1. Aertssen W, Steenbergen B, Smits-Engelsman B. Functional Strength in Children with Developmental Disabilities: An Exploratory Comparison of Three Clinical Cohorts Including Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder, Intellectual Disabilities, and Cerebral Palsy. Sports (Basel). 2026; 14(10).

Background: This study presents an exploratory comparison of data from three previously collected clinical cohorts. The first aim was to compare functional strength performance among a cohort of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), Intellectual Disabilities (ID), and Cerebral Palsy (CP). The second aim was to examine whether the associations between age and functional strength performance differed across these cohorts. Methods: Data from 103 children aged 7-10 years (29 DCD, 47 ID, 27 CP) were combined. Functional Strength Measurement (FSM, FSM-ID, FSM-CP) scores were compared with reference norms. Cohort differences were examined using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) with body weight included as a covariate. Associations between age and FSM performance were examined using General Linear Models including age, clinical cohort, and age-by-cohort interaction terms. Results: Compared with the FSM reference norms, 17-89% of participants were classified as impaired or at risk for muscle-power performance, while 62-92% demonstrated limitations in muscle-endurance tasks. Significant differences between the three clinical cohorts were observed for overarm throwing, underarm throwing, lifting a box, and stair climbing, with medium effect sizes. Evidence for age-by-cohort interactions was observed for overarm throwing, underarm throwing, standing long jump, and sit-to-stand performance, indicating that associations between age and functional-strength performance differed across clinical cohorts. Conclusions: Children in the clinical cohorts demonstrated lower levels of functional-strength performance than typically developing peers. Functional-strength profiles differed across clinical cohorts. However, as the data were derived from three distinct cohorts rather than collected within a single study, and minor differences exist between the FSM, FSM-ID and FSM-CP, the findings should be interpreted with caution and considered hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory. Furthermore, because the data were cross-sectional, no conclusions can be drawn regarding developmental changes over time. These findings may help generate hypotheses for future assessment, intervention and longitudinal research in children with developmental disabilities.

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2. Akter T, Ali MH, Khan MI, Satu MS, Uddin MJ, Alyami SA, Ali S, Azad A, Moni MA. RETRACTED: Akter et al. Improved Transfer-Learning-Based Facial Recognition Framework to Detect Autistic Children at an Early Stage. Brain Sci. 2021, 11, 734. Brain Sci. 2026; 16(10).

The journal retracts the article, « Improved Transfer-Learning-Based Facial Recognition Framework to Detect Autistic Children at an Early Stage » […].

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3. Al Saidi A, Chan MF, Al-Mamari W, A BI, Al Shirawi S, Al Hashmi Z. Behavioral Phenotypes of Omani Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Behav Sci (Basel). 2026; 16(10).

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by substantial phenotypic heterogeneity, which can complicate clinical formulation and intervention planning. Despite increasing epidemiological research on ASD in the Sultanate of Oman, systematic behavioral variation among Omani children with ASD has not been reported in the published literature. This study aimed to explore patterns of behavioral profiles in an Omani clinical cohort using multidimensional measures of repetitive behavior and social functioning. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 205 children with DSM-5-confirmed ASD (mean age 5.3 ± 2.6 years; 80.5% male) attending specialist services in Muscat, Oman. Parents completed the Dimensional Assessment of Repetitive Behavior (DARB) and the Stanford Social Dimensions Scale (SSDS), two multidimensional parent-report instruments. Two-step cluster analysis was used to explore clusters representing a continuum of behavioral characteristics. Verbal and non-verbal children were also compared across DARB and SSDS dimensions. Results: A two-cluster solution (silhouette coefficient = 0.40, indicating weak-to-fair separation) described a severity gradient: a higher-severity cluster (n = 59, 28.8%) with elevated scores across all eight DARB subdomains and lower scores across all five SSDS dimensions, and a lower-severity cluster (n = 146, 71.2%). Clusters did not differ significantly on the demographic variables examined, including consanguinity (p = 0.489). Among verbal children (n = 126), social motivation, affiliation, expressive communication, and social recognition scores were higher than among non-verbal children (n = 79). Non-verbal children demonstrated greater sensory-motor stereotypy. Conclusions: This exploratory study provides an initial characterization of behavioral variation among children with ASD in an Omani clinical cohort. The clustering results suggest a continuum of behavioral characteristics, together with differences associated with verbal status, highlights clinically meaningful heterogeneity within the Omani ASD population. These findings are hypothesis-generating and may help inform future research on individualized assessment and intervention in Oman and the wider Arab Gulf region.

