News / Spectrum

Brain Gene Registry; neurite density; income disparities in autism diagnoses

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 29 April.

By Jill Adams
30 April 2024 | 2 min read
comments
https://doi.org/10.53053/DLHK4539 https://doi.org/10.53053/DLHK4539 - opens a new tab Cite this article
  • The growth factor BMP2 seems to be a regulatory target for maintaining the balance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission in the mouse brain. Spectrum has an explainer about the signaling imbalance theory of autism. Nature
Research image of glutaminergic synapses on parvalbumin interneurons.
Missed connections: Mice missing the BMP2 gene (right panels) form fewer glutaminergic synapses onto parvalbumin interneurons than do controls (left panels).
  • Altered transcription spurred by a variety of autism-linked genes often converges on a small number of developmental pathways, according to a preprint about cortical organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. bioRxiv
  • Gene variants linked to autism are also linked to decreased neurite density in the brain, according to a preprint that used UK BioBank data. medRxiv
  • Low-income families have a higher prevalence of autism diagnoses than do high-income families, according to an analysis by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
  • The U.K. Metropolitan Police are investigating advertisers hawking false claims about stem cell therapy for autism. BBC
  • A new resource called the Brain Gene Registry contains genetic and phenotypic data from people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; its goal is to help researchers better characterize the links between genes and conditions such as autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Speech-processing difficulties in autistic children may be related to altered integration of auditory and visual stimuli, according to a preprint. bioRxiv
  • Alterations in executive function in autistic children appear to contribute to the likelihood of having mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression or aggression. Autism
  • Mental health conditions affect sleep quality in children with fragile X syndrome, which, in turn, affects daily functioning at school. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
  • Different variants of the SCN2A gene, which are linked to autism and epilepsy, confer different effects on sodium channel function, and different clinical profiles. Brain

Sign up for the weekly Spectrum newsletter.

Stay current with the latest advancements in autism research.

Recommended reading

Research image showing gene association.
Spectrum Microphone

Organoid study reveals shared brain pathways across autism-linked variants

By Giorgia Guglielmi
19 February 2026 | 4 min read
Research image visualizing brain region connectivity in autistic girls compared to autistic boys.
Spectrum

New insights on sex bias in autism, and more

By Jill Adams
17 February 2026 | 2 min read
A boy and girl run in a field.
Spectrum

Sex bias in autism drops as age at diagnosis rises

By Helena Kudiabor
13 February 2026 | 4 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Portrait of Raphe Bernier in front of a collage of a building, a chalkboard, a computer and human silhouettes.
Craft and careers Microphone

Frameshift: Raphe Bernier followed his heart out of academia, then made his way back again

By Katie Moisse
20 February 2026 | 8 min read
Mouse father with pups.
Social behavior

Single gene sways caregiving circuits, behavior in male mice

By Natalia Mesa
18 February 2026 | 6 min read
Research image showing more glucose in the bird retina than the bird brain.
Vision

Inner retina of birds powers sight sans oxygen

By Federica Sgorbissa
18 February 2026 | 4 min read

privacy consent banner

Privacy Preference

We use cookies to provide you with the best online experience. By clicking “Accept All,” you help us understand how our site is used and enhance its performance. You can change your choice at any time. To learn more, please visit our Privacy Policy.