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Illustration of a binocular microscope with an X Chromosome in one eyepiece and cancer cells in the other.
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The cloudy connection between fragile X and cancer

People with the autism-linked syndrome lack a protein implicated in several cancers, but it’s unclear whether — or how — they are protected from malignancies.

By Giorgia Guglielmi
28 September 2022 | 8 min read

Autism model mice develop typical social and motor behaviors after drug treatment

The drug suppresses an overactive signaling pathway implicated in tuberous sclerosis complex.

By Laura Dattaro
9 March 2022 | 5 min read
Conceptual illustration of child sleeping under blanket with multiple EEG waves overlaid on top and a window on left showing it is daytime and window on right showing nighttime.
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Cracking autism’s sleep conundrum

Sleep problems may contribute to or derive from autism traits — or both. After decades of work, researchers are beginning to uncover the biological connections between the two conditions, revealing new paths to potential treatments.

By Chloe Williams
25 February 2022 | 8 min read
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Molecular overlap links tuberous sclerosis, fragile X

Brain cells from the cerebellums of mice that model tuberous sclerosis show dampened levels of proteins controlled by FMRP, the protein missing in fragile X syndrome.

By Rachel Zamzow
16 August 2021 | 5 min read
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Extra proteins alter microglia and behavior in mice

The overproduction of proteins in brain cells called microglia causes social impairments, cognitive deficits and repetitive behavior in male mice, a new study has found.

By Emily Anthes
29 May 2020 | 4 min read
Illustration showing the human brain with neurons made out of flower shapes and the cerebellum highlighted in gold and yellow.

Brain’s motor hub plays unsung role in social skills, cognition

Long known as the director of movement, the cerebellum may also coordinate social and cognitive abilities, including those central to autism.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
9 March 2020 | 7 min read
row of babies playing with toys that look like genome sequence

Studies of tuberous sclerosis may shed light on biology of autism

Tuberous sclerosis provides a unique opportunity to understand autism because about half of people with that single-gene condition also have autism.

By Mustafa Sahin
24 September 2019 | 5 min read

Trial results temper hopes of tumor drug for treating autism

A drug that treats tumors and epilepsy in people with tuberous sclerosis complex does not boost their intelligence or ease autism traits.

By Alla Katsnelson
29 August 2019 | 4 min read
Purkinje neurons glow red in this section.

Cerebellum’s role in autism may depend on timing

Two studies published in the past two months provide new clues to when and how the cerebellum contributes to autism.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
12 November 2018 | 5 min read
Two scientists standing in a lab.

Family ties: Sabatini brothers crack codes that may underlie autism

David and Bernardo Sabatini, brothers born just a year and a half year apart, invent their way to answering big questions about autism.

By Hannah Furfaro
30 August 2018 | 9 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Research image of a chimeroid.

Brain ‘chimeroids’ reveal person-to-person differences rooted in genetics

These fusions created from multiple donors’ organoids may help scale up comparative brain research.

By Charles Q. Choi
5 July 2024 | 4 min read
Picture of bees in flight.

Postdoc’s grad-school sleuthing raises questions about bee waggle-dance data

A journal has flagged two papers with expressions of concern, which note a co-author acknowledged errors.

By Shaena Montanari
4 July 2024 | 6 min read
A research image of X chromosomes with Fragile X syndrome

Understanding fragile X syndrome

Just in time for Fragile X Awareness Month, The Transmitter rounds up notable coverage.

By Daisy Yuhas
4 July 2024 | 2 min read