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4. Aldurayhim F, Martino D, Sarna JR, Pringsheim T. When Tics and Autism Meet: Phenomenology, Severity, and Treatment Patterns. Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2026.

BACKGROUND: Tic disorders frequently co-occur with neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the impact of ASD on tic phenomenology, severity, and treatment patterns remains incompletely understood. OBJECTIVES: To compare clinical characteristics, tic phenomenology, severity, and treatment patterns in individuals with tic disorders with and without comorbid ASD. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 535 participants from Calgary Child and Adult Tic Disorders Clinical Registries. Tic severity was assessed using the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS). Comorbidities, tic phenomenology, and pharmacological treatments were recorded. ASD and non-ASD groups were compared using t-tests and chi-square tests. RESULTS: Mean age at tic onset was 6.79 years; 73.3% were male, and 9.2% had ASD. ASD was associated with higher rates of complex motor (arm 20.4% vs 9.9%; hand 24.5% vs 13.9%) and vocal tics (phrases 12.2% vs 3.5%; palilalia 20.4% vs 8.3%; blocking/stuttering 16.3% vs 6.2%) compared with non-ASD participants (all P < 0.05), with similar overall severity. ASD was also associated with higher rates of ADHD (81.6% vs 44.7%) and greater use of guanfacine, aripiprazole, risperidone, methylphenidate, and dextroamphetamine compared with non-ASD participants (all P < 0.05). In multivariable analysis, ASD was independently associated with lower tic-related impairment (β = -4.49, 95% CI -8.46 to -0.51; P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Comorbid ASD in tic disorders is associated with higher rates of complex motor and vocal tics, while severity is similar to non-ASD. Lower tic-related impairment may reflect communication differences. Comorbid symptoms influenced treatment supporting the need for individualized management.

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5. Bessé M, Morel-Kohlmeyer S, Houy-Durand E, Prévost P, Tuller L, Bouazzaoui B, Taconnat L, Capdeville J, Angel L, Gomot M. Aging in Autism: An Event-Related Potentials Study of Auditory Change Detection. Eur J Neurosci. 2026; 64(8): e70719.

Autistic individuals are often thought to exhibit reduced tolerance for change, which may stem from atypicalities in sensory processing, particularly in the detection of environmental changes. Within the predictive coding framework, this intolerance may reflect altered generation and updating internal predictions in response to sensory input, leading to increased prediction errors. Mismatch negativity and the P3a component are event-related potentials (ERPs) indexing automatic auditory change detection and involuntary attention shift. While studied in autistic children and young adults, little is known about how these components evolve during aging, an important gap as 21 million autistic adults over 60 are expected by 2050. This study examined mismatch negativity and P3a responses in 43 autistic adults (aged 21-64) and 60 nonautistic adults (aged 20-69) using a passive auditory oddball paradigm with standard (1000 Hz) and deviant (1100 Hz; p = 0.15) tones. Electroencephalography recording revealed no significant differences between autistic and nonautistic individuals on mismatch negativity and P3a amplitude or latency. However, mismatch negativity amplitude decreased with age over frontal site, similarly across both groups. No age-related effects were found for mismatch negativity latency or P3a measures in either group. These findings suggest that, from adulthood onward, the neural mechanisms underlying automatic change detection and preattentional processes are similar in both autistic and nonautistic adults, and that their overall time course of aging appears comparable, supporting the parallel aging hypothesis. Nonetheless, future research should explore how these preserved neural responses relate to behavioral reactivity to change in autism.

