Quality of life
Leveraging the power of community to strengthen clinical trials for rare genetic syndromes
Families can become not only participants but champions of these research efforts.
![A hand holds a stack of speech bubbles.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/NEW-landscape-1200-1024x692.webp)
Leveraging the power of community to strengthen clinical trials for rare genetic syndromes
Families can become not only participants but champions of these research efforts.
Building bridges: Collaboration across the autism community
An autistic person and the mother of an autistic child explore partnership in the autism community.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/1200-lutz-1024x683.webp)
Building bridges: Collaboration across the autism community
An autistic person and the mother of an autistic child explore partnership in the autism community.
Social skills decline during adolescence for a sliver of autistic youth
Most children with the condition, however, gain communication and social abilities over time.
![Five high-school-aged students sit on a bench looking at notebooks and a laptop.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1200-lede-developmental-trajectories-communication-social-autism.png)
Social skills decline during adolescence for a sliver of autistic youth
Most children with the condition, however, gain communication and social abilities over time.
Co-occurring conditions in autistic teens increase with age
The most prevalent conditions include obesity, neurological disorders, anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
![Photograph of a doctor and nurse checking a patient’s temperature and taking notes.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/co-occurring-conditions-autism-teens-811.png)
Co-occurring conditions in autistic teens increase with age
The most prevalent conditions include obesity, neurological disorders, anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Broadening the autism spectrum: Q&A with Oluwatobi Abubakare
Too often, people outside the margins of what’s considered classic autism are left out of research agendas, Abubakare says.
![A group of rectangles placed against a colorful background contains diverse colors and patterns.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/autism-spectrum-broaden-qa-abubakare-844.jpg)
Broadening the autism spectrum: Q&A with Oluwatobi Abubakare
Too often, people outside the margins of what’s considered classic autism are left out of research agendas, Abubakare says.
Explore more from The Transmitter
New connectomes fly beyond the brain
Researchers are mapping the neurons in Drosophila’s ventral nerve cord, where the central nervous system meets the rest of the body.
![Research image of neurons in the fly’s ventral nerve cord.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/lede-motormodules-1200-1024x692.webp)
New connectomes fly beyond the brain
Researchers are mapping the neurons in Drosophila’s ventral nerve cord, where the central nervous system meets the rest of the body.
Building an autism research registry: Q&A with Tony Charman
A purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost, Charman says.
![Illustration of researchers talking to laypeople amidst strands of DNA.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1200_Charman-1024x687.webp)
Building an autism research registry: Q&A with Tony Charman
A purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost, Charman says.
Cerebellar circuit may convert expected pain relief into real thing
The newly identified circuit taps into the brain’s opioid system to provide a top-down form of pain relief.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/paincircuit-1200-1024x692.webp)
Cerebellar circuit may convert expected pain relief into real thing
The newly identified circuit taps into the brain’s opioid system to provide a top-down form of pain relief.