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Spotted around the web: Fragile X registry, glycine channel blocker, motor issues

Here is a roundup of news and research for the week of 14 December.

By Jill Adams
18 December 2020 | 2 min read

This article is more than five years old.

Neuroscience—and science in general—is constantly evolving, so older articles may contain information or theories that have been reevaluated since their original publication date.

Research roundup

  • Duplications or deletions of the gene KDM4C appear to be linked to autism and schizophrenia. Translational Psychiatry
  • Autistic children with social-communication problems and repetitive behaviors have an elevated likelihood of also having motor impairments. Autism Research
  • Women who have preeclampsia during pregnancy have an increased chance of having an autistic child. Current Opinion in Psychiatry
  • A light-sensitive molecule enables researchers to mute signals relayed through certain types of glycine receptors in mouse brains. eNeuro
  • For people with developmental disabilities, the risk of contracting or dying from COVID-19 may depend on their residential setting. Disability and Health Journal
  • When throwing a ball, autistic adults tend to wind up more than non-autistic adults, according to a small study. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly

Science and society

  • The U.S.-based National Fragile X Foundation has launched a registry for adults with the fragile X premutation to make it easier for them to contribute to research and participate in clinical trials. Fragile X News Today
  • The U.S. National Institutes of Health ‘All of Us’ project, which sequences genomes from U.S. residents, has begun sending genetic information back to participants. National Institutes of Health
  • The European Commission may soon be the largest funder to require sex and gender analyses in research studies. Nature
  • The Autism Society of America has joined with other disability organizations to call for people with developmental disabilities to be prioritized for getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Autism Society
  • A new program aims to develop better medical-school training on the needs of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Disability Scoop

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