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6. D’Alesio L, Patel VN, Walsh M, Messias E, Lin PI. Maternal Factors Modifying the Link Between Genetic Risk for Autism and Developmental Milestones. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet. 2026.

Although common genetic liability-quantified through polygenic risk scores (PRS)-accounts for substantial variance in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) liability, how prenatal environmental exposures interact with genetic predisposition to shape developmental outcomes remains poorly understood. Using the data from Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE), we examined whether maternal prenatal factors moderate the association between ASD PRS and developmental outcomes, including language delay, motor delay, and core ASD traits. In exploratory gene-environment interaction analyses, amniocentesis was a candidate positive moderator of the association between PRS and both language and motor delay, such that higher polygenic liability was associated with a greater likelihood of these delays among prenatally exposed children. First-trimester vaginal bleeding showed a similar positive interaction estimate for motor delay. Maternal use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications during pregnancy-predominantly acetaminophen, reported by 59.9% of OTC users-was associated with an inverse interaction estimate, corresponding to a decreased association between polygenic liability and language delay among exposed children. These observations suggest that several prenatal factors may modify the association between common genetic liability and developmental outcomes among autistic children and should be considered hypothesis-generating until replicated in larger, population-based cohorts. Replication in independent samples, together with analyses that address selection and confounding, will be required before these candidate gene-environment interactions can be interpreted as reflecting specific developmental mechanisms.

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7. Desroches ML. Bridging the Gap: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis of the Value of Developmental Disabilities Nurses. J Clin Nurs. 2026.

AIMS: To explore how developmental disabilities nurses conceptualise their specialty’s contribution to health and well-being. DESIGN: Qualitative study informed by critical realism and reflexive thematic analysis. METHODS: Eighteen experienced developmental disabilities nurses recruited at the 2023 Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association conference completed semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants described developmental disabilities nursing as bridging the gap between people with developmental disabilities and care systems. This bridge integrated embodied values, specialist expertise and person-centered knowing and connecting throughout the nursing process. Key activities included figuring it out, aggressive advocacy, cultivating understanding and care planning and oversight, helping ensure nothing fell through the cracks and supporting longer, fuller lives. CONCLUSION: Developmental disabilities nursing integrates specialist expertise, values and person-centered care to bridge fragmented systems and address health inequities. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Education and workforce development should recognise and strengthen developmental disabilities nurses’ specialist contributions. WHAT PROBLEM DID THE STUDY ADDRESS?: This is the first empirical US study examining how developmental disabilities nurses conceptualise their specialty’s contribution. WHAT WERE THE MAIN FINDINGS?: Developmental disabilities nurses bridge fragmented systems through specialist expertise, embodied values, person-centered care and distinctive nursing interventions. WHERE AND ON WHOM WILL THE RESEARCH HAVE AN IMPACT?: Findings inform nurses, educators, organisations, policymakers, researchers, people with developmental disabilities and families. REPORTING METHOD: This study adhered to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research and was informed by the Reflexive Thematic Analysis Reporting Guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Theme development was refined through professional dialogue with Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association members during an interactive conference presentation and optional survey.

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8. Diken IH, Kaymak A, Ince G, Sagdic A, Sahin MD, Diken O, Eyuboglu M, Eyuboglu D, Kurnaz E, Gunden UO. Screen use, parent-child interaction, and social interaction behaviors in autistic children. BMC Psychol. 2026; 14(1).

