1. Notification: Artificial Intelligence in Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis: A Scoping Review of Face, Voice, and Text Analysis Methods. Health Sci Rep. 2026; 9(10): e73405.

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2. Al-Khlaiwi T, Alhakbany M, Aldossary MK, Binsalamh LF, Altamimi LM, Alyahya NI, Aldekhail RW, Alobaid RA, Aljarbaa MO, Iqbal M. Impact of socioeconomic factors and birth-related conditions on autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. BMC Pediatr. 2026; 26(1).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between socioeconomic factors and maternal birth-related variables in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down Syndrome (DS), and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from King Khalid University Hospital Riyadh between 2015 and 2024. The sample included 269 children: 185 with ASD, 51 with DS, and 33 with ADHD. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors. RESULTS: Maternal use of medications during pregnancy (excluding dietary supplements) was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of ASD (OR = 4.253, p = 0.012). Child age was also significant, with each additional year increasing ASD odds by about 5% (OR = 1.054, p = 0.040). Child birth order played a role, as first- or second-born children were less likely to be diagnosed with ASD compared to later-born children (OR = 0.660, p = 0.002). For DS, higher socioeconomic status index (SESi) was linked to a reduced risk, with each unit increase in SESi score, DS odds decreased significantly (OR = 0.578, p = 0.018). Maternal employment during pregnancy was associated with increased DS odds (OR = 1.535, p = 0.024). In contrast, maternal vitamin D supplementation was associated with reduced odds of DS (OR = 0.452, p = 0.028). Regarding ADHD, assisted conception was the only factor significant predictor. Children conceived through assisted reproductive methods had more than twice the likelihood of ADHD compared to those conceived naturally (OR = 2.401, p = 0.040). CONCLUSION: Maternal medication use during pregnancy was associated with increased ASD risk, while birth order and child age also played roles. For DS, higher socioeconomic status reduced risk, whereas maternal employment increased it and vitamin D supplementation was less associated with the disorder. Assisted conception was the only factor linked to increased ADHD risk. Overall, maternal, socioeconomic, and perinatal factors showed distinct associations across ASD, DS, and ADHD.

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3. Algahtani MM, Ahmad SF, Al-Harbi NO, Al-Ayadhi LY, Alhazzani K, Attia SM, Alanazi AZ, Bakheet SA, Nadeem A. Activation of TLR4 promotes oxidative inflammation via NADPH oxidase signaling in platelets of subjects with autism spectrum disorder. Saudi Pharm J. 2026; 34(5).

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurobehavioral disorder where both immune system and neurological dysregulations are known to play crucial roles. Platelets are known to play key roles in systemic oxidative inflammation through production of oxidants. However, there is still scarcity of data regarding the role of blood platelets in ASD subjects. Platelets are known to express innate receptors such as toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), transcription factors such as NFkB, and oxidative enzymes such as NADPH oxidase (NOX2), however the molecular mechanisms in generation of oxidative inflammation in platelets of ASD subjects have not been investigated until now. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating expression of TLR4, NFkB, NOX2, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxides (a marker of oxidative damage on lipid membranes) in platelets of ASD children (n = 27) and typically developing children (TDC; n = 22) through molecular and biochemical analyses. Further, correlation analysis was carried out with severity of the disease. Our data showed an upregulated expression of TLR4 and p-NFkB in ASD platelets as compared to TDC platelets. Further, elevated TLR4/ NFkB signaling was linked with elevated NOX2-derived ROS and oxidative stress. It was confirmed by the utilization of NFkB and NOX2 inhibitors which caused reduction in LPS-induced ROS and oxidative stress in ASD platelets. Further, there was positive correlation between platelet oxidative stress and severity of the disease. Our data suggests that elevated TLR4/ NFkB signaling in platelets of ASD subjects might predispose them to increased systemic oxidative inflammation through NOX-2 derived ROS generation and oxidative stress.

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4. Allam H, Fredman E, Kobayashi D, Aggarwal M, Grady R, Balzer D. Transcatheter Sinus Venosus ASD Closure in Severe Pulmonary Hypertension. JACC Case Rep. 2026; 31(42): 110220.

