Fwd: Autism research news from SFARI.org

[Guest guest]

Thanks, SarafPresident, Foggy Coast Ventures, Inc.Owner/Editor of sList Newsletterwww.sList.comsList@...5694 Mission Center Rd., PMB 436San Diego, CA 92108Winner USD-COMPASS Family Center STAR Award, 2011Winner 10News Leadership Award, 2010

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: July 31, 2012 7:01:38 AM PDTTo: 31 July 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSResearchers grapple with mixed results from cognitive studiesTuberous sclerosis gene loss triggers autism-like featuresCONFERENCE NEWS: Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation 2012Scientists track adult regression in autism-related syndromeIn Phelan-McDermid, motor neurons show irregularities IN BRIEFMolecular mechanisms: Autism gene regulates neuron shapeCognition and behavior: Fragile X carriers show autism signsGenetics: Study ties three immune genes to autismTOOLBOXSimple worms could help unravel complex human brainsBLOGParent perspectiveMusic's meaningNEWSResearchers grapple with mixed results from cognitive studies Some studies have suggested that people with autism have deficits in executive function — a set of complex mental processes involved in everyday life. But these results may instead reflect their difficulties imagining what other people are thinking, according to a provocative new hypothesis.Read More >Tuberous sclerosis gene loss triggers autism-like features Losing one or both copies of TSC1, one of the two genes responsible for tuberous sclerosis complex, in specific cells of the cerebellum can trigger several autism-like behaviors in mice, according to research published 1 July inNature.Read More >CONFERENCE NEWS: Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation 2012Scientists track adult regression in autism-related syndrome Several scientists at the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation's annual meeting focused on the wide range of symptoms, including a sudden loss of motor and cognitive skills, that seem to crop up in adults with the disorder.Read More >In Phelan-McDermid, motor neurons show irregularities Motor neurons derived from individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome, a rare autism-related disorder, form abnormal connections with muscle cells. The unpublished research was presented 26 July at a meeting of the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation in Orlando.Read More >IN BRIEFMolecular mechanisms: Autism gene regulates neuron shape TAOK2, a gene in the autism-associated 16p11.2 chromosomal region, is part of a signaling pathway that builds neuronal connections during development, according to a study published 10 June in Nature Neuroscience.Read More >Cognition and behavior: Fragile X carriers show autism signs Women who have a milder version of the fragile X mutation, which can lead to the full mutation in their children, have some features of autism, according to a study published 12 June in the American Journal of Medical Genetics.Read More >Genetics: Study ties three immune genes to autism Common variants in three genes involved in the immune system are more likely to crop up in people with autism than in typical controls, according to a study published 9 June in Molecular Autism.Read More >TOOLBOXSimple worms could help unravel complex human brains The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans may serve as a useful model to study synapses, the junctions between neurons, according to a study published 18 June in PLoS One.Read More >BLOGParent perspective Parents enroll their children in genetic research studies because of the opportunities to meet other families in the same situation, take control of their circumstances, and validate the medical nature of their child's condition, according to a report published 11 July in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.Read More >Music's meaning People with autism respond emotionally to music, they just have trouble expressing it, according to a study in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010Sent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Sent from my iPhone

Thanks, SarafPresident, Foggy Coast Ventures, Inc.Owner/Editor of sList Newsletterwww.sList.comsList@...5694 Mission Center Rd., PMB 436San Diego, CA 92108Winner USD-COMPASS Family Center STAR Award, 2011Winner 10News Leadership Award, 2010<valerieslistlogo2.jpg>