The rapid expansion of digital technologies has transformed children’s everyday environments, raising concerns about excessive screen use and its potential developmental implications. Although research on screen use has increased substantially, relatively little is known about how screen use may relate to family interaction processes among autistic children. The present study aimed to examine the relationships among screen use, autism severity, parent-child interaction behaviors, and children’s social interaction behaviors in autistic children. The study employed a correlational research design. Participants included 784 parent-child pairs recruited from multiple provinces across Türkiye. Data were collected through a demographic questionnaire, the Autism Behavior Assessment Tool (ABAS), and parent-reported measures of children’s screen use patterns. In addition, observational interaction data were obtained from a subsample of 102 mother-child dyads using the Maternal Behavior Rating Scale-Turkish Version (MBRS-TV), the Child Behavior Rating Scale-Turkish Version (CBRS-TV), and the Social Interaction Assessment Instrument (SIAI-TV). The findings indicated that children’s screen use was positively associated with autism severity and autistic interaction behaviors, while negatively associated with attention, interaction initiation, and overall interaction behaviors. Maternal interaction behaviors were positively associated with children’s interaction behaviors and negatively associated with children’s screen use. These results suggest that higher levels of screen exposure may be related to reduced social interaction opportunities among autistic children. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of considering family interaction processes when evaluating digital media use in autistic children and suggest that balanced media routines and responsive parenting may support healthier developmental outcomes.

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9. Fan R, Wang Y, Miao T. Autism: epidemiology, genetics, molecular mechanisms, clinical features, diagnosis, and management. Mol Biomed. 2026; 7(1).

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors. Global prevalence has risen steadily, yet reported rates vary markedly across regions and populations. These discrepancies reflect inequities in diagnostic access and screening capacity rather than true differences in incidence. This review integrates recent advances across the full ASD research spectrum. We first examine global epidemiological patterns and demographic disparities. We then dissect the genetic architecture of ASD, including rare and common variants, copy number variations, and gene-environment interactions that disrupt prenatal and early postnatal brain development. At the molecular level, diverse risk factors converge on shared neurodevelopmental mechanisms. These include synaptic dysfunction, dysregulated signaling through mTOR, Ras-ERK-MAPK, Wnt and Notch pathways, impaired neurogenesis, chronic neuroimmune inflammation, and excitatory-inhibitory imbalance. We also discuss how these mechanisms manifest in core clinical features, including social deficits, repetitive behaviors, and sensory abnormalities. We summarize current diagnostic standards and their limitations. Cross-species animal models, from Drosophila to non-human primates, are evaluated for their essential roles in mechanistic validation and therapeutic screening. Finally, we assess clinical management strategies, ranging from behavioral and educational interventions to pharmacological and supportive services. By tracing a continuous path from risk factors at the population level through molecular pathophysiology to interventions guided by mechanism, this review offers an integrative synthesis that connects basic discovery to clinical translation. We further discuss how multi-omics and artificial intelligence may advance precise diagnosis rooted in mechanism and personalized treatment.

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10. Fernell E, Bulmer L, Gillberg C. [Autism, selective mutism and mild intellectual disability explained by 17q12 microdeletion syndrome]. Lakartidningen. 2026; 123.

The patient had presented symptoms during preschool years with motor coordination difficulties, deviant reactions to sensory stimuli and separation anxiety. A language stagnation had occurred at the age of 1.5 to 2 years. At school start, she became completely mute during school hours but spoke at home. At assessment at the Child Neuropsychiatric Clinic at the age of 10, autism, selective mutism and ADHD/ADD were diagnosed. Her intellectual level corresponded to borderline intellectual functioning, and a similar test result was evident also at the age of 14 years. When transition to upper secondary school was planned, the cognitive assessment showed a mild intellectual disability. Then, medical investigations, including genetic SNP array, was carried out. This analysis showed a 17q12 microdeletion syndrome. Then, specific medical investigations were carried out due to the various medical conditions that need to be checked and followed up in patients with 17q12 microdeletion syndrome.

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11. Fisher N, Frith U. Private providers are profiting from the expansion of ADHD and autism diagnosis. Bmj. 2026; 395: e101196.

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12. Geng K, He Y. Effectiveness and Influencing Factors of Drama-Based Interventions for Social Skills in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-Analysis. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol. 2026; 54(6).

