1. Re: Fertility Rates Among Women With Intellectual and Developmental Disability Enrolled in Medicaid and/or Medicare, 2011-2022. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2026.

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2. Dimitriou D, Madhesh A. Editorial: Exploring factors to optimise quality of life in developmental disabilities in Arab countries. Res Dev Disabil. 2026: 105289.

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3. Du JH, Shen M, Mathys H, Roeder K. Uncovering causal relationships in single-cell omic studies with causarray. Brief Bioinform. 2026; 27(2).

Advances in single-cell sequencing and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technologies have enabled detailed case-control comparisons and experimental perturbations at single-cell resolution. However, uncovering causal relationships in observational genomic data remains challenging due to selection bias and inadequate adjustment for unmeasured confounders, particularly in heterogeneous datasets. To address these challenges, we introduce causarray, a robust causal inference framework for analyzing array-based genomic data at both pseudo-bulk and single-cell levels under unmeasured confounding. causarray integrates a generalized confounder adjustment method to account for unmeasured confounders and employs semiparametric inference with flexible machine learning techniques to ensure robust statistical estimation of treatment effects. Benchmarking results show that causarray robustly separates treatment effects from confounders while preserving biological signals across diverse settings. We also apply causarray to two single-cell genomic studies: (i) an in vivo Perturb-seq study of autism risk genes in developing mouse brains and (ii) a case-control study of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) using three human brain transcriptomic datasets. In these applications, causarray identifies clustered causal effects of multiple autism risk genes and consistent causally affected genes across AD datasets, uncovering biologically relevant pathways directly linked to neuronal development and synaptic functions that are critical for understanding disease pathology.

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4. Elderkin M, Todd AR. De-gendering and dehumanization in mental representations of autistic men’s and women’s facial appearance. Sci Rep. 2026.

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5. Farooqi NNU, Nyengaard JR, Banke TG. Age-Related Decline in Dendritic Architecture of Hippocampal CA1 Principal Neurons in a Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome. Dev Neurobiol. 2026; 86(2): e70030.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability and is associated with attention deficits, hyperactivity, anxiety, impulsivity, and repetitive behaviors. The disorder results from transcriptional silencing of the FMR1 gene, leading to loss of fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein (FMRP), an RNA-binding protein that regulates local dendritic translation by repressing ribosomal activity. To examine how impaired local protein synthesis affects dendritic organization, we used Golgi-Cox staining to analyze hippocampal CA1 principal neurons across four developmental stages (P14-21, P30-40, P60-80, and P120-150) in an FXS mouse model. We identified a progressive reduction in dendritic complexity, reflected by decreased Sholl intersections and reduced dendritic branch number and length. In contrast, spine density was increased in both apical and basal dendrites during early development but normalized to wild-type levels in adulthood. Collectively, these structural alterations are likely to disrupt neural circuit development, with downstream consequences for cognition and behavior characteristic of FXS.

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6. Hansford RLW, Halliday S, Bobbette N, Mullins L, Godfrey C, Przednowek A, Srasuebkul P, McMahon M, Mahar AL. How are adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities represented, included and engaged in cancer research: A scoping review protocol. PLoS One. 2026; 21(4): e0346010.

Cancer research has shifted to highlight and empower the voices and experiences of patients in informing and guiding research. Adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities experience worse cancer-related outcomes compared to those without disabilities, including lower screening rates, more advanced stages at diagnosis, and lower survival likelihood. However, limited research has been conducted on how they are involved in cancer research. To improve how cancer-related care is provided to adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, it is imperative that they are included in research that affects them. The objective of this scoping review is to explore and synthesize how adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities are represented, involved, and engaged in cancer research. This study will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Embase, Medline, PsycINFO and CINAHL will be searched to identify published studies. Based on timing of the introduction of the United Nations on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, searches will be conducted from 2006 onwards. There will be no language restrictions. Eligible studies will include primary cancer-related research that focuses on adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and/or those involved in their care, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research. Two independent reviewers will screen titles, abstracts, conduct full text reviews, and extract information on how participants were recruited in research, and/or identified in administrative quantitative studies, and how they were involved. Information will also be extracted on how adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities were involved in the study based on the International Association for Public Participation spectrum (inform, consult, involve, collaborate, and empower). Our findings will help us better understand how adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities are engaged in cancer research and identify potential next steps for enhancing accessibility and inclusion in cancer research.

