IMFAR 2013

Recent articles

IMFAR 2013: Autism or ‘autisms’?

Conversations with researchers at the 2013 International Meeting for Autism Research in San Sebastián, Spain, raised provocative questions about the nature of autism. How do we make sense of its staggering heterogeneity, multiple genetic causes and widespread overlap with other disorders?

By Greg Boustead
6 May 2013 | 3 min read

Gender differences take center stage at autism conference

Girls with autism carry more mutations than do boys with the disorder, and show greater differences in brain activity and response to social cues, according to several preliminary studies presented at the 2013 International Meeting for Autism Research in San Sebastián, Spain.

By Emily Singer
4 May 2013 | 6 min read

Statins improve symptoms of Rett syndrome in mice

Defects in cholesterol metabolism may influence the severity of Rett syndrome, suggesting a treatment for the autism-related disorder, according to research presented Thursday at the 2013 International Meeting for Autism Research in San Sebastián, Spain.

By Emily Singer
4 May 2013 | 4 min read

Scientists home in on key spot in brain for autism risk

By analyzing the expression patterns of nine candidate genes for autism, researchers have identified a population of cells and a select time during fetal development that may be key to the disorder.

By Emily Singer
4 May 2013 | 4 min read

Study links pupillary reflex, heart rate in autism

More than half of children with autism have a delayed pupillary response to light, along with a high heart rate and other physiological features, according an unpublished study presented Thursday at the 2013 International Meeting for Autism Research in San Sebastián, Spain.

By Laura Geggel
4 May 2013 | 3 min read

Reactions from IMFAR 2013

We checked in from the 2013 International Meeting for Autism Research with daily reactions from this year’s attendees.

By Greg Boustead
3 May 2013 | 11 min read

Short diagnostic test shows high specificity for autism

A ten-minute screen combining a parent questionnaire and home video can detect autism with 90 percent specificity, according to unpublished research presented Thursday at the 2013 International Meeting for Autism Research in San Sebastián, Spain.

By Emily Singer
3 May 2013 | 4 min read

Identity of autism-linked maternal antibodies revealed

Researchers have identified six fetal brain proteins that bind to maternal antibodies, which are thought to trigger changes to the fetal brain and raise the risk of autism. They presented their findings today at the International Meeting for Autism Research in San Sebastián, Spain.

By Emily Singer
2 May 2013 | 3 min read

New brain bank set to collect samples for autism research

A new initiative aims to collect brain tissue for autism research, adding welcome resources to the struggling Autism Tissue Program, according to an announcement today at the 2013 International Meeting for Autism Research in San Sebastián, Spain.

By Apoorva Mandavilli
2 May 2013 | 3 min read

Reward study questions autism mouse model’s relevance

The BTBR mouse model, an asocial strain often used to study autism, may not be optimal for autism research, suggests an unpublished study presented today at the 2013 International Meeting for Autism Research in San Sebastián, Spain.

By Laura Geggel
2 May 2013 | 2 min read

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