGBTQIA+ autistic adults. DESIGN: A sequential mixed-methods, participatory approach. SETTING: Data collection for both phases occurred remotely. PARTICIPANTS: LGBTQIA+ autistic adults completed the qualitative phase and the survey (Ns = 57 and 107, respectively). OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Phase 1, the qualitative phase, included semistructured interviews and focus groups based on queer, crip, and intersectionality theories. Questions related to identity exploration and development. Themes regarding barriers and supports were used to develop a survey, used in Phase 2, to collect quantitative data to confirm the resonance of the findings. RESULTS: Participants described exposure, personal research, trial and error, and individuals external to the LGBTQIA+ and autistic communities as contributing to their evolving identities. If these contributing factors were positive, people described experiencing narrative gain, whereby they felt a sense of relief and pride over their identities, and if they were negative participants reported going through a journey toward self-acceptance. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Occupational therapy practitioners can support LGBTQIA+ autistic adults in the identity development process by fostering connections with other LGBTQIA+ autistic individuals, providing accessible sexual health education supporting personal research and providing accessible resources, offering opportunities to explore identities through creative means, and creating supportive environments and safe spaces for self-exploration. Plain-Language Summary: Identity development is the process of understanding who you are. Occupational therapy practitioners can help support positive identity development for LGBTQIA+ autistic clients. In Phase 1 of the study, we talked to 57 LGBTQIA+ autistic people and asked them how they learned they were LGBTQIA+ and autistic. We used what we learned from those people to create survey questions, and we asked another 107 LGBTQIA+ autistic people whether the findings from our conversations in Phase 1 resonated with them as well. LGBTQIA+ autistic participants reported that they found it helpful to be exposed to people with diverse LGBTQIA+ and autistic identities; to be connected with articles, blogs, and people online who held diverse LGBTQIA+ and autistic identities; and to trial different identities. They also said it was helpful if people who were not LGBTQIA+ or autistic were supportive during this process. When people had more help, they had better acceptance of themselves. When people had less help, they said they had to learn to accept themselves. Positionality Statement: In this article, we use the term LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and other gender and sexual minority identities) to refer to a spectrum of marginalized sexual orientations (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual), gender identities (e.g., transgender, nonbinary, agender), and biological variations in sex characteristics (e.g., intersex). We recognize that these identities are distinct but often interrelated, and unless otherwise specified we use LGBTQIA+ inclusively to reflect participants’ self-identification. The first author is a White, straight, cisgender female with a history of generalized anxiety disorder. The second author is a mixed-race, queer, cisgender woman who is multiply neurodivergent, including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The third author is a White, queer, nonbinary autistic person. The fourth author is a White, straight, cisgender female. The research team has varied experience and expertise in conducting research. The first author has a PhD and is a licensed occupational therapist, the second author has worked for many years in research laboratories as a research assistant and coordinator and is a licensed occupational therapist, the third author has a background in quantitative designs and statistical analyses and has worked as a research assistant, and the fourth author worked as a research assistant while in graduate school and is a licensed occupational therapist.

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20. Terui A, Saito M, Kuki A, Shimoyama S, Sakamoto Y, Yoshida K, Osato A, Nakamura K. Correlation between sleep problems and morning serum melatonin and ferritin levels in Japanese 5-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder. PCN Rep;2026 (Mar);5(1):e70294.

AIM: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to have sleep problems. Few studies have investigated the relationship between sleep problems and blood melatonin and ferritin levels. The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between sleep problems and morning serum melatonin and ferritin levels, and the differences in serum melatonin and ferritin levels between children with ASD and those without ASD. METHODS: Four years of data from population-based 5-year-old checkups were referenced. Fifty-five children were divided into the ASD group (N = 45) and the non-ASD group (N = 10). Blood samples were collected at 8:30 a.m. The Japanese Sleep Questionnaire for Preschoolers (JSQP) was used to assess sleep problems. Correlation analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test, and multiple regression analysis were used. RESULTS: In the ASD group, the score of Sleep habit was significantly correlated with the serum ferritin level (ρ = 0.496, p < 0.001). No significant regression equation was found. However, the partial correlation coefficient calculated indicated a significant value between the score of Insomnia or Circadian rhythm disorder and serum melatonin level (β = 0.502, p < 0.05), and the score of Sleep habit and the serum ferritin level (β = 0.546 p < 0.01). The serum ferritin level in the ASD group (23.48 ± 9.14 ng/mL) was significantly higher than in the non-ASD group (14.84 ± 7.09 ng/mL) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study indicated that children with ASD were more likely to have some sleep problems and higher morning serum ferritin levels than those without ASD. Further research is recommended on the correlation between sleep problems and morning serum melatonin and ferritin levels.

