1. Deng R, Huang H, Lv S, Xing Y, Li Y, You C, Wu F, Deng H, Huang Z. Automated screening of autism via a pretrained vision-language model in naturalistic caregiver-child interactions. Nat Commun. 2026; 17(1).

Early autism screening is essential for timely intervention but remains constrained by specialist dependence, costly protocols, and limited accessibility. We present Autism-CLIP, a vision-language model that automates screening from 3-min naturalistic caregiver-child interaction videos recorded in toddlers aged 15-24 months. By integrating contrastive learning, large language model-generated supervision, domain-specific architecture, and hybrid training, Autism-CLIP aligns visual behavioral cues with autism-related assessment outcomes, enabling annotation-free inference. In multicenter evaluation, Autism-CLIP achieved an AUC of 0.903 in the internal cohort (n = 103) and 0.873 in the external cohort (n = 102), outperforming conventional machine learning methods. Attention mapping highlighted clinically relevant markers, including gaze aversion and limited social reciprocity. Requiring only smartphone-captured videos without manual coding or controlled settings, Autism-CLIP offers a scalable, low-cost approach to broaden access to early autism screening and support prioritization of clinical resources.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

2. Garza Guerra AJ, Mata Cortes EDR, Adame Rocha GH, Fernández Zambrano SM. Gaps in Support for Two Autistic Individuals in Adulthood: A Case Report. Cureus. 2026; 18(9): e116482.

The transition to adulthood can leave autistic people without the educational, therapeutic, social, and community supports available earlier in life. Adults identified as autistic later in life may encounter a different but related gap, receiving a meaningful explanation for longstanding experiences without obtaining the practical support needed to pursue education, employment, relationships, or community participation. This report describes two autistic individuals whose different trajectories converged in a shared loss of continuity. A 19-year-old woman, identified as autistic in childhood, lost access to her special education school and autism-focused services after reaching their age limits. Approximately six months later, she developed depressive symptoms, anxiety, irritability, and reduced motivation. These concerns remitted with psychiatric treatment, but appropriate adult services remained unavailable. She subsequently enrolled in an online upper-secondary education program with daily assistance from her mother. A 26-year-old man withdrew from university after becoming increasingly overwhelmed by academic, organizational, and social demands. Following a period of depression, anxiety, reduced activity, and increasing social withdrawal, he underwent several mental health evaluations before being identified as autistic in adulthood. His emotional and functional status subsequently improved, but no formal pathway was available to support educational re-entry or provide individualized adult support. An opportunity provided through his church community facilitated his return to employment, where he had remained for approximately two years at the time of this report. These cases illustrate different pathways to the same problem: the loss or absence of coordinated support in adulthood. Clinical improvement or autism identification alone does not ensure access to education, employment, relationships, community participation, or greater autonomy. Adult support should therefore be individualized, responsive to changing needs, and oriented toward participation and autonomy rather than dependence. Support need not rely exclusively on healthcare services and may involve coordinated contributions from educational, employment, family, social, and community resources.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

3. Kawakami S, Uono S, Murai T, Otsuka S. The Japanese Adaptation of the Reading the Mind in Films Test: Differentiating Autism Spectrum Disorder From Depression Using an Ecologically Valid Social Cognitive Task. Autism Res. 2026: e70382.

Cognitive tests that reflect the complexity of real-world social interactions are essential for autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-related clinical assessment and research. This study developed and adapted a Japanese version of the Reading the Mind in Films (RMF) test, which assesses mind-reading ability through dynamic, multisensory, and context-rich stimuli. Participants included 23 autistic adults, 39 typically developing adults, and 40 adults with depression as a clinical control. RMF scores in the autistic group were significantly lower than in both the typically developing and depression groups. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses showed that RMF performance provided incremental predictive value beyond Reading the Mind in the Eyes test performance in differentiating autistic individuals from typically developing participants and from participants with depression. Receiver operating characteristic analyses further indicated moderate discriminative accuracy of the RMF for differentiating autistic from non-autistic individuals. In contrast, the depression group performed comparably to the typically developing group on the RMF, suggesting that the RMF captures ASD-specific social cognitive difficulties rather than social dysfunction. These findings provide preliminary support for both the construct validity and the potential discriminative utility of the Japanese RMF. This tool has potential applications in future transdiagnostic and cross-cultural studies.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

4. Ma X, Chen Z, Anstey A, Wan P, Deng D. The Interplay Between Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Emerging Evidence, Mechanistic Insights, and Clinical Implications. Int J Mol Sci. 2026; 27(20).