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7. Israel A, Mimouni FB, Vinker S, Mendlovic J. Prematurity and autism: a dose-response relationship across gestational age. J Perinatol. 2026.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize how autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk varies with gestational age at birth. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children born between 2011 and 2023. ASD was identified using ICD-10 codes. Each ASD case (n = 1861) was matched to ten controls using exact and propensity-score matching on sex, birth year, maternal age, ethnic sector, socioeconomic status, and region. Gestational age was grouped into clinically relevant categories, and associations with ASD were evaluated using Fisher’s exact test and conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: ASD risk increased progressively with prematurity. Compared with term birth (37-42 weeks), adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) were 1.37 (1.10-1.71) at 36 weeks, 1.67 (1.30-2.15) at 34-35 weeks, 2.14 (1.43-3.18) at 32-33 weeks, 2.95 (1.89-4.59) at 28-31 weeks, and 4.37 (2.26-8.44) below 28 weeks. CONCLUSION: Earlier gestational age is associated with increased ASD risk in a dose-response manner.

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8. Joo H, Kong J, Hong S, Jo Y, Son Y, Lee S, Yeo D, Lee K, Lee H, Woo HG, Boyer L, Fond G, Yon DK. Comorbid clinical and biomarker outcomes in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: An umbrella review and evidence map. J Affect Disord. 2026; 399: 121058.

BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic psychiatric condition with diverse comorbidities, yet outcome research remains limited. Thus, we aimed to systematically review existing meta-analyses of OCD-associated comorbid outcomes and assess the strength of evidence. METHODS: We conducted an umbrella review of meta-analyses, searching PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Google Scholar up to July 7, 2025. Although we intended to include all studies related to OCD-associated comorbid outcomes, only observational studies were available. Effect sizes were recalculated using random-effects models, and all estimates were converted to equivalent standardized mean differences (eSMD) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). The methodological quality of the included reviews was assessed using the AMSTAR 2 tool, and the class of evidence (CE) for each association was graded according to predefined criteria (Class I-IV). RESULTS: We identified 17 meta-analyses that included 373 primary studies, covering 52 outcomes in 156,161 participants across 40 countries. Patients with OCD were associated with autistic traits outcomes, including restricted and repetitive behaviors (eSMD, 1.66 [95 % CI, 1.25-2.07]; CE = IV), and total autism-spectrum quotient score (1.40 [1.06-1.81]; CE = IV). OCD also showed associations of varying strength with several other outcomes, including suicidal attempt (0.64 [0.47-0.81]; CE = II) and toxoplasmosis infection (0.37 [0.15-0.59]; CE = III). Furthermore, quality of life was decreased across multiple domains in individuals with OCD (emotional, -1.47 [-1.96 to -0.98]; CE = II; global, -0.79 [-1.02 to -0.55]; CE = II; work/social, -1.21 [-1.72 to -0.69]; CE = III). CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the comprehensive impact of OCD, indicating associations with autism, suicidality, social-cognitive deficits, impaired quality of life, and neurobiological markers. STUDY REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD420251124380.

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9. Kamış B, Çam Ray P, Çelik GG, Binokay H. Anti-GAD antibody biochemical correlates of autism symptoms in children: a case-control study. Front Psychiatry. 2026; 17: 1727227.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (Anti-GAD) antibodies and selected biochemical parameters are associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), symptom severity, and autistic regression in a case-control design. We hypothesized that Anti-GAD titers would be higher in ASD and associated with greater symptom burden. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children aged 2-9 years with ASD diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria and age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Laboratory analyses assessed Anti-GAD, ASO, ferritin, iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and folate. Clinical evaluations included the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT), and Ankara Developmental Screening Inventory (AGTE). Autistic regression was defined as loss of previously acquired language and/or social communication skills lasting ≥3 months between 15 and 30 months of age. RESULTS: Ninety children participated (45 with ASD and 45 controls). Anti-GAD antibody levels were higher in the ASD group than in controls (p = 0.003). Although statistically significant, the absolute difference between groups was modest. Among ASD cases, 62% met criteria for regression; this relatively high proportion may reflect the clinic-based sampling and the operational definition applied. Compared with those without regression, children with regression had higher Anti-GAD titers and ABC scores but lower iron and ferritin levels (all p < 0.05). Anti-GAD levels correlated positively with ABC total scores (r = 0.724, p = 0.01). These findings reflect statistical associations and do not imply causality. CONCLUSION: Higher Anti-GAD antibody levels were statistically associated with ASD, autistic regression, and greater behavioral symptom severity in this sample. These results suggest possible immune-related contributions to ASD heterogeneity; however, larger longitudinal studies are needed before clinical or biomarker implications can be established.