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: July 31, 2012 7:01:38 AM PDTTo: 31 July 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSResearchers grapple with mixed results from cognitive studiesTuberous sclerosis gene loss triggers autism-like featuresCONFERENCE NEWS: Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation 2012Scientists track adult regression in autism-related syndromeIn Phelan-McDermid, motor neurons show irregularities IN BRIEFMolecular mechanisms: Autism gene regulates neuron shapeCognition and behavior: Fragile X carriers show autism signsGenetics: Study ties three immune genes to autismTOOLBOXSimple worms could help unravel complex human brainsBLOGParent perspectiveMusic's meaningNEWSResearchers grapple with mixed results from cognitive studies Some studies have suggested that people with autism have deficits in executive function — a set of complex mental processes involved in everyday life. But these results may instead reflect their difficulties imagining what other people are thinking, according to a provocative new hypothesis.Read More >Tuberous sclerosis gene loss triggers autism-like features Losing one or both copies of TSC1, one of the two genes responsible for tuberous sclerosis complex, in specific cells of the cerebellum can trigger several autism-like behaviors in mice, according to research published 1 July inNature.Read More >CONFERENCE NEWS: Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation 2012Scientists track adult regression in autism-related syndrome Several scientists at the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation's annual meeting focused on the wide range of symptoms, including a sudden loss of motor and cognitive skills, that seem to crop up in adults with the disorder.Read More >In Phelan-McDermid, motor neurons show irregularities Motor neurons derived from individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome, a rare autism-related disorder, form abnormal connections with muscle cells. The unpublished research was presented 26 July at a meeting of the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation in Orlando.Read More >IN BRIEFMolecular mechanisms: Autism gene regulates neuron shape TAOK2, a gene in the autism-associated 16p11.2 chromosomal region, is part of a signaling pathway that builds neuronal connections during development, according to a study published 10 June in Nature Neuroscience.Read More >Cognition and behavior: Fragile X carriers show autism signs Women who have a milder version of the fragile X mutation, which can lead to the full mutation in their children, have some features of autism, according to a study published 12 June in the American Journal of Medical Genetics.Read More >Genetics: Study ties three immune genes to autism Common variants in three genes involved in the immune system are more likely to crop up in people with autism than in typical controls, according to a study published 9 June in Molecular Autism.Read More >TOOLBOXSimple worms could help unravel complex human brains The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans may serve as a useful model to study synapses, the junctions between neurons, according to a study published 18 June in PLoS One.Read More >BLOGParent perspective Parents enroll their children in genetic research studies because of the opportunities to meet other families in the same situation, take control of their circumstances, and validate the medical nature of their child's condition, according to a report published 11 July in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.Read More >Music's meaning People with autism respond emotionally to music, they just have trouble expressing it, according to a study in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010Sent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Thanks, SarafPresident, Foggy Coast Ventures, Inc.Owner/Editor of sList Newsletterwww.sList.comsList@...5694 Mission Center Rd., PMB 436San Diego, CA 92108Winner USD-COMPASS Family Center STAR Award, 2011Winner 10News Leadership Award, 2010

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: August 7, 2012 8:10:20 AM PDTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 7 August 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSDefects in autism risk genes may lead to slower signalsScientists uncover new risk gene for autismWORKSHOP REPORTWorkshop Report: 16p11.2 deletions and duplicationsIN BRIEFCognition and behavior: Connectivity deficits link autism, TSCGenetics: Splicing gene alters expression of autism genesClinical research: Facial features can help diagnose autismTOOLBOXChoice of light-sensitive channel alters inhibitory signalsBLOGFat ratsTwin differencesNEWSDefects in autism risk genes may lead to slower signals Mutations in two genes linked to autism, neurexin and neuroligin, slow down neuronal signaling, according to research published 2 August in Science. Analyzing the mutations in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the study found that mutations in these genes affect signaling in the opposite direction than is typical.Read More >Scientists uncover new risk gene for autism Several lines of converging evidence suggest that low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2 (LRP2), which is involved in early patterning of the brain, is a risk gene for autism.Read More >WORKSHOP REPORTWorkshop Report: 16p11.2 deletions and duplications The chromosomal region 16p11.2, which spans about 29 genes, is strongly linked to autism. On 27 April, SFARI hosted a workshop to discuss the consequences of duplications or deletions of this region.Read More >IN BRIEFCognition and behavior: Connectivity deficits link autism, TSC Abnormalities in the connections between language-related brain regions are similar in people with autism and those with tuberous sclerosis, a genetic disorder characterized by benign tumors throughout the brain and body, according to a paper published 1 June in Cerebral Cortex.Read More >Genetics: Splicing gene alters expression of autism genes The autism-associated gene RBFOX1 modifies the sequence of hundreds of genetic messages, a number of which affect the expression of other autism-linked genes, according to a study published 7 July in Human Molecular Genetics.Read More >Clinical research: Facial features can help diagnose autism The presence of any of three abnormal physical features — an asymmetrical face, tufts of hair growing in the wrong direction or a prominent forehead — can help diagnose autism, according to a study published 6 June in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.Read More >TOOLBOXChoice of light-sensitive channel alters inhibitory signals An innovative technique that uses waves of light to silence brain signaling in live animals can affect subsequent neuronal signals, according to a study published 24 June in Nature Neuroscience.Read More >BLOGFat rats Overfed rodents could be throwing toxicology tests off kilter, according to a review published 13 June in Chemical Research in Toxicology.Read More >Twin differences Identical twins are born with significant differences in the chemical modifications to their DNA, suggesting that the uterine environment can profoundly influence development and risk for disease.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010Sent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Thanks, SarafPresident, Foggy Coast Ventures, Inc.Owner/Editor of sList Newsletterwww.sList.comsList@...5694 Mission Center Rd., PMB 436San Diego, CA 92108Winner USD-COMPASS Family Center STAR Award, 2011Winner 10News Leadership Award, 2010

