1. Bergdolt L, Anding A, Alshaqi O, Arbabi Z, Douchey M, Eldridge E, Hoffman K, Reid A, Sapkota K, Monaghan D, Taraschenko O, Padmashri R, Dunaevsky A. Contribution of astrocytic calcium signaling to auditory hypersensitivity in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. Neurobiol Dis. 2026: 107355.

Hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli is a common co-morbidity of Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the leading monogenic form of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Neuronal impairments associated with auditory and tactile hypersensitivity have been reported in the Fmr1 knockout mouse model of FXS. However, the contribution of astrocytes, in which Fmr1 is also expressed, to sensory hypersensitivity has not been defined. Using mice with astrocyte-specific deletion of Fmr1 (cKO) and mice with astrocyte-specific expression of Fmr1 (cON), we demonstrated that loss of astrocytic FMRP is sufficient but not necessary to confer susceptibility to audiogenic seizures (AGS), an indication of auditory hypersensitivity. Moreover, in vivo multiphoton imaging revealed increased astrocytic calcium signaling in Fmr1 KO mice. To test if enhanced astrocyte calcium signaling contributes to increased AGS, we crossed Fmr1 deletion mice to IP3R2 mutant mice. Reduced expression of IP3R2 rescued the AGS phenotype in the Fmr1 astrocyte cKO but not in the global Fmr1 KO mouse. Our results reveal that astrocytes contribute to AGS in mouse models of FXS through enhanced calcium signaling.

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2. Bong G, Jung Y, Kyung S, Song DY, Jung J, Han JH, Lim J, Yoo HJ. Exploring the Potential of a Scenario-Based Approach to Early Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening. Psychiatry Investig. 2026; 23(3): 426-35.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and screening accuracy of a brief scenario-based, video-delivered tool for early identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in young children. METHODS: Data were analyzed from 211 children aged 12-42 months (ASD [n=140], other developmental disorders [OD] [n=35], and typically developing [TD] [n=36]) who completed a 5-minute scenario-based ASD early screening tool eliciting eight target behaviors: initiation/response to joint attention, response to name, eye contact, social referencing, imitation, social smiling, and pointing. Behaviors were scored using two criteria (0-16 symptom score; number of activities with partial or complete non-response). Diagnostic classification (ASD, OD, and TD) followed best-estimate diagnoses integrating Korean Version of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Korean Version of the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised, Behavior Development Screening for Toddlers, Social Responsiveness Scale 2nd edition, Social Communication Questionnaire, and Korean Version of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Second Edition. Group differences and screening performance were examined with analysis of variance, chi-square tests, and receiver operating characteristic analyses. RESULTS: Significant group differences emerged for response to name, eye contact, pointing, social referencing, social smiling, and initiation of joint attention, especially between ASD and non-ASD groups. Across scoring methods, children with ASD showed higher total scores and more non-responsive activities (all p<0.001). Area under the curve values were 0.703 for the total score and 0.676 and 0.700 for the two non-response indices, indicating good overall discrimination with relatively high sensitivity and modest specificity. CONCLUSION: This scenario-based ASD early screening tool shows promising feasibility and accuracy as a brief, standardized video screener for toddlers and preschoolers. With its accessibility and scalability, it has potential for widespread use in community and home settings, warranting further refinement to improve specificity and implementation in real-world practice.

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3. Chaudet J, Pichot J, Pedoux A, Fleury M, Maruani A, Vantalon V, Humeau E, Bourgeron T, Houenou J, Dumas G, Duchesnay E, Delorme R, Iftimovici A, Lefebvre A. Beta power as a neural correlate of sensory features in autistic individuals. J Neurodev Disord. 2026.