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10. Kuang C, Chen F, Nie Y, Gou Z, Yan J, Liu G. Investigating Prosodic Focus Perception and Production in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2026: 1-20.

PURPOSE: Speakers of all human languages use prosodic changes to encode focus, and the ability to perceive and produce prosodic focus is crucial for developing linguistic and communicative skills. This review aims to explore the performance of prosodic focus perception and production among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to identify potential factors contributing to inconsistent findings in previous studies. METHOD: We conducted a systematic search in three electronic databases and one web search engine to identify peer-reviewed research articles that compared the perception and production of prosodic focus between individuals with ASD and typically developing (TD) individuals. Effect sizes were calculated based on random-effects models. Meta-regression analyses were conducted to assess potential individual and methodological moderators. RESULTS: The comparison of perception accuracy between 441 individuals with ASD and 511 TD individuals revealed that individuals with ASD exhibited impaired prosodic focus perception (Hedges’s g = -0.40), with no significant moderators for heterogeneity across studies. Meanwhile, we compared production accuracy between 483 individuals with ASD and 619 TD individuals, finding that production impairments in ASD were more pronounced (Hedges’s g = -0.85). The moderator analysis revealed that nonverbal IQ and expressive language skills were significant moderators of production accuracy. Besides, individuals with ASD also exhibited greater pitch variation in prosodic focus production. CONCLUSION: Overall, these findings suggest that individuals with ASD exhibit greater difficulties in the production of prosodic focus compared to its perception, and increased pitch variation might be a prosodic feature associated with ASD. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.31934088.

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11. Leisman G, Roy R, Alfasi R. Perception as self-organizing interaction: embodied cognition, artificial intelligence, and autism. Front Psychol. 2026; 17: 1803234.

Perception has traditionally been conceptualized as the internal reconstruction of external stimuli, both in cognitive science and in artificial intelligence (AI). In this representational view, sensory systems transform input into internal models that guide cognition and action. However, converging evidence from neuroscience, perceptual science, developmental psychology, autism research, robotics, and contemporary AI increasingly challenges this assumption. Across these domains, perception appears to emerge through active, embodied engagement with the environment rather than through passive signal processing or static internal representation. Embodied cognition theories propose that perceptual meaning arises from lawful relations among bodily constraints, action, temporal coordination, and environmental feedback, emphasizing perception as an ongoing process of interaction. In parallel, recent advances in AI have shifted away from purely feedforward or data-driven perceptual architectures toward closed-loop, predictive, and self-organizing systems in which perception and action are inseparable components of adaptive behavior. Approaches such as embodied reinforcement learning, active inference, and world-model-based learning increasingly treat perception as emerging through sensorimotor interaction and temporally structured regulation rather than inference alone. This theoretical paper integrates embodied cognition with contemporary AI-driven models of perception, arguing that embodiment functions as a generative constraint enabling robust, context-sensitive, and developmentally grounded sensory cognition across biological and artificial systems. We further extend this framework to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), proposing that many sensory-perceptual differences in autism can be understood as variations in embodied self-organization, predictive regulation, and temporal coordination rather than as deficits in abstract cognition. Finally, we discuss how embodied AI systems can serve as formal testbeds for exploring autism-relevant perceptual mechanisms and for designing adaptive, interaction-based technologies that support perceptual coherence without imposing normative behavioral models.

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12. Martins JDN, Souza L, Alencar LYN, Almeida PHF, Meireles CDL, Dos Santos SM, Lima KCN, Bahia G, Leão da Penha LKR, da Silva A, Oliveira K, Bahia CP, Monteiro MC. Sex-Dependent Behavioral and Biochemical Alterations in a Prenatal Oral Valproic Acid Rat Model of Autism. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2026; 17(8): 1490-504.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impaired sociability, repetitive behaviors, and communication deficits. Animal models have been instrumental in elucidating the mechanisms underlying ASD, with prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) being one of the most widely validated approaches. However, most studies rely on intraperitoneal administration, which poorly reflects human exposure. Here, we investigated the effects of oral prenatal VPA exposure in Wistar rats, focusing on behavioral outcomes, biochemical alterations, and sex-dependent differences. Pregnant females received VPA (500 mg/kg) by gavage on gestational days 11-13, and offspring were monitored from neonatal to juvenile stages. VPA-exposed pups exhibited delayed physical maturation, including postponed eye opening, tooth eruption, and locomotor development, along with reduced body weight gain. In the juvenile phase, VPA impaired sociability, reduced exploratory activity, and increased repetitive self-grooming. Importantly, behavioral effects were sex-specific: males showed more pronounced deficits in social interaction, whereas females exhibited stronger stereotyped and anxiety-like behaviors. Biochemical assays revealed elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite levels, consistent with oxidative and nitrosative stress, especially in the hippocampus and PFC. Additionally, VPA-exposed females showed a marked reduction in hippocampal glutathione (GSH), while males exhibited increased glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the PFC, indicating disrupted excitatory/inhibitory balance. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that oral VPA administration induces autism-like phenotypes and region-specific neurochemical alterations in a sex-dependent manner. This study reinforces the translational validity of the oral VPA model and identifies oxidative stress and neurotransmitter imbalance as potential biomarkers for ASD pathophysiology and therapeutic intervention.

