David Ledbetter

Chief clinical officer
Dascena

David Ledbetter is chief clinical officer of Dascena, a personalized medicine company.

From this contributor

Spectrum

By David Ledbetter, Scott Myers

23 March 2021

5 min read

Brain made of DNA strands on a background of molecule shapes

There are no autism-specific genes, just brain genes

There is not yet a single example of a gene that, when mutated, increases the likelihood of autism but not of other neurodevelopmental conditions, including intellectual disability.

Spectrum

There are no autism-specific genes, just brain genes

By David Ledbetter, Scott Myers

23 March 2021 | 5 min read

Spectrum

By David Ledbetter

6 May 2013

3 min read

Developmental disorders should be viewed as continuum

Intellectual disability, autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia should be considered part of a spectrum of developmental brain dysfunction, says David Ledbetter.

Spectrum

Developmental disorders should be viewed as continuum

By David Ledbetter

6 May 2013 | 3 min read

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Spectrum

By Holly Barker

8 July 2026

5 min read

Research image of proliferating neural cells.

Diverse autism genes derail common developmental pathways

Multiple genetic mouse models initially show delayed cortical development, but the animals’ molecular trajectories diverge within weeks after birth, a new study finds.

Spectrum

Diverse autism genes derail common developmental pathways

Multiple genetic mouse models initially show delayed cortical development, but the animals’ molecular trajectories diverge within weeks after birth, a new study finds.

By Holly Barker

8 July 2026 | 5 min read

Sex differences

By Lauren Schenkman

8 July 2026

5 min read