Deficits in social skills are a core challenge for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This meta-analysis examined the effects of drama-based interventions on social skills in this population and explored potential moderators. A systematic search was conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, EBSCO, and CNKI. Overall effects were estimated using Hedges’ g, and subgroup analyses and meta-regressions were conducted to examine heterogeneity. Publication bias and sensitivity analyses were also assessed. Sixteen controlled studies involving 703 participants contributed data to the meta-analysis. Drama-based interventions showed a significant medium effect on social skills (g = 0.54, 95% CI [0.21, 0.88], p = 0.002), with substantial heterogeneity (Q(15) = 62.59, p < 0.001; I² = 76.04%). Drama approach (Q(2) = 10.78, p = 0.005), intervention setting (Q(2) = 11.30, p = 0.010), and intervention agent (Q(2) = 6.64, p = 0.036) significantly moderated effects. Participant age was not a significant moderator, and dosage indicators were not significantly associated with effect sizes. These findings suggest that drama-based interventions may support social skills in autistic children and adolescents, with effects varying by intervention organization and delivery context.

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13. Habayeb S, Godovich S, Eisenman E, Fuentes V, Inge A, Abu Ramadan T, Armour AC, Williams R, Lauer M, Taylor A, Godoy L. Embedded Autism Evaluations in Pediatric Primary Care Clinics: Perspectives on Provider and Caregiver Experiences, Implementation, and Sustainment. J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2026.

The Autism in Primary Care Program (APC) was developed to train embedded psychologists in urban community primary care settings to provide autism diagnostic evaluations and to engage care coordinators in supporting families navigating autism services. The objective of this study was to understand provider and caregiver experiences and clarify implementation and sustainment factors of APC. Primary care providers (PCPs) and caregivers shared their experiences of APC services through interviews and focus groups. Grounded in the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) implementation science framework, feedback on implementation and sustainment factors of the program was collected from the implementation team (embedded psychologists and care coordinators) through periodic reflection procedures. Caregivers and PCPs reported positive experiences with APC including evaluation timeliness, care coordination support, and the program’s integration within primary care. They also described ongoing supports families needed following the evaluation. The implementation team identified factors impacting the implementation and sustainment of the program, many of which aligned with qualitative findings from caregivers and PCPs. Identifying multiple perspectives on APC can inform our field on a promising model which can improve earlier diagnosis and treatment access for families and reduce inequities in care.

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14. Li L, Bai M, Cai K, Cao D, Cao X, Chen J, Fan XR, Gao P, Gao W, He D, Meng F, Jiang X, Ni L, Li X, Lin LZ, Liu Y, Liu Z, Pan N, Qi Q, Qin B, Shan X, Shou XJ, Wang L, Wang M, Wang X, Xu D, Xu Y, Xue Y, Yang T, Zhang Y, Cai J, Chen H, Chen A, Jia F, Jiang H, Jing J, Li T, Li S, Wang W, Wang J, Wu L, Yin X, Zhang R, Zuo XN, Duan X. Charting brain growth in Chinese children with Autism. Sci Bull (Beijing). 2026.

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15. Li X, Zuo F, Cheng Y, Perkins K, Cao F. Two clusters of brain regions with distinct age-related profiles of functional connectivity in autism spectrum disorder. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2026; 123(42): e2617358123.

Brain functional connectivity changes throughout development, and individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may follow trajectories that differ from those of typically developing controls. Using large multisite resting-state fMRI cross-sectional datasets, we examined how functional connectivity differences between ASD and typically developing controls change across a broad age range of 5 to 64 y. A data-driven analysis identified two spatially distributed clusters of cortical regions showing distinct age-related profiles of ASD-TD connectivity differences. Cluster 1 was marked by consistent hypoconnectivity across ages, suggesting a stable neural signature of ASD. Cluster 2 was characterized by hypoconnectivity in childhood that gradually diminished with age, suggesting a temporary delay profile. These clusters were systematically organized along the sensory-association axis. Cluster 1 mainly involved lower-rank sensory and sensorimotor cortices, while Cluster 2 mainly involved higher-rank association cortices. Brain-behavior analyses revealed greater and broader ASD symptom associations across ages in the consistent hypoconnectivity profile than the delay profile. Further subtype analyses suggested that social-affect symptoms were associated with greater hypoconnectivity than repetitive behavior symptoms in both clusters. Spatial correlation analyses with neurotransmitter maps revealed associations of Cluster 1 with mGluR5 and of Cluster 2 with GABA(A)α5, providing insight into the neurobiological basis of the two clusters. In a cross-disorder validation analysis, applying the same analytic framework to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder did not reveal comparable results. Together, these findings suggest that ASD-related functional connectivity alterations are developmentally heterogeneous and organized along the cortical hierarchy, providing a developmental perspective for understanding the neurobiology of ASD.

