New research suggests that changes in bacteria within a child’s mouth could help to identify autism. The findings are likely to lead to the development of a saliva-based test to aid clinicians in early autism diagnosis. Scientists from three organisations...

Researchers have uncovered links between autism and rare genetic mutations that cause seizures. Scientists are investigating mutations in the HNRNPU gene. These mutations cause a syndrome that leads to learning disabilities, distinct facial features, seizures and, sometimes, autism. Work led...

Thousands of children with disabilities will now have more legal protection against schools excluding them. This follows a landmark case involving the parents of a teenager with autism. The case focused on preventing schools excluding pupils over challenging behaviour linked to...

The Government must act quickly over plans to make blue badges available to those with hidden disabilities. That’s the view of Sarah Lambert, who is head of policy at the National Autistic Society (NAS). ‘Lifeline for autistic people and their...

More than one in three young people referred to a gender reassignment clinic may have autism. That’s the view of a group of medics at children’s gender reassignment centre the Tavistock Clinic, in London. Medics at the clinic have written a...

The parents of a man with Asperger syndrome say the NHS must ‘wake up’ to its duty to provide adequate care support. They spoke out after lawyers overturned their local NHS’s decision to deny their son access to vital care...

Boys with autism tend to be born smaller than typical peers – but then have faster growth and overtake them by the age of three, according to a new study. On average they had smaller heads, were shorter and weighed less at...

Children with autism have more of the cortex buried within the surface of the brain, two studies show. Professor Ralph Axel-Müller, of San Diego State University, led one of the groups. His scientists examined MRI data from 64 children and...

A US drugs firm has started a study on a potential new treatment for Fragile X Syndrome. Tetra Discovery Partners announced a phase two trial on the treatment, known as BPN14770. The drug can improve both behaviour and the quality...

A scientist who discovered pollutants in vaccines argues they can trigger “a long list of neurological diseases”.  Italian scientist Dr Stefano Montanari said autism is “not to be discarded” among the conditions the pollutants can trigger. Montanari works with his...