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13. Mustafin RN. [Features of brain involvement in tuberous sclerosis patients in the Republic of Bashkortostan]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2026; 126(3): 81-6.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the features of brain involvement and to characterize the genetic causes of tuberous sclerosis (TS) in patients in the Republic of Bashkortostan. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of data on patients with TS registered with geneticists of the Republican Medical Genetic Center for the period from 2012 to 2025 was performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of TS in the republic was 2.12 per 100.000 population. Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma was detected in 19%, epilepsy in 67%, subependymal hamartomas in 66%, and cortical tubers in 43% of patients. Cognitive deficits were present in 47% of patients, while autism spectrum disorders were found in only 1%. Mutations were identified in the TSC1 gene in 5 patients, the TSC2 gene in 19 patients, and extended deletions of the TSC2 gene in 4 patients. DISCUSSION: TS prevalence in the region is 5.24 times lower than the global average. The frequencies of cortical tubers, subependymal nodes, cognitive deficits, and autism spectrum disorders are also significantly lower than those reported in international meta-analyses. No data were available on behavioral disorders or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Five TSC1 gene mutations (three de novo) and 19 TSC2 gene mutations (one de novo) were reported. Eight patients received targeted therapy. CONCLUSION: Raising awareness of TS among physicians in all specialties is essential to ensure comprehensive case reporting. Genetic confirmation of TS enables effective treatment with mTOR inhibitors. All TS patients should consult a psychiatrist and psychologist for the diagnosis and management of intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, and behavioral disorders.

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14. O’Connor HG, Crutcher J, Burke JD, Butler E, Fein D, Eigsti IM. Symptoms of Oppositional Behavior In autistic Adolescents and Adolescents Who Have Lost the Autism diagnosis. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol. 2026; 54(2).

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15. Osaki T, Delepine C, Osako Y, Kranz D, Levin A, Nelson C, Fagiolini M, Sur M. Early differential impact of MeCP2 mutations on functional networks in Rett syndrome patient-derived human cortical organoids. Nat Commun. 2026.

Human cerebral organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells can recapture early developmental processes and reveal changes involving neurodevelopmental disorders. Mutations in the X-linked methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene are associated with Rett syndrome, and disease severity varies depending on the location and type of mutation. Here, we focused on neuronal activity in Rett syndrome patient-derived organoids, analyzing two types of MECP2 mutations-a missense mutation (R306C) and a truncating mutation (V247X)-using calcium imaging with three-photon microscopy. Compared to isogenic controls, we found abnormal neuronal activity in Rett organoids and altered network function based on graph theoretic analyses, with V247X mutations impacting functional responses and connectivity more severely than R306C mutations. These changes paralleled EEG data obtained from patients with comparable mutations. Labeling >/>DLX promoter-driven inhibitory neurons demonstrated differences in activity and functional connectivity of inhibitory and excitatory neurons in the two types of mutations. Transcriptomic analyses revealed HDAC2-associated impairment in R306C organoids and decreased GABA(A) receptor expression in excitatory neurons in V247X organoids. These findings demonstrate mutation-specific mechanisms of vulnerability in Rett syndrome and suggest targeted strategies for their treatment.

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16. Parikh A, Gupta S, Reicher D, Hensley-Spera M, Walker SD, Voigt RG. When There is no Available Evidence-Targeted Management of Comorbid Anxiety to Address Aggression in a Child With Severe Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2026; 47(2): e261-e3.