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4. Hernández-Sierra LJ, Salgado-Delgado RC, Ibáñez-Sandoval O, Saderi N. Early-Life Melatonin Supplementation Reduces the Long-Term Behavioral, Morphological, and Molecular Alterations in a Rat Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Pineal Res. 2026; 78(2): e70136.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by significant challenges in social interactions and repetitive behaviors. Its prevalence is high, with males affected at a rate four times higher than females. Among various comorbidities associated with ASD, sleep disorders and abnormal melatonin levels have emerged as critical areas of concern. Melatonin, a potent endogenous hormone, plays essential roles as a circadian regulator, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant agent through the release of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and stimulation of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. This study sets out to examine the effects of melatonin administration during gestation and lactation on ASD-related behaviors, focusing on sex-specific differences in a well-established ASD model. Pregnant rats received an intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) or saline at gestational day 12.5 (E12.5) and were treated with melatonin or vehicle from E13 until weaning. Our results indicated that chronic melatonin supplementation effectively reversed behavioral, circadian, and morphological abnormalities in male offspring. In females, melatonin prevented the inflammatory responses induced by VPA. Furthermore, chronic melatonin treatment restored the altered profile of serum melatonin observed in VPA animals and also restored the circadian expression of enzymes critical for its synthesis. These findings highlight sex-specific alterations prevalent in this model and strongly suggest that melatonin represents a promising therapeutic approach for mitigating ASD-related behaviors in the VPA model, warranting further investigation to assess its clinical relevance.

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5. Hossain MM, Siddika A, Saha N, Rahman MM, Islam A, Chowdhury YS, Fatema K, Debnath B. Prevalence of Epilepsy in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Referred to the Autism Clinic in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh. Cureus. 2026; 18(2): e103617.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder believed to be strongly associated with epilepsy. The prevalence of epilepsy among children with ASD ranges widely, and an increased prevalence is observed in low-resource countries. Besides, individuals with ASD have an increased chance of abnormal epileptiform activity on EEG, irrespective of the presence of epilepsy. There is a lack of understanding of their intricate relationship and possible associations. Hence, we conducted this study to evaluate the prevalence and types of epilepsy and its association with abnormal EEG findings in children with ASD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the autism clinic in the Department of Pediatric Neurology at the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital, Dhaka, from July 2020 to December 2020. Following informed written consent from parents or legal guardians, 100 children with ASD aged 1-17 years were included in this study, irrespective of sex, race, or ethnicity, after meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Bangladesh Medical Research Council before the commencement of the study. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), was used to confirm the diagnosis of ASD. Then, data were collected using a structured questionnaire. EEG was performed on each study patient using a digital EEG machine. After collection, the data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics version 24.0 (IBM Corp. Released 2016. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 4.47 ± 2.35 years, with a male predominance. Among them, 20 (20%) patients had epilepsy. Out of these children having epilepsy, 12 (12%) had a focal seizure, and the rest had other types of seizures. The average age at seizure onset was 25.14 ± 26.09 months. Among comorbidities, hyperactivity was at the top, followed by sleep disturbance, intellectual disability, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. EEG revealed that 62 (62%) patients had abnormal electrographic changes, where focal epileptiform discharges were documented in 35 (35%) patients. Additionally, 42 (42%) children with abnormal EEG findings had no clinical seizure. A significant association was found between clinical seizures and EEG abnormalities (p < 0.05). ASD children with epilepsy showed a significant association (p < 0.05) with hyperactivity in this study. CONCLUSIONS: We found that one-fifth of children with ASD had clinical epilepsy, where the focal seizure was the predominant seizure type. Although EEG abnormalities were found in two-thirds of patients with ASD, there were many cases in which seizures were not detected clinically. A significant association was found between clinical seizures and EEG abnormalities. Further analysis could deepen the understanding of this finding and its implications.

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6. Narzisi A, Barbetti F, Fabbri-Destro M, Berloffa S, Fantozzi P, Viglione V, Muccio R, Valente E, Accorinti I, Foti E, Milone A, Cardillo R, Masi G. Cognitive and emotional profiles in children with ASD, ADHD, and comorbid presentations: evidence for a distinct clinical phenotype. Front Psychiatry. 2026; 17: 1765698.

