Children born to mothers with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) face a higher risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a large epidemiological study led by researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet. Published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, the study strengthens evidence that prenatal exposure to sex hormones may influence autism risk in children of both … Read more

Summary: New research has found a link between brain stem volume and aggressive behavior in children with autism. Children with smaller brain stems were more likely to show clinically significant aggression. Source: Brigham Young University Study Links Brain Stem Size to Aggression in Children with Autism Researchers at Brigham Young University (BYU) report a possible … Read more

Summary: A new study found that older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) exhibit higher cerebrovascular impedance — greater resistance to blood flow in the brain — compared with cognitively normal peers. This elevated vascular resistance is linked to cerebral hypoperfusion, or reduced blood flow, which may contribute to the cognitive difficulties frequently observed … Read more

Summary: New research suggests that people need willpower not only to resist temptations in the moment but also to put in place strategies that prevent temptation from arising. Source: Rutgers University The tale of Odysseus and the Sirens from Greek mythology provides a classic illustration of self-control. Before sailing past the Sirens—mythical beings whose song … Read more

Summary: New research indicates that a shared developmental defect in the formation of inhibitory neural circuits may help explain why autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and epilepsy frequently occur together. Source: UCR Epilepsy and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often co-occur, suggesting overlapping biological causes. Key questions remain: does ASD increase the risk of epilepsy, or do … Read more

Summary: Scientists have identified a protein, USP50, that helps direct which enzymes act on DNA during replication—deciding whether nucleases cut DNA strands or helicases unwind them. This regulation is essential for smooth, accurate DNA copying, especially when the replication machinery stalls and must restart. Cells lacking USP50 fail to coordinate these enzymes properly, producing replication … Read more

Summary: Researchers have found a possible association between playing organized tackle football and a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) or parkinsonism. Analysis of a large online dataset indicated that men who reported playing tackle football had substantially greater odds of reporting a PD diagnosis than men who played other sports, with … Read more

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is most often identified in childhood and is characterized by difficulty sustaining attention, controlling activity levels, and regulating impulses. While the exact causes remain unclear, research suggests that a child’s relative age within a school grade may influence the likelihood of receiving an ADHD diagnosis and medication. A large Taiwanese study … Read more

Summary: Researchers have developed a new technique for imaging functional activity in fetal brains, providing clearer insight into how functional brain networks form before birth. Source: NIH/NIBIB. Method makes imaging of moving subjects possible Researchers supported by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) at the University of Washington have introduced a novel … Read more

Summary: Researchers identify structural and functional differences in the insular cortex between men and women, with implications for autonomic control and cardiovascular health. Source: UCLA. UCLA researchers using functional MRI during controlled blood pressure challenges found opposite responses in a specific anterior region of the right insular cortex in men and women. The insula plays … Read more