Jake is a 13-year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder with an accompanying language impairment and intellectual disability of unknown cause (despite a comprehensive medical workup), who is nonverbal. He was referred by his pediatrician, and after 3 months on a wait list, he was evaluated as an outpatient by a child psychiatrist for a 6-month history of having multiple daily episodes of aggression and self-injury. These episodes often lasted upward of an hour and were usually triggered by transitions or delayed gratification. Prior trials of risperidone, aripiprazole, and guanfacine yielded minimal benefit. Despite enrollment in a self-contained special education program, he was removed from school because of severe aggression.Jake’s aggression has persisted despite trials of clonazepam (up to 2 mg daily), clonidine (up to 0.2 mg daily), and a retrial of aripiprazole (up to 20 mg) in various combinations. The family described significant property destruction at home, frequent injuries to others, and persistent self-injury. During this time, Jake presented to the Emergency Room (ER) 6 times, often requiring physical restraints and 2:1 observation. Treatment with chlorpromazine (titrated up to 300 mg daily) and valproate (titrated up to 1500 mg daily) were initiated in the ER. He was denied admission to multiple acute inpatient units and residential centers because of his aggression. Attempts at in-home behavioral services failed when therapists refused to return. Services through a state office for individuals with developmental disabilities were pursued for over 2 years and are yet to be established.Jake was followed weekly by his child psychiatrist. His treatments with valproate and aripiprazole were both discontinued for lack of efficacy, and his treatment with chlorpromazine was consolidated to 100 mg nightly given its benefit for sleep. His treatments with clonidine and clonazepam were maintained, with minor dose adjustment, offering partial symptom relief in the setting of otherwise refractory behavioral dysregulation. Trazodone was trialed briefly for sleep but discontinued because of lack of benefit. Although these regimens occasionally blunted the outbursts, they were limited by sedation, often prompting the parents to self-adjust doses.Most recently, Jake’s parents described certain anxious behaviors, such as insistence on sleeping in their room and intense aggression episodes whenever his father would attempt to leave the house. Suspected comorbid anxiety prompted initiation of sertraline at a dose of 12.5 mg/day with reported reduction in aggression within 1 week. With titration to 100 mg/day, Jake’s outbursts became less frequent, shorter, and easier to de-escalate, and his sleep schedule normalized. Because of these improvements in association with his initiation of treatment with sertraline, Jake was successfully weaned off his treatment with clonazepam and clonidine. His current psychotropic medication regimen includes sertraline at a dose of 100 mg daily and chlorpromazine at a dose of 100 mg nightly. Jake has continued to show improved aggressive and self-injurious behavior over the course of 6 months of this treatment regimen.In a combined Child Psychiatry/Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics case conference, what teaching points are raised by this case?

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17. Procyshyn TL, Weir EM, Pelton M, Chikaura T, Hodges H, Comley K, Godson S, Allison C, Baron-Cohen S. Occurrence and Correlates of Suicidal Thoughts Among Young Autistic Users of a Mental Health App. Autism Res. 2026: e70251.

Young autistic people experience disproportionately high rates of mental health challenges, yet little is known about factors associated with suicidality in this group. This study leveraged anonymous self-report data to identify correlates of suicidal thoughts among 365 young users (aged approximately 11-25 years) of a mental health app in the United Kingdom with an autism diagnosis or self-identifying as autistic. The presence of suicidal thoughts was assessed as a binary item. Binary logistic regression was used to explore correlates of suicidal thoughts across three domains: mental health-related symptoms, autism-related factors, and adverse life events/experiences. The final model included all significant correlates from domain-specific models alongside demographic factors. Suicidal thoughts were reported by 63% of participants, with similar rates across age groups. The final model accounted for nearly 50% of variability in the presence of suicidal thoughts (R(2) (Nagelkerke) = 0.48, p < 0.001). Self-harm and depression showed the strongest positive associations (odds ratio, OR and [95% confidence interval] = 6.41 [3.62, 11.35] and 4.58 [2.51, 8.35], respectively), followed by a history of physical abuse (OR = 3.01 [1.20, 7.56]) and a transgender/gender-diverse identity (OR = 2.13 [1.11, 4.10]). Personal use of the term "neurodiversity" was associated with a lower likelihood of suicidal thoughts (OR = 0.45 [0.24, 0.83]). These findings contribute to evidence of high rates of suicidal thoughts among young autistic people and associations with self-harm, depression, a history of abuse, and a gender minority identity. Self-identification with the term neurodiversity emerged as a potential protective factor, although this novel finding warrants further research. Overall, this study highlights the importance of access to autism-adapted mental health care, addressing trauma and identity-related stressors, and fostering belonging and connection as part of comprehensive suicide prevention strategies for autistic youth. This study analyzed data from 365 young autistic people in the United Kingdom who were users of a mental health app to examine how common suicidal thoughts were and what factors were associated with them. Suicidal thoughts were reported by 63% of participants and were most strongly linked to depression, self‐harm, history of physical abuse, and having a gender minority identity. As this was not a population‐based study, our sample is likely to experience higher levels of mental health difficulties than young autistic people in general. These findings stress the need for accessible autism‐adapted mental health care, addressing trauma and identity‐related stressors, and fostering belonging and connection as part of comprehensive suicide prevention strategies for autistic youth. eng.