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21. Wallach J, Cameron S, Dybek M, Stanley B, Orme C, Riad N, Kavanagh P, Brandt SD, Knapp A, Gamrat J, Jauhola-Straight R, Adejare A, Rogier AJ, Tyagi R, Canal CE. Bioisostere-Driven Discovery of SePP: A Selenium-Containing Polypharmacological Agent Relevant to Fragile X Syndrome. J Med Chem;2026 (Feb 10)

Diphenidine is a prototypical 1,2-diarylethylamine that functions as an uncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist and monoamine reuptake inhibitor. To examine the effects of phenyl-ring bioisosteric replacement within this scaffold, a series of diphenidine analogs incorporating chalcogen heterocycles (2-furan, 2-thiophene, 3-thiophene, and 2-selenophene) was synthesized. Compounds were evaluated for in vitro binding to rat forebrain NMDARs and inhibition of human DAT, NET, and SERT in cell-based assays, enabling assessment of polypharmacology. In silico analyses (molecular volume, tPSA, electrostatic surfaces, stockholder charges) and induced-fit docking were used to rationalize structure-activity relationships. The 2-selenophene analog SePP is notable given the underexplored role of selenium in medicinal chemistry. SePP exhibited favorable polypharmacology, good brain penetration in mouse pharmacokinetic studies, and prevented audiogenic seizures in Fmr1 knockout mice (10 mg/kg, i.p.) without impairing motor coordination. These findings support further exploration of SePP for fragile X syndrome.

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22. Yin J, Li W, Shen LP, Zhang WL, Chen JY, Zhang BB, Chen YJ, Li T, Li HZ, Gao Z, Xie ST, Zhang QP, Zhang C, Zhang XY, Zhu JN. Cerebellar microglia-derived IL-17A mitigates autism-related behavioral and synaptic deficits. Mol Psychiatry;2026 (Feb 9)

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a pleiotropic cytokine produced mainly by peripheral T helper 17 cells. Yet, the brain functions of IL-17 derived from central nervous cells remain poorly understood. Here, we find an aberrant IL-17A signaling in the cerebellum of Fmr1-KO mice, a well-established genetic model for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Cerebellar IL-17A, derived exclusively from microglia, is essential for the regulation of social behaviors by maintaining neuronal excitability and selectively suppressing inhibitory neurotransmission of Purkinje cells (PCs) in the cerebellar Crus I, a brain region critically involved in social cognition. Specific downregulation of IL-17 receptor-mediated signaling in cerebellar PCs recapitulates ASD-like social deficits and repetitive behaviors. Notably, both direct administration of IL-17A and induction of IL-17A release from cerebellar microglia by poly(I:C) effectively restore PC excitability and ameliorate ASD-like symptoms. The findings uncover an indispensable role of microglia-derived IL-17A for cerebellar social processing and suggest potential therapeutic strategies targeting IL-17A signaling for ASD.

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23. Yuan B, Xiang X, Yang T, Lin F, Yan J, Tong B, Li T, Chen J. Prenatally elevated glucocorticoid disrupts social behavior via GR-Id3/E47-dependent astroglial dysfunction in LPS-induced autism-like rats. Biochem Pharmacol;2026 (Feb 10);247:117784.

Maternal infection during pregnancy may contribute to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, however, the precise mechanisms disrupting fetal neurodevelopment remain unclear. By integrating human cohort analyses with experimental models, this study identifies prenatal infection as a significant maternal risk factor associated with elevated glucocorticoid (GC) exposure in offspring. In animal model, maternal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure induced fetal GC surges, leading to GC receptor (GR)-dependent upregulation of inhibitor of DNA binding 3(Id3). Elevated Id3 formed complexes with E47, impairing its suppression of the astrocytic gene S100b and promoting aberrant astroglial differentiation. This astrocytic dysfunction disrupted synaptic glutamate/GABA homeostasis, resulting in core autistic-like behavioral phenotypes. Importantly, prenatal pharmacologic inhibition of GR signaling or downregulation of Id3 rescued Id3-E47 functional equilibrium, normalized astrocytic differentiation, and attenuated behavioral deficits. Our findings establish the GC-GR-Id3/E47 pathway as a mechanistic link between prenatal environmental insults and neurodevelopmental pathology, providing novel etiological insights into an ASD subtype of gestational infection.

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