A small study suggests that baby teeth may afford a way to explore environmental risk factors for autism. The study analyzed baby teeth from 13 sets of twins in which at least one of the twins has autism, and 19 sets of neurotypical twins. The researchers found that the children with autism have less zinc […]
The latest study to show that autistic children tend to be overweight suggests that the risk is greatest for those at the severe end of the spectrum1. Autistic children are about 1.6 times as likely as their typical peers to be overweight or obese, the study shows. And autistic children with severe traits have 1.7 […]
Treatment with Lactobacillus reuteri, a species of gut bacteria found in yogurt and breast milk, enhances social interactions in three mouse models of autism, a new study suggests1. The findings lend support to the idea that the gut microbiome — the population of microbes in the body — holds clues to autism therapies. The results jibe […]
Being anemic while pregnant may increase a woman’s chance of having a child with intellectual disability, autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Two previous smaller studies hinted at a link between maternal anemia and intellectual disability, but the new work is the first to show a link to autism or ADHD. The results, based on […]
Children born with low blood levels of vitamin D have 33 percent increased odds of autism compared with those born with high levels. Researchers presented the unpublished results today at the 2018 International Society for Autism Research annual meeting in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The results come from the largest study yet to explore a link between vitamin […]
Folic acid, a B vitamin, may lower autism risk and ease features of the condition, according to findings from five unrelated studies published over the past few months. Three of the studies suggest that prenatal supplements of folic acid offset autism risk associated with in utero exposure to epilepsy drugs or toxic chemicals1,2,3. The supplements […]
Women who take folic acid or other vitamins before or during pregnancy decrease their chances of having a child with autism, suggests a study published last week1. But some experts are skeptical that the vitamins provide this protective effect. Vitamins — and in particular vitamin B9, or folic acid — are critical for the development […]