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18. Ramírez VA, Assalone F, Ruetti E. Perceived stress and family quality of life in parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. J Health Psychol. 2026: 13591053261437586.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that affects the lives of those who experience it and their families. Despite its prevalence, few studies have been conducted that address the relationship between the level of stress among parents of children with ASD and the quality of family life. Therefore, the relationship between the level of stress among parents of children with ASD and the quality of family life is analyzed. The sample consisted of 87 parents of children diagnosed with ASD, who were given questionnaires to assess their perception of stress and quality of family life. No differences were found in perceived stress and family quality of life by gender, but inverse correlations were found between them. The age of parents was not correlated with their perception of stress or family quality. In conclusion, the present research emphasizes the importance of providing psychoeducation and coping strategies to families with ASD.

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19. Rancaño KM, Zhao X, Munnich E, Whaley C, Lee JY, Kranz AM. Dental Surgeries in Hospitals and Surgery Centers for Children With Developmental Disabilities. Hosp Pediatr. 2026.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Children with intellectual disabilities and related conditions (IDRC) and autism often require dental treatment in surgical settings. Studies of older adults suggest that ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) can reduce costs without reducing quality, but it is unknown whether this is true for children with autism and IDRC and dental surgeries. This study compared outcomes among children with IDRC and autism receiving dental caries-related surgeries at ASCs and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis used Medicaid data from 29 states (2016-2020) to examine 17 552 outpatient dental surgeries in ASCs and HOPDs for children with IDRC or autism. Regression models were used to examine whether outcomes varied by setting of care (ASC vs HOPD). The following outcomes were included: days from diagnosis to surgery, Medicaid payment, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalization after surgery. RESULTS: Multivariate regression results indicate time from diagnosis to surgery was, on average, 8.7 days sooner for a child with autism and 13.2 days sooner for a child with IDRC if furnished in an ASC compared with a HOPD (P < .001 for both). Average Medicaid payment was $419 and $363 less in an ASC than HOPD for a child with autism (P = .003) or IDRC (P = .02), respectively. The likelihood of an ED visit or hospitalization was lower in an ASC than HOPD for a child with IDRC (P < .001), but not autism (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing use of ASCs for dental care may increase timely receipt of care and lower Medicaid costs without increasing adverse outcomes for children with autism and IDRC.

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20. Sako I, Maekawa T, Iijima H, Ishiguro A. Delayed diagnosis of congenital duodenal obstruction in early adolescence in a patient with Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. BMJ Case Rep. 2026; 19(4).

Congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO) is a recognised anomaly frequently associated with Down syndrome (DS). While complete obstruction is typically diagnosed in the neonatal period, incomplete obstruction may present with milder, non-specific symptoms, often delaying diagnosis.We report a boy in early adolescence with DS and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in whom CDO was diagnosed in adolescence. Since early childhood, his eating behaviour was restricted to finely chopped foods, initially interpreted as a behavioural feature related to DS and ASD. This likely masked gastrointestinal symptoms and contributed to the delayed recognition of CDO. It is also possible that subclinical duodenal obstruction became symptomatic as food intake increased during puberty.This case highlights the importance of considering incomplete CDO in children with DS, especially those with ASD, when persistent feeding difficulties are present-particularly if attributed solely to developmental or sensory issues.

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21. Sandbank M, Bottema-Beutel K, LaPoint SC, Feldman JI, Woynaroski T. The Influence of Language and Cognition on Intervention Effects in Young Autistic Children: A Meta-Regression Analysis. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2026: 1-16.

