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White-matter changes; lipids and neuronal migration; dementia

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 13 January.

By Jill Adams
14 January 2025 | 2 min read
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https://doi.org/10.53053/OOCW5614 https://doi.org/10.53053/OOCW5614 - opens a new tab Cite this article
  • “Here, we formally address the urgent need to incorporate intersectional identities in neuroimaging studies of behavior, with a focus on research in mental health.” Nature Neuroscience
  • Variants of the autism-linked gene MBOAT7 alter lipid composition, which in turn affects neuronal migration in early development. Science Translational Medicine
  • Children with Angelman syndrome show reduced white-matter volume as early as 1 year of age. Molecular Autism
Research image showing white matter volume in a child with Angelman syndrome compared with a child without the condition.
Composition study: Brain images show altered white-matter volume in a child with Angelman syndrome (bottom row) compared with a child without the condition (top row).
  • The absence of the SYNGAP1 gene does not affect neural progenitor cell function in mice, according to a preprint, an effect previously reported in human organoids. Spectrum has covered other mouse models of SYNGAP1 function and dysfunction. bioRxiv
  • People with autism have a higher prevalence of dementia than the general population, according to an analysis of Medicare and Medicaid records. Spectrum has previously reported on the link between autism and neurodegenerative conditions. JAMA Network Open
  • Autistic children are less likely to orient to sounds than are their non-autistic peers, according to a preprint. bioRxiv
  • Amygdala neurons that project to the auditory cortex are activated in mouse dams exposed to their pups’ odor, revealing a system by which socially relevant sensory cues may be integrated. This response could hold clues for differences in social processing in autism. Current Biology
  • Autistic children have a higher likelihood of behavioral and emotional problems than their non-autistic peers, according to data from nearly 8,000 participants in the ECHO program. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

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