BACKGROUND: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) frequently co-occur, yet their comorbid presentation (ASD+ADHD) remains under- characterized. Clarifying cognitive and behavioral profiles is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective intervention. METHODS: A total of 207 children and adolescents (ages 6-16) were assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL 6-18). Participants were grouped into ASD (n = 21), ADHD (n = 103), and ASD+ADHD (n = 83) cohorts. Group differences were analyzed through ANOVAs with Bonferroni corrections; Pearson correlations explored associations between cognitive indices and behavioral outcomes. RESULTS: Children with ASD+ADHD scored significantly lower than the ASD group in working memory, processing speed, and full-scale IQ, while no significant differences emerged between the ASD+ADHD and ADHD groups. Behaviorally, ADHD participants exhibited higher externalizing symptoms (e.g., aggression, rule-breaking), while the ASD group showed greater withdrawn/depressed traits. The comorbid group presented the broadest dysregulation, with elevated scores across both internalizing and externalizing domains, including Sluggish Cognitive Tempo and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Notably, protective associations between cognitive abilities and behavioral regulation, present in ASD and ADHD, were absent in the ASD+ADHD group. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that ASD+ADHD comorbidity represents a distinct clinical profile, marked by compounded cognitive impairments and pervasive emotional-behavioral dysregulation. These patterns underscore the need for differential diagnostic approaches and tailored interventions that account for the unique neurocognitive architecture of comorbid presentations.

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7. Rezende LV, Ortega AB, Do Valle DA, Bara TS, Cordeiro ML. Autism spectrum disorder in children with spinal muscular atrophy type 1: Case series. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2026.

This case series provides a detailed description of the coexistence of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children treated with disease-modifying therapies. Among 13 patients (2-7 years; mean age 4 years [SD 2 years], eight males), five met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision criteria for ASD-a proportion substantially higher than expected and exceeding recent reports in SMA cohorts. These findings indicate that ASD may be underrecognized in this population and that traditional screening tools, such as the autism trait assessment, may fail to detect symptoms because of the severe motor and communicative limitations characteristic of SMA. Although all children demonstrated meaningful motor gains after treatment, those with SMA and ASD showed marked cognitive and adaptive impairments, particularly in communication, socialization, and daily living skills. The dissociation between motor improvement and neurodevelopmental outcomes underscores the need for tailored assessments and continuous behavioral surveillance. This report provides clinically relevant insights and highlights the importance of adapted diagnostic approaches for neurodevelopmental evaluation in SMA.

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8. Wang Y, Lv R, Jiang Z, Liu Y, Zhang J, Zhao Z, Liu Y, Zheng Y, Liu B, Clauw D, Sun J, Lu L, Yin Q. Autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan: Dynamic symptom trajectories and multidimensional support framework. Mol Psychiatry. 2026.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex and highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition, typically emerging in early childhood and persisting throughout life. Its core symptoms-social communication deficits and restricted, repetitive sensory-motor patterns-exhibit dynamic trajectories across developmental stages, with distinct challenges arising at different ages. While substantial research efforts have been dedicated to pediatric ASD, the scientific focus remains comparatively limited for adult and geriatric populations, leaving their distinct needs less comprehensively addressed. This review begins with a concise overview of the epidemiology and etiology of ASD. We then examine age-dependent symptom evolution and associated challenges across the lifespan, from childhood to advanced age. Finally, we propose a stage-specific, individualized life-course support framework, outlining tailored strategies for distinct developmental phases. This framework transcends symptomatic management to empower functional resilience across the life trajectory, offering a roadmap for research and practice to serve the entire autism spectrum.

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9. Wilkinson E, Brewe AM, Hastings RP, Jahoda A, White SW, Bal VH. Adapting Measures of Anxiety and Mood Disorders for Use with Autistic Adults: A Systematic Review. Curr Dev Disord Rep. 2026; 13(1): 4.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the adaptations made to existing anxiety and mood disorder measures used with autistic adults. It addresses the types of modifications made to such measures, the processes behind them, and the involvement of autistic individuals. RECENT FINDINGS: Following PRISMA guidelines, the review searched four major databases for studies published in English since 1994 that used mood or anxiety measures with autistic adults. Out of 14,583 identified studies, 32 met the inclusion criteria for reporting adaptations. Data extraction used modified FRAME and GRIPP2 frameworks to capture the nature and justification of adaptations and the role of stakeholder involvement. SUMMARY: The review found that only 8% of studies using mood or anxiety measures with autistic adults reported any adaptations, most of which involved using tools developed for children or converting self-report measures to proxy-report without clear justification. Very few studies included psychometric validation of the adapted tools, and only one study explicitly involved autistic adults in the adaptation process. The findings highlight a critical need for transparency in reporting adaptations, involvement of autistic individuals in tool development, and validation of adapted instruments to ensure accurate mental health assessment in autistic populations. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40474-026-00348-3.

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