BACKGROUND: Young autistic children have a range of language and cognitive abilities and, as a result, may differentially benefit from interventions supporting skills in these and related domains. Although studies have previously examined the extent to which participant characteristics interact with intervention effects, they have primarily restricted the analyses to a single intervention approach. METHOD: In the present study, we drew on data from a comprehensive meta-analysis of group design, nonpharmacological intervention studies for young autistic children to test these effects. Specifically, we conducted a secondary meta-regression analysis to examine whether cognitive and language standard scores and age equivalents at study entry significantly moderated intervention effects across intervention type on adaptive, cognitive, language, and social communication outcomes and separately across outcome type for behavioral, developmental, naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions and technology-based interventions. Cognitive and language ability was quantified using reported or estimated standard scores, and cognitive and language level was quantified using reported or estimated age-equivalent scores. Analyses within outcome type were conducted using a data set of 1,911 effect sizes from 202 independent samples, and analyses within intervention type were conducted using a data set of 2,137 effect sizes from 144 independent samples. RESULTS: Few studies reported standard scores and/or age equivalents for participant language. None of the putative moderators significantly predicted intervention effects by outcome domain (i.e., adaptive, cognitive, language, and social communication). Both cognitive standard and age-equivalent scores positively and significantly predicted effects of technology-based interventions exclusively, but we did not find robust evidence that language standard or age-equivalent scores significantly predicted effects by intervention type. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are exploratory and warrant cautious interpretation. Future intervention researchers should extensively characterize participant samples in terms of their language and cognitive ability to aid meta-analytic investigation. The field would benefit from additional high-quality randomized controlled trials testing whether intervention effects vary by participant characteristics, using preplanned moderator analyses, valid measures, and large representative samples. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.31967844.

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22. Santos LS, Zuanetti PA, Zulian JB, Alpes MF, Pontes-Fernandes AC, Fukuda MTH. Oral narrative discourse in schoolchildren with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Codas. 2026; 38(2): e20250042.

PURPOSE: To analyze the characteristics of oral narrative discourse in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: The study included schoolchildren aged 6 to 10 years, divided into two groups: ASD group (n = 26), with oral children diagnosed with ASD; and control group (n = 26), with typically developing children. Sociodemographic data were collected through questionnaires applied to parents/guardians, and the schoolchildren were evaluated regarding intellectual estimation and oral narrative discourse (partial retelling, total retelling, and story comprehension); the story was read aloud to them. RESULTS: The schoolchildren belonged to socioeconomic classes A/B, and most mothers had a bachelor’s degree. No schoolchild was classified as intellectually disabled. The oral narrative instrument identified a difference between the groups in the partial retelling test; the ASD group performed worse. There was no difference in total retelling or oral comprehension. Regarding the morphosyntax used in constructing narrative sentences, a difference was identified in the use of nouns and prepositions, with poorer performance in the ASD group. No significant differences were observed in the use of other morphosyntactic categories. CONCLUSION: Schoolchildren with ASD, in favorable sociodemographic conditions, present oral narrative performance similar to that of typically developing children, with occasional differences.

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23. Semelidou O, Gauvrit T, Vandromme C, Cornier A, Saint-Jean A, Feuvre YL, Ginger M, Frick A. Diminished Signal-to-Noise Ratio Disrupts Somatosensory Population Encoding and Drives Tactile Hyposensitivity in the Fmr1(-/y) Autism Model. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2026: e19479.

Touch is essential for interacting with the world, and atypical tactile experience is a core feature of autism that profoundly affects daily life. However, we do not know the neural mechanisms of low-level tactile perception and their alterations in autism. Using a translational forepaw-based perceptual task, we recapitulate the multifaceted tactile features of autistic individuals in the Fmr1(-/y) mouse model of autism, showing reduced detection of low-level vibrotactile stimuli, interindividual variability, and unreliable responses. We reveal that impaired detection decoding in Fmr1(-/y)-hyposensitive mice stems from diminished single-neuron signal-to-noise ratio within layers 2/3 of the primary somatosensory cortex that contributes to weak population encoding of the tactile stimulus and its detection. This manifests as reduced stimulus-dependent neural recruitment, impaired response precision, and disrupted ensemble dynamics. Decreasing neuronal excitability strengthens sensory encoding and restores tactile perception. This work provides a translational framework for probing neuronal-perceptual changes in neurodevelopmental conditions, reveals inter-individual variability in preclinical models, and uncovers the neural basis of tactile hyposensitivity in autism.

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24. Shwetha KS, Deepak G, Chaitra SP, Raghavendra CK, Singh B. Spatial structure based deep feature fusion network for autism spectrum disorder classification. Sci Rep. 2026.

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25. Valarmathi P, Packialatha A. Virtual Reality Based Adaptive Game for Enhancing Joint Attention in Children With Autism. Int J Dev Neurosci. 2026; 86(2): e70122.