BACKGROUND: Data on sinus venosus atrial septal defect (SVASD) closure in patients with coexistent pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are scarce because current guidelines restrict closure to a pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of <5 WU. CASE SUMMARY: A 20-year-old woman with severe PAH and a PVR of 12.6 WU underwent successful transcatheter SVASD and partial anomalous pulmonary venous return correction. A small atrial communication was intentionally created as a temporary safety "pop-off," enabling aggressive postprocedural escalation of PAH therapy. WHY BEYOND THE GUIDELINES?: Patients with severe PAH may still benefit from transcatheter SVASD closure despite guidelines. These patients require highly individualized, nonguideline-directed interventions. DISCUSSION: Current guidelines restrict ASD closure to PVR <5 WU, and prior data on closure at higher resistances are largely limited to secundum defects. This successful fenestrated SVASD closure at a baseline PVR of 12.6 WU challenges the utility of relying on a single hemodynamic threshold. Creating a temporary, controlled fenestration provides an essential safety margin, expanding interventional options for high-risk patients who would otherwise be precluded from care. TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: Transcatheter closure of SVASD in patients with severe PAH can effectively reduce the left-to-right shunt and facilitate escalation of PAH-targeted therapies.

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5. Bourque KS, Steinbrenner JR, Weaver JB, Padak AM. Predictors of Communication Skills Following a Peer Partner Intervention for Young Autistic Children with Limited or No Spoken Language. Behav Sci (Basel). 2026; 16(10).

Young autistic children with limited or no spoken language present with a myriad of social and communication challenges that restrict participation in school environments. Instructional approaches that include a speech-generating device (SGD) to augment speech and teaching peers to be supportive communication partners can lead to marked improvements in communication, expressive language, and social reciprocity. To inform clinical decisions and individualize approaches to meet child needs, more research is needed to identify key child-level behaviors that predict treatment response to social communication interventions. This study determined if pre-treatment levels of (1) expressive and receptive language, (2) nonverbal cognitive skills, (3) autism characteristics, and (4) peer-directed communication and reciprocity were related to child communication following an SGD intervention with peer partners. Participants included N = 56 autistic children (ages 3 to 6 years) with limited or no spoken language and N = 107 non-autistic peers (1-3 for each child). Peers learned to Stay-Play-Talk, then participated in 10 play-based intervention sessions with an autistic child implemented by trained school staff. An SGD with voice output app was provided for all children. Participants demonstrated significant increases in three social communication outcomes after intervention. Bivariate correlations were used to assess the relationship of potential predictors with these three key communication outcomes. Then, predictors with significant associations were included in multiple linear regressions to examine the contributions of child-level predictors for each outcome. All three regression models explained significant variance and had at least one significant child-level predictor (e.g., expressive language, autism characteristics, or nonverbal cognitive skills). Results provide support for identifying child characteristics that are precursors for growth in peer-directed social communication, and are thus important to teach to optimize outcomes for autistic children with significant communication challenges.

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6. Doğan Ç, Mutlu MB, Cansu A, Habiloğlu E, Öztürk M, Gümüş U, Gürler A, Şahinoğlu B, Kale H, Alay MT, Sezer A, Kalaycı A, Güleç EY, Emre S, Polat H, Yiğit ZM, Bolat H, Esener Z, Akdağ DG, Bolat G, Türkyılmaz A, Ayaz A, Kolkıran A, Ceylan AC, Solmaz T, Bahap Y, Cinkara N, Oğuz S, Uzay E, Güneş Sager S, Çebi AH, Demir O, Susam E, Kalay İ. The clinical spectrum of MECP2 variants in males: a multicenter Turkish cohort of 22 probands, with implications for diagnosis and variant interpretation. BMC Pediatr. 2026; 26(1).

