Fatty acid metabolites; esophagitis; auditory processing

Autistic adults have higher blood levels of fatty-acid metabolites, on average, than non-autistic adults. Autism Research
Many autism-linked genes encode immune-system proteins that contribute to neuronal and synaptic plasticity during development, according to a review. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
The study of animal vocalizations has undermined past views of language as a uniquely human trait. The New York Times
In mice missing the MECP2 gene — a model of Rett syndrome — loss of the MECP2 protein leads to changes in the proteome of cells throughout the body and appears to converge on lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function. Human Molecular Genetics
Two people in conversation move in response to each other; the one who leads the movements is more likely to make a positive impression on outside observers, unless the leader is autistic. Scientific Reports
Autistic children are more likely to have esophagitis than their non-autistic peers or those with a developmental disability are. Journal of Pediatrics
Among people with fragile X syndrome, those with more severe autism traits have more difficulty with adaptive behavior and higher blood levels of CYFIP1 mRNA than those with less severe traits. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience
Alpha-Missense is a new artificial-intelligence tool based on AlphaFold that predicts where disease-causing mutations are likely to occur in a protein. Nature

Wide reach: Loss of the gene MECP2 in mice leads to proteomic changes throughout the brain and the rest of the body.
Autistic people show similar patterns of regional brain activation during tasks designed to assess pragmatic skills and theory of mind, according to a meta-analysis of data from 35 imaging studies. Social Neuroscience
Harvard University has created a health-care toolkit for caregivers and advocates of autistic adults and an educational course for clinicians. Adult Autism Health Resources
Auditory processing in autistic adolescents is different from that of their non-autistic peers, and the difference is larger in those with lower IQs. Autism Research
A new method to investigate infant attention uses naturalistic settings rather than computer-screen stimuli and reports individual differences. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
Autistic adults have more chronic health issues than non-autistic adults, encompassing many organ systems in the body, according to an online survey of 2,305 people. Molecular Autism
The prevalence of autism in a cohort of Swedish 12-year-olds is 1.1 percent; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder prevalence is 7.6 percent and is linked to parental obesity. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
Autistic people seek friendship and community; researchers have begun documenting how non-autistic people contribute to the so-called double-empathy problem, writes author Steve Silberman. Scientific American