David Ledbetter is chief clinical officer of Dascena, a personalized medicine company.
David Ledbetter
Chief clinical officer
Dascena
From this contributor
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.
There are no autism-specific genes, just brain genes
By
David Ledbetter, Scott Myers
23 March 2021 | 5 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.
Developmental disorders should be viewed as continuum
By
David Ledbetter
6 May 2013 | 3 min read
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Remembering Barbara Finlay, ‘maverick’ of evolutionary neuroscience
Finlay, who died on 12 September, championed the idea that developmental constraints dictate how evolution sculpts brains, a concept she used to model the timing of hundreds of events and align them across mammalian species.
Remembering Barbara Finlay, ‘maverick’ of evolutionary neuroscience
Finlay, who died on 12 September, championed the idea that developmental constraints dictate how evolution sculpts brains, a concept she used to model the timing of hundreds of events and align them across mammalian species.
By
Calli McMurray
23 October 2026 | 8 min read
Crows have brains ‘in the fast lane’
The birds accurately complete decision-making tasks twice as fast as primates, although their endbrains look considerably different.
Crows have brains ‘in the fast lane’
The birds accurately complete decision-making tasks twice as fast as primates, although their endbrains look considerably different.
By
Sarah Thau
22 October 2026 | 4 min read
Prevalence of profound autism declines with new definition
The updated, more precise definition used in a CDC study includes adaptive scores.
Prevalence of profound autism declines with new definition
The updated, more precise definition used in a CDC study includes adaptive scores.
By
Brianna Abbott
22 October 2026 | 5 min read