BACKGROUND: In males, MECP2 loss of function was long thought to be lethal or uniformly severe, and affected boys remain under-recognised. Their clinical range is still poorly defined. METHODS: We assembled a multicentre Turkish series of 22 hemizygous male probands ascertained through routine diagnostic testing rather than severe-phenotype registries. Variants were classified under the ClinGen Expert Panel specification for MECP2 (GN036, version 6.0.0) and its combining rules, with the Panel’s ClinVar classifications adopted where available. Phenotypic analysis was restricted to the 21 probands with pathogenic, likely pathogenic or uncertain variants. RESULTS: The 22 probands carried 17 distinct variants (11 missense, 5 frameshift and one 3′ untranslated region deletion), of which 2 were classified as pathogenic, 1 likely pathogenic, 13 uncertain and 1 benign (3, 4, 14 and 1 probands, respectively). Where recorded, intellectual disability or developmental delay affected 7 of 7 probands with pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants and 8 of 10 with uncertain variants; seizures affected 2 of 3 and 8 of 10, respectively. Growth or head-circumference findings, recorded in 9 of 21 probands, included obesity or overgrowth (5), microcephaly (4, one borderline) and short stature (3). A maternal carrier was identified in 6 of 22 families (five laboratory-confirmed); the other 16 mothers were untested, so no de novo event was confirmed. Second-locus findings, reported by referring laboratories in 3 probands, could not be independently reclassified. CONCLUSIONS: In this diagnostically ascertained series, phenotypes observed among males carrying MECP2 variants were graded rather than uniformly severe. Fourteen of the 21 probands carry variants of uncertain significance, in whom causation is not established, so the range that may be attributed to MECP2 rests on seven individuals carrying variants classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic under the stated criteria. In one of them, published functional data on the identical variant conflict with its pathogenic classification, so attribution of his phenotype to MECP2 remains uncertain. These provisional observations support a low threshold for MECP2 testing in males with unexplained neurodevelopmental presentations, attention to growth as well as head circumference, and consideration of additional loci.

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7. Kamada Y, Fujino N, Fujimoto Y, Furuno T. Development of a scale to measure empowerment approaches of visiting nurses supporting mothers of school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder. Belitung Nurs J. 2026; 12(5): 620-31.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with substantial challenges for children and their families. Mothers of children with ASD may experience considerable parenting-related stress, particularly when they face difficulties in understanding and responding to their children’s behavioral and communication characteristics. In home-visit nursing, empowerment-oriented approaches that support mothers’ coping abilities and self-efficacy are important; however, a scale for assessing these support practices has not yet been sufficiently developed. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to conceptualize empowerment-oriented support practices for mothers of school-aged children with ASD in the context of home-visit nursing and to develop a corresponding measurement scale. METHODS: This study was conducted in two phases. Preliminary scale items were generated through semi-structured interviews with home-visit nurses, followed by expert evaluation of content validity and a nationwide questionnaire survey. Exploratory factor analysis and examinations of the reliability and validity of the scale were subsequently conducted. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis identified a three-factor structure comprising 14 items: (1) educational support to enhance mothers’ sense of coping capability, (2) reframing support aimed at restoring confidence, and (3) partnership building through empathic engagement. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value was 0.817, factor loadings ranged from 0.48 to 0.95, average variance extracted (AVE) ranged from 0.41 to 0.44, composite reliability (CR) ranged from 0.73 to 0.78, Cronbach’s alpha was 0.874, and cumulative variance explained was 49.2%. The AVE values were below the recommended threshold of 0.50, indicating limited support for convergent validity. Discriminant validity was also not fully supported. CONCLUSION: The scale developed in this study should be regarded as a preliminary measurement framework for organizing empowerment-oriented support practices provided by home-visit nurses to mothers of school-aged children with ASD, drawn from educational, cognitive, and relational perspectives. Given the limitations in convergent and discriminant validity, and the absence of confirmatory factor analysis using an independent sample, the scale should not currently be used for individual nurse evaluation, performance benchmarking, or quality assurance. Further psychometric validation using larger and more diverse samples, independent-sample confirmatory factor analysis, hypothesis testing with theoretically relevant external measures, and longitudinal studies is required.