Atypical brain development is a characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder that frequently shows up as deficits in joint attention, a crucial social-communication ability including gaze sharing and gaze following. Children with ASD frequently exhibit atypical gaze behaviours that hinder effective coordination of attention with others. Although recent studies have explored virtual reality (VR) to address these aspects, the existing systems rely primarily on performance-based learning and offer limited adaptability to individual behavioural patterns. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes a novel virtual reality and adaptive game-based system (VRAGS) designed to assess and enhance attention in children with ASD, thereby supporting improved learning capacity. The proposed framework begins with data acquisition through the 3D game environment. The collected data are preprocessed using an improved tanh normalization, which effectively suppresses noise while preserving informative variations for learning. Then, the feature extraction process takes place, in which the raw data features, statistical features and improved entropy features are derived. The improved entropy is computed using information gain, prioritizing features that maximally reduce uncertainty with respect to attention states, thereby enhancing discriminative power. Finally, the attention prediction is done via the hybrid classification (HC) model that integrates an Adam-optimized deep convolutional neural network (AODCNN) and a bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) network. This architecture collectively captures hierarchical spatial patterns and temporal dependencies within the data. The integration of the improved tanh activation and Adam optimization in the AODCNN model ensures stable convergence and robust feature learning. Moreover, the experimental evaluation demonstrates that the proposed model significantly outperforms existing methods, achieving an accuracy of 0.933, an F-measure of 0.925 and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.936. These findings demonstrate the potential of the suggested framework as a customized, adaptable tool for therapeutic intervention and support its efficacy in precisely predicting attention levels in children with ASD.

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26. Wang GH, Xiao LL, Jia WM, Liu ZX, Jia HB, Sun YX, Zi ZK, Zhang XQ. Deficiency of pnkp in zebrafish causes microcephaly, seizures, and developmental delay through mitochondrial dysfunction. Zool Res. 2026; 47(2): 429-43.

Variants in PNKP cause a severe neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by microcephaly, seizures, and developmental delay (MCSZ). Despite clear clinical significance, the pathological mechanisms underlying this condition remain incompletely understood. In this study, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing was applied to generate a zebrafish pnkp knockout model ( pnkp (-/-) ), overcoming limitations associated with previously reported mouse models that exhibited postnatal lethality. The pnkp (-/-) zebrafish faithfully recapitulated key phenotypic traits observed in human PNKP deficiency, facilitating in-depth exploration of the molecular mechanisms contributing to disease. Loss of PNKP function resulted in mitochondrial DNA damage, accompanied by disruption of mitochondrial ultrastructure and bioenergetic function, increased apoptosis, and reduced autophagic activity, collectively leading to pronounced cerebral neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Transcriptomic analysis based on RNA sequencing identified marked down-regulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor-related genes. Pharmacological activation of GABA (A) receptors with muscimol partially rescued hyperactive behavior in pnkp (-/-) zebrafish, suggesting a potential link between GABAergic signaling and seizure-related phenotypes. Drug screening performed using the pnkp (-/-) zebrafish model further identified lamotrigine as a comparatively effective compound for seizure control associated with PNKP mutations. These findings clarify mechanistic links between PNKP deficiency and MCSZ pathology, identify candidate therapeutic agents, and provide an experimental framework for investigation of disorders associated with defective DNA repair.

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27. Wells DA, Jaber D, Dey S, VanZant JS, Carson RA, Klem ML, Sharghi S, Seese RR. The prevalence of autism in cerebellar malformations: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurodev Disord. 2026.

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28. Yıldız Bayındır B, Coskun M, Kucukgergin C, Karayagmurlu A. A case-controlled study of serum BDNF, GDNF, and NGF levels in autistic youth with and without bipolar disorder. J Affect Disord. 2026; 399: 121042.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Research on the different aspects of bipolar disorder (BD) in special populations, such as youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is limited. This case-controlled study aimed to investigate the serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and nerve growth factor (NGF) in youth with ASD with and without comorbid BD. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Forty young subjects (13.47 ± 2.89 years) diagnosed with ASD with comorbid BD were included in the case group, and 40 age/gender-matched subjects with diagnosis of ASD without any mood disorders were included in the control group. The serum levels of BDNF, GDNF, and NGF were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) was used to assess ASD severity in the subjects. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Serum BDNF levels were significantly lower in the case group than in the control group (p = 0.002). No significant differences were observed in GDNF and NGF levels between the two groups (p > 0.05). The severity of ASD was significantly higher in the case group (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Low serum BDNF levels may be associated with BD comorbidity in youth with ASD. Given the difficulty in diagnosing BD in this population, serum BDNF levels may be a biomarker associated with the development/diagnosis of BD in youth with ASD. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required to validate these findings.

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