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease in children and is increasingly recognized as a systemic disorder with potential consequences beyond the skin. Growing evidence links pediatric AD to neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the mechanisms and clinical implications remain incompletely understood. Systemic and neuroimmune inflammation, altered T-helper-cell and cytokine signaling, and genetic and epigenetic susceptibility may contribute to this association. Sleep disruption and psychosocial stress represent additional potential pathways linking skin inflammation with neurodevelopment. Stronger associations have been reported in children with severe or early-onset AD, multiple atopic comorbidities, and persistent sleep disturbance, highlighting the importance of disease heterogeneity. This narrative review integrates epidemiologic evidence and proposed mechanisms to examine the skin-brain axis in pediatric AD, with particular attention to high-risk phenotypes and implications for developmental surveillance and multidisciplinary management. Although current evidence supports an association, causality remains uncertain. Prospective studies integrating AD phenotypes, biomarkers, and neurodevelopmental assessments are needed to clarify these relationships and determine whether early effective AD treatment can modify long-term neurodevelopmental trajectories.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

5. Mańka N, Górski MK. Autistic spectrum characteristics as a component of environmental susceptibility in the course of bipolar affective disorder: A narrative review. Psychiatr Pol. 2026: 1-17.

Autism spectrum disorder and bipolar affective disorder exhibit partial symptomatic overlap, which can complicate accurate diagnosis and delay the implementation of appropriate treatment. Increasing research also points to the potential comorbidity of both conditions, further complicating the clinical picture, diagnostics, and therapy planning. The aim of this narrative review is to examine the literature concerning the relationship between autism spectrum disorder and bipolar affective disorder, with particular emphasis on the hypothesis that autistic traits and their associated chronic functional impairments may heighten susceptibility to the development or more severe course of bipolar affective disorder. Epidemiological data, diagnostic challenges, selected neurobiological and genetic mechanisms, as well as practical implications for diagnosis, treatment, and environmental support are discussed. A review of the literature highlights the need for cautious differential diagnosis, longitudinal observation, and interdisciplinary collaboration in the care of individuals with comorbid autism spectrum disorder and bipolar affective disorder. A better understanding of the relationship between these conditions may facilitate earlier recognition of affective symptoms in individuals on the autism spectrum and support more appropriate clinical assessment and management planning.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

6. Mujeeb Rahman KK, Subashini MM. RETRACTED: Mujeeb Rahman, K.K.; Subashini, M.M. Identification of Autism in Children Using Static Facial Features and Deep Neural Networks. Brain Sci. 2022, 12, 94. Brain Sci. 2026; 16(10).

The journal retracts the article « Identification of Autism in Children Using Static Facial Features and Deep Neural Networks » […].

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

7. Oliveira KS, Britto D, Fernandes GNA, Lemos SMA. Instruments and scales for assessment, screening, and psychoeducational diagnosis of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2026; 44: e2025083.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate instruments and scales for psychoeducational assessment, screening, and diagnosis of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. DATA SOURCE: This review followed the methodological procedures recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses – Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Its research question was, « What are the main instruments and scales for psychoeducational assessment, screening, and diagnosis of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder in school? ». DATA SYNTHESIS: The study included 16 articles that investigated instruments for psychoeducational assessment, screening, and diagnosis of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. The instruments found were the Psychoeducational Profile – Revised (PEP-R), Psychoeducational Profile 3 (PEP-3), and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV). This indicates a scarcity of instruments and scales for the psychoeducational assessment, screening, and diagnosis of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. CONCLUSIONS: The most used instruments to assess the psychoeducational profile of schoolchildren with autism spectrum disorder include the Revised Psychoeducational Profile (PEP-R) and the Psychoeducational Profile, 3rd Edition (PEP-3), according to scientific literature. There is a scarcity of instruments and scales for the psychoeducational assessment, screening, and diagnosis of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, suggesting the need for further research on the subject.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

8. Osos JA, Higbee TS, Mendoza MR, Cousins DJ, Mecham ML. Caregiver-implemented standardized-to-individualized behavior-analytic toilet-training package for preschoolers with autism. J Appl Behav Anal. 2026; 59(4): e70092.