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16. Narzisi A, Grandin T, Fabbri-Destro M, Valagussa G. Editorial: Sensory processing in autism: mechanisms, impacts and interventions. Front Psychiatry. 2026; 17: 1994957.

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17. Pacheva I. Genetic Convergence of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Epilepsy: From Molecular Mechanisms to Precision Therapeutics. Genes (Basel). 2026; 17(10).

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and epilepsy frequently co-occur, with the clinical overlap particularly evident in individuals with intellectual disability, developmental impairment, and genetically defined neurodevelopmental disorders. Advances in genomic diagnostics have revealed substantial genetic and molecular convergence between ASD and epilepsy. This convergence encompasses both recurrent copy-number variants (CNVs), including 15q11-q13, 16p11.2, and 22q11.2 rearrangements, and sequence-level alterations in genes implicated in both epilepsy and ASD-related neurodevelopmental phenotypes, including SCN1A, SCN2A, GRIN2A, SYNGAP1, STXBP1, TSC1/TSC2, MECP2, and UBE3A. These diverse genetic alterations affect gene dosage, ion-channel function, synaptic organization and neurotransmission, intracellular signaling, and gene regulation, ultimately converging on disruption of circuit homeostasis, excitation-inhibition regulation, synaptic plasticity, and network dynamics. Importantly, the relationship between epilepsy and ASD is neither uniform nor necessarily causal: epileptic activity may aggravate neurodevelopmental dysfunction in some disorders, whereas in others, seizures and autistic features represent partially independent consequences of a shared genetic defect. This heterogeneity has major therapeutic implications. Emerging precision approaches increasingly incorporate variant-specific functional effects and include ion-channel modulation, pathway-directed treatments, metabolic correction, and gene- or RNA-targeted therapies. However, successful seizure control does not necessarily translate into normalization of neurodevelopmental outcomes, emphasizing the importance of developmental timing and of distinguishing seizure-directed benefit from modification of the underlying neurodevelopmental disorder. This review integrates clinical, genetic, molecular, cellular, and network-level evidence linking ASD and epilepsy and examines how these convergent mechanisms may guide precision therapeutics and future early-intervention strategies.

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18. Rokosz-Mierzwa J, Reszka K, Walczak Ł, Lejman M. Phenotypic variability in Arboleda-Tham syndrome: a report of a polish patient with a pathogenic KAT6A variant. Mol Biol Rep. 2026; 53(1).

BACKGROUND: Arboleda-Tham syndrome (ARTHS) is caused by heterozygous pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in the KAT6A gene. The main reported features include developmental delay, dysmorphism, low-set posteriorly rotated ears, a prominent nasal bridge, epicanthal folds, hypotonia, poor speech development, feeding difficulties, and cardiovascular anomalies. CASE: The proband is a 6 year old boy with global developmental delay, who reaches developmental milestones significantly later than expected. He was born to healthy parents, and diagnostic evaluation began at 18 months of age. A pathogenic, de novo, nonsense variant, c.3055C>T (p.Arg1019Ter), was identified in the KAT6A gene. The patient’s clinical features were attributed to a diagnosis of ARTHS. CONCLUSION: This report underscores the value of genomic sequencing in establishing an accurate diagnosis even when the full clinical picture of ARTHS is not present. By providing clinical documentation across several years, our case broadens the recognized phenotypic spectrum of ARTHS and contributes to a deeper understanding of KAT6A-related phenotypic variability and natural history.