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8. Lee A, Jin P. From Repeat Expansion to Circuit Disruption: 35 Years of Fragile X Pathophysiology. Annu Rev Pathol. 2026.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is caused by CGG repeat expansion in FMR1, leading to gene silencing and loss of fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein (FMRP). As the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability and a leading monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder, FXS has provided an unusually tractable framework for linking a single-gene defect to abnormalities in RNA regulation, synaptic development, circuit function, and behavior. In this review, we synthesize current understanding of FMRP function, dysregulated signaling pathways, synaptic and network phenotypes, and emerging contributions from glial and human organoid models. We also evaluate therapeutic efforts, emphasizing lessons from failed targeted trials, the constraints imposed by critical developmental periods, and newer strategies aimed at restoring FMR1 itself. We argue that future progress will depend on earlier intervention, biologically informed patient stratification, and objective measures of target engagement and circuit response.

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9. Rafiei S, Cartwright G, Atkins B, Toro C. From backlog to blind spots: improving data visibility across autism and ADHD pathways in England. BJPsych Bull. 2026: 1-5.

All-age autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder pathway reform in England is often framed around waiting lists and capacity. However, backlog data alone cannot show how people move through referral, triage, assessment, support and follow-up, or where inequities and unmet need are hidden. Current data also struggle to distinguish confirmed diagnosis, suspected diagnosis, disclosure, self-identification and co-occurring needs. This creates pathway blindness: systems can see pressure, but not flow, fairness or diagnostic visibility. We argue that reform should begin with structured system mapping, agreed definitions and a realistic minimum data-set before dashboards or predictive analytics are used to guide service change.

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10. Ratnaik R, P SK, Selvaganesh L, Sengar SS, Ronickom JFA. Diagnostic classification of ASD improves with positively sparsified DTI inter-regional correlation and graph-theoretical artificial intelligence. Neuroscience. 2026; 619: 108-20.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impairments in social interaction and behavioral functioning. ASD diagnosis primarily relies on behavioral assessments and can vary across individuals. In this study, an ASD diagnostic model was developed using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) derived inter-regional correlations, graph-theoretical analysis and artificial intelligence. Initially, the DTI data from 283 individuals (154 ASD and 129 typically developing) were preprocessed using a standard pipeline. Subsequently, DTI-derived parameters were extracted from 50 white matter (WM) regions. Inter-regional correlations were computed between DTI-derived parameters using Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC), Biweight midcorrelation coefficient, and Spearman rank correlation coefficient. The resulting fully correlated matrices were subsequently decomposed into positive and negative correlation matrices. These matrices were sparsified at different threshold levels to construct graph networks. Nine graph-theoretical features were calculated for each WM region, yielding 450 features, which were fed as input to artificial intelligence models, including logistic regression, support vector machine (SVM), random forest, extreme gradient boosting, and a one-dimensional convolutional neural network. The highest average 5-fold classification accuracy of 90.47% was achieved using 75 features derived from a positively correlated PCC network thresholded at 0.2 and SVM. The most discriminative features were eigenvector and pagerank centrality of the cingulum (cingulate gyrus) left, and eigenvector centrality of the superior corona radiata left, inferior cerebellar peduncle right, and cingulum (cingulate gyrus) right. These findings indicate that positively sparsified DTI inter-regional correlation networks combined with graph-theoretical analysis and artificial intelligence provide a promising framework for accurate ASD classification.

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11. Sharifzadeh M, Bajestani GS, Ashrafzadeh F, Karimzade M. Resting-state EEG functional connectivity changes following memantine administration in children with autism spectrum disorder: an exploratory pre-post study. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2026; 364: 112354.