Children with autism often face challenges with incontinence and may benefit from more structured toilet training relative to neurotypical children. In the current study, we evaluated a standardized-to-individualized behavior-analytic toilet-training package with caregivers as the interventionists. We used telehealth to train caregivers remotely to support their implementation of the procedures and obtain additional data on implementation and outcomes. Four preschool-aged children with autism and their caregivers participated. Three of four participants met mastery criteria with a standardized toilet-training package and one participant required a contingent progressive sit schedule. Intervention components were successfully faded, and all participants maintained performance after 4 weeks. The findings demonstrate that clinic-based toilet-training procedures can be implemented at home by caregivers with telehealth support. This approach to toilet training provides families with an alternative to clinic-based treatment and could increase access to treatment among those residing in rural or underserved areas.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

9. Reyes-Ramírez LL, Ciaran-Alfano L, Reixachs-Solé M, Bergadà-Martínez A, Galera-López L, Martínez-Torres S, Navarro-Romero A, Maldonado R, Eyras E, Ozaita A. CB1 receptor inhibition restores synaptoneurosomal alternative splicing landscape in fragile X syndrome mice. iScience. 2026; 29(11): 117793.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most frequent heritable cause of intellectual disability and autism, involves impaired cognition and synaptic plasticity. Preclinical studies show that inhibition of the cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1R) restores key phenotypic traits in Fmr1 knockout (FX) mice. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain undefined. We analyzed the hippocampal synaptoneurosomal transcriptome and confirmed that synaptoneurosomes are an accurate representation of synaptic composition and function. Then, we analyzed this transcriptome after pharmacological CB1R inhibition in male FX mice and found that rimonabant had limited impact at the gene expression level. Notably, detailed in silico analysis of alternative splicing (AS) revealed that rimonabant reverts numerous AS events in FX mice to wild-type levels. These changes in synaptoneurosomal AS landscape suggest a novel mechanism by which CB1R targeting may restore specific AS patterns. Altogether, our results reveal new molecular alterations in FXS context that are sensitive to pharmacological treatment related to cognitive alleviation.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

10. Zhou D, Mei T, Oldehinkel M, Mennes M, Forde NJ, Dell’Acqua F, Banaschewski T, Ecker C, Holt RJ, Bourgeron T, Charman T, Loth E, Murphy DGM, Zhang Y, Li H, Cong F, Buitelaar JK, Beckmann CF. Validating gene-brain-behavior associations in autism: A replication study. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging. 2026.

BACKGROUND: Autism is characterized by heterogeneity in clinical characteristics, neuroimaging and genetic profiles. To elucidate the multi-level heterogeneity, Buch et al. (2023) identified biologically meaningful subgroups in Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE). However, ABIDE contains non-biological sources of variability due to retrospectively aligned site protocols. To separate biological from site-related variability and test the robustness of these subgroups, we assessed how well their findings replicate in a deeply phenotyped, prospectively collected autism dataset (EU-AIMS LEAP). METHODS: We included 270 autistic (7.5-30.3 years; 73% male) and 216 non-autistic participants (6.9-31 years; 63.4% male) from LEAP. Regularized canonical correlation analysis (RCCA) was conducted between functional connectivity and three clinical measures (verbal IQ [VIQ], and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 [ADOS-2] social affect [SA] and restricted/repetitive behavior [RRB]). Next, subgroups identified by hierarchical clustering based on canonical variates were characterized by behavior, functional connectivity patterns and gene enrichment analyses. RESULTS: Three of four autistic subgroups showed behavioral profiles consistent with the original study. Three subgroups shared stronger thalamocortical connectivity, while all four displayed distinct connectivity involving default mode network (DMN), salience (SN), visual and somatomotor networks. These subgroup-specific connectivity patterns were further linked to autism-associated and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related gene sets. Across preprocessing pipelines, subgroup assignments were partially preserved. Subgroup2 (globally affected behaviors) and Subgroup4 (less social difficulty, but more restricted behavior) retained more consistent behavioral profiles and connectivity alterations, whereas Subgroup1 and Subgroup3 were more sensitive to the precise preprocessing steps. CONCLUSIONS: These four subgroups showed partly consistent behavioral profiles, connectivity alterations and genetic patterns, extending our understanding of the multi-level heterogeneity of autism.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)