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19. Sasayama D, Kuge R, Hirota T, Tsuchiya KJ, Honda H. Incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Japan. JAMA Netw Open. 2026; 9(10): e2639578.

This cohort study examines the nationwide cumulative incidence and temporal trends of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Japan. eng from Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, and Lundbeck Japan K.K. and grants from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science outside the submitted work. Dr Kuge reported receiving personal fees from Sumitomo Pharma Co Ltd and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd and grants from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science outside the submitted work. Dr Hirota reported receiving personal fees from Meiji Seika Pharma Co Ltd and Sumitomo Pharma Co Ltd and grants from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science outside the submitted work. Dr Honda reported receiving grants from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and Children and Families Agency Japan and personal fees from Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, Shionogi & Co Ltd, KYORIN Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, Nobel Pharma Co Ltd, and Merck Sharpe & Dohme K.K. outside the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported.

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20. Sehgal A, Schnur G, Valdes V, Faja S. Working memory and language development have a bi-directional longitudinal relationship in autistic preschoolers. J Neurodev Disord. 2026; 18(1).

BACKGROUND: Among neurotypical children working memory and language development are closely related, but the longitudinal relationship between these factors is unknown in autism. This study had the goal of evaluating potential bidirectional relationships between these domains. METHODS: A longitudinal design included language and visuospatial working memory assessments across three time points with 160 autistic preschoolers. Time points were one year apart. A cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) using Full-Information Maximum Likelihood (FIML) was used to evaluate longitudinal associations between performance on a working memory task (i.e., the Hide and Seek Task) and language scores (i.e., verbal development quotient). RESULTS: Cross-lagged associations were significant for paths from working memory at the first time point to language at the second time point (β = .31, p = .01) and from language at first time point to working memory at the second time point (β = .40, p < .001). Cross-lagged paths from the second to third time point were not statistically significant in either direction. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of a bidirectional relationship between working memory and language in autistic toddlers and preschoolers among younger autistic preschoolers. These results highlight working memory as a potential early assessment and intervention domain for improving language outcomes in autism as well as the role of language delays as a factor related to reduced working memory skills later in development.

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21. Wang X, Pan SL, Lin LZ, Hu Y, Li KY, Jing J, Li XH, Shi L, Pan N. Mapping the interplay of intelligence, empathy, systemizing, and autistic traits in children with and without autism spectrum disorder. BMC Psychiatry. 2026; 26(1).

BACKGROUND: Intelligence, empathy, systemizing, and autistic traits are psychological dimensions that vary continuously across the population. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may reflect extreme expressions of these traits, yet their interdependencies and difference between typically developing (TD) children remain poorly understood. METHODS: We recruited 186 children with ASD and 364 TD children aged 6-12 years. Intelligence was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition, while empathy, systemizing, and autistic traits were measured using validated Chinese versions of the Empathy Quotient, Systemizing Quotient, and Autism Spectrum Quotient. Undirected partial correlation networks and Bayesian networks were estimated separately for each group, adjusting for demographic covariates, including gender, parental education level, and household income. RESULTS: Across groups, cognitive empathy consistently emerged as the central hub in both undirected and Bayesian network analyses. In ASD, autistic traits formed a densely interconnected cluster with limited cross-domain links, while in TD children they were more flexibly integrated with systemizing and other domains. Intelligence formed a cohesive yet relatively independent subnetwork, though in ASD verbal comprehension was directly predicted by social communication competence. The estimated networks demonstrated robust accuracy and acceptable stability. CONCLUSION: These findings reveal both shared and distinct patterns of network organization among intelligence, empathy, systemizing, and autistic traits in children with and without ASD. Cognitive empathy may represent a potential target for future intervention research, while systemizing tendencies and cognitive strengths may also inform individualized support strategies in ASD.

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