Metabolism

Into the woods with Susan Masino

When she isn't researching the links between metabolism and brain activity, this neuroscientist logs time in forests and advocates for protecting green spaces.

By Emmet Fraizer
5 January 2024 | 5 min read
Research image of the blood-brain barrier.
Spectrum Microphone

Rare autism-linked mutation starves growing neurons of essential nutrients

The mutation prevents certain amino acids from entering neurons, causing the cells to die early in development.

By Lauren Schenkman
10 April 2023 | 5 min read
A photograph of an infant's foot.
Spectrum Microphone

Dietary changes ease traits in rare autism-linked condition

Early treatment with nutritional supplements and a high-protein diet forestalls some neurodevelopmental problems for children with BCKDK deficiency.

By Lauren Schenkman
21 February 2023 | 5 min read
An adult administers a medication to an infant.

Experimental drug shows promise for autism-linked syndromes

The drug quells seizures in children with Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

By Charles Q. Choi
2 September 2022 | 5 min read
Brain made up of two different medicines
Spectrum Microphone

Meet the company trying precision medicine for autism

Swiss biotech Stalicla hopes to bring precision medicine to autism. Experts praise efforts to identify autism subgroups, but evidence to support the company’s claims has yet to be seen.

By Giorgia Guglielmi
27 June 2022 | 10 min read

Altering metabolic pathway spurs neuronal, behavioral changes in mice

Overexpressing genes involved in the pathway, which regulates protein quality, changes repetitive behaviors in the animals.

By Laura Dattaro
5 April 2022 | 5 min read

Mitochondria: An energy explanation for autism

People with autism have more mutations than others do in both mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA that affects mitochondrial function.

By Laura Dattaro
22 November 2021 | 3 min watch
Stylized illustration combines flat color and 3D forms make up a mitochondria with human heads inside it.

Meet the ‘mitomaniacs’ who say mitochondria matter in autism

Clues that problems with mitochondria contribute to autism have been accumulating for decades. In the past five years, a mutant mouse and a flurry of findings have energized the field.

By Laura Dattaro
22 November 2021 | 18 min read
Illustration shows boy with bag of oranges, in landscape of food with DNA trailing around him
Spectrum Microphone

Diets may help autistic children with certain genetic profiles

No diet is likely to treat autistic people on a large scale, but diets based on a genetic profile may bring big benefits to a few.

By Martin Breuss, Joseph Gleeson
17 December 2019 | 6 min read

Levels of brain chemicals may reflect severity of autism traits

The levels of four chemicals in the brain may distinguish autism and vary with its severity, according to a new study.

By Polina Porotskaya
19 August 2019 | 3 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