News / Spotted

CHD8 gene; minority participation in research; machine-learning autism screen

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 26 August.

By Jill Adams
27 August 2024 | 2 min read
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https://doi.org/10.53053/ERRG1608 https://doi.org/10.53053/ERRG1608 - opens a new tab Cite this article
  • The autism-linked gene CHD8 regulates the expression of thousands of genes involved in the development of neurons, brain structures, cilia and the extracellular matrix, according to a study in cerebral organoids. Heliyon
  • Variants of the TRIO gene, which are associated with autism, schizophrenia and intellectual disability, lead to altered synaptic structure and function in mice, according to a preprint. Spectrum has previously reported on TRIO mutations in autism. bioRxiv
  • Autistic people are more likely than non-autistic people to have functional somatic or motor disorders, according to a review of studies. Autism
Research image visualizing cell-to-cell communications in cerebral organoids.
Lost connections: Most cell-to-cell communications in cerebral organoids are weakened (blue lines within the central circle) when the autism-linked gene CHD8 is knocked out, and only a few are strengthened (red lines).
  • Black Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are generally motivated to participate in autism research to advance knowledge, but differing beliefs about autism can serve as a barrier to such engagement. Journal of Community Genetics
  • Glutathione levels in the frontal and occipital lobes are similar in autistic and non-autistic adults, suggesting that oxidative stress is not a biomarker for the condition. PLOS One
  • A machine-learning model applied to 28 medical screening and history items in children under 2 years old appears to be a sensitive and specific predictor of autism traits and cognitive function. JAMA Network Open
  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has designated NGN-401 gene therapy as a regenerative medicine advanced therapy, which allows a speedier development path for the treatment. Rett Syndrome News

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