Despite the widespread use of memantine in modulating excitatory/inhibitory balance, the precise changes in the topology of brain networks following memantine administration in preschool children remain clearly undefined. The objective of this study is a quantitative evaluation of brain functional connectivity changes associated with memantine administration in using EEG-based network analysis. In this research, 22 preschool ASD children underwent treatment with memantine for one month. Resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) signals were recorded before and after the intervention. functional connectivity matrices were extracted using the Phase Locking Value (PLV) index. Individual-level analysis revealed a Neurophysiological heterogeneity pattern, consisting of a 64% Subgroup with increased network integration (n = 14) with increased connectivity and 36% with decreased connectivity. SPN analysis identified distinct spatial components of network reorganization: (1) localized connectivity suppression in the fronto-central (Fz, F3) and left occipital (O1) regions captured by lower-order spatial filters, and (2) reinforcement of long-range functional coupling and enhanced nodal centrality in the right parietal (P4) and left temporal (T3) regions in higher-order filters. These findings suggest spatial network reorganization patterns associated with memantine administration, characterized by a complementary balance between localized phase decoupling and long-range functional integration.

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12. Spicer L, Camin M, Botha M, Pavlopoulou G, Kumar-Jonson M, Walker N, Kapp SK. Treating trauma, not autism: a critical response to Te Hennepe et al. (2026). Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2026; 17(1): 2739785.

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13. Temeltürk RD, Özgür Karabiyikioğlu Y, Aynigül KD, Kurtuldu Çeti̇ner E, Yürümez E. Misophonia in adolescents: clinical correlates and associations with autism-related behavioral characteristics within a clinical context. BMC Pediatr. 2026; 26(1).

BACKGROUND: Misophonia is characterized by intense emotional and behavioral reactions to specific sounds and has been associated with psychiatric symptoms and sensory sensitivity. This study investigated the prevalence of misophonia in a clinical adolescent outpatient sample and examined its associations with psychiatric symptoms and autism-related behavioral characteristics. METHODS: The study included 200 adolescents aged 12-18 years who were referred to a child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic. Psychiatric diagnoses were assessed using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version for DSM-5. Misophonia severity was evaluated with the Amsterdam Misophonia Scale-Revised, while emotional-behavioral problems and autism-related behavioral characteristics were assessed using the Youth Self-Report/11-18. Group comparisons were performed using the chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test, and the Mann-Whitney U test. Spearman’s correlation analyses and hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Adolescents with misophonia had higher rates of major depressive disorder. They also had significantly higher internalizing and externalizing symptoms and elevated autism-related behavioral characteristics than those without misophonia (all p < 0.001; Z = -5.62, -4.59, and - 5.70, respectively). Hierarchical logistic regression analysis revealed that higher internalizing problem scores independently predicted the presence of misophonia (Nagelkerke R² = 0.226, p < 0.001; OR = 1.07). CONCLUSIONS: Misophonia in adolescents appears to be closely associated with broader internalizing psychopathology and emotional-behavioral difficulties within psychiatric outpatient settings. Elevated autism-related behavioral characteristics in adolescents with misophonia support further research into the relationship between misophonia and neurodevelopmental characteristics. Such research may contribute to improving clinical assessment and understanding of behavioral patterns associated with misophonia. However, study limitations and inconsistencies in the literature highlight the need for further research in this area.

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14. Vaccari L, Herman R, Hughes A, Spicer-Cain H. Autism assessment for deaf children and young people: adaptations and recommendations. J Deaf Stud Deaf Educ. 2026.

Individuals with co-occurring deafness and autism represent a substantial yet underserved clinical population, and autism assessment in deaf children and young people (DCYP) remains a complex process. This scoping review mapped screening and assessment phase-specific and broader adaptations and recommendations for autism assessment of DCYP. Systematic database searches initially yielded 851 records, of which 17 primary studies published between 2010 and 2025 met inclusion criteria. Articles featured autistic and non-autistic children, parents/family units and professionals, across three countries (UK = 7, US = 9, Brazil = 1) and used quantitative (n = 13) and qualitative approaches (n = 4). Our findings are presented as three themes: (i) screening, (ii) assessment, and (iii) broader process-level adaptations or recommendations. Most studies focused on the assessment phase, particularly adaptations of gold-standard tools for autism assessment in hearing children. The review concludes with recommendations for future exploration, such as a review of post-autism diagnosis support for DCYP.

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