News / Spectrum

Functional convergence of autism genes; mortality rates; motor skills

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 15 January.

By Jill Adams

16 January 2024 | 2 min read

Many genes linked to autism have downstream effects that indicate their convergence on functions such as microtubule biology and RNA-binding proteins, according to a preprint. bioRxiv
To help set research and service priorities for the future, the U.S.-based Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee is seeking public comments through 14 February regarding physical and mental conditions that co-occur with autism. hhs.gov
People with autism and intellectual disability have 2.83 times the mortality rate of people without the two diagnoses; those with autism alone have 1.71 times the mortality rate, according to an analysis of autistic people in the United Kingdom over a 30-year period. The Lancet Regional Health-Europe

People with PTEN gene variants and a neurodevelopmental condition such as autism tend to have more genome-wide homozygous gene variants than do people with cancers related to their PTEN gene variants, according to a preprint. Research Square
Autistic children with poor motor skills show slower development of social skills three years later than do their peers with better motor skills. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
A large U.K.-based study of maternal risk factors such as infection, anxiety and depression found no association with neurodevelopmental conditions in children. Psychological Medicine
Children who are later diagnosed with autism show less progress in using gestures while talking between ages 1 and 2 than do their peers who aren’t diagnosed but have a family history of autism. Autism Research