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: August 7, 2012 8:10:20 AM PDTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 7 August 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSDefects in autism risk genes may lead to slower signalsScientists uncover new risk gene for autismWORKSHOP REPORTWorkshop Report: 16p11.2 deletions and duplicationsIN BRIEFCognition and behavior: Connectivity deficits link autism, TSCGenetics: Splicing gene alters expression of autism genesClinical research: Facial features can help diagnose autismTOOLBOXChoice of light-sensitive channel alters inhibitory signalsBLOGFat ratsTwin differencesNEWSDefects in autism risk genes may lead to slower signals Mutations in two genes linked to autism, neurexin and neuroligin, slow down neuronal signaling, according to research published 2 August in Science. Analyzing the mutations in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the study found that mutations in these genes affect signaling in the opposite direction than is typical.Read More >Scientists uncover new risk gene for autism Several lines of converging evidence suggest that low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2 (LRP2), which is involved in early patterning of the brain, is a risk gene for autism.Read More >WORKSHOP REPORTWorkshop Report: 16p11.2 deletions and duplications The chromosomal region 16p11.2, which spans about 29 genes, is strongly linked to autism. On 27 April, SFARI hosted a workshop to discuss the consequences of duplications or deletions of this region.Read More >IN BRIEFCognition and behavior: Connectivity deficits link autism, TSC Abnormalities in the connections between language-related brain regions are similar in people with autism and those with tuberous sclerosis, a genetic disorder characterized by benign tumors throughout the brain and body, according to a paper published 1 June in Cerebral Cortex.Read More >Genetics: Splicing gene alters expression of autism genes The autism-associated gene RBFOX1 modifies the sequence of hundreds of genetic messages, a number of which affect the expression of other autism-linked genes, according to a study published 7 July in Human Molecular Genetics.Read More >Clinical research: Facial features can help diagnose autism The presence of any of three abnormal physical features — an asymmetrical face, tufts of hair growing in the wrong direction or a prominent forehead — can help diagnose autism, according to a study published 6 June in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.Read More >TOOLBOXChoice of light-sensitive channel alters inhibitory signals An innovative technique that uses waves of light to silence brain signaling in live animals can affect subsequent neuronal signals, according to a study published 24 June in Nature Neuroscience.Read More >BLOGFat rats Overfed rodents could be throwing toxicology tests off kilter, according to a review published 13 June in Chemical Research in Toxicology.Read More >Twin differences Identical twins are born with significant differences in the chemical modifications to their DNA, suggesting that the uterine environment can profoundly influence development and risk for disease.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010Sent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Thanks, SarafPresident, Foggy Coast Ventures, Inc.Owner/Editor of sList Newsletterwww.sList.comsList@...5694 Mission Center Rd., PMB 436San Diego, CA 92108Winner USD-COMPASS Family Center STAR Award, 2011Winner 10News Leadership Award, 2010

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: August 7, 2012 8:10:20 AM PDTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 7 August 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSDefects in autism risk genes may lead to slower signalsScientists uncover new risk gene for autismWORKSHOP REPORTWorkshop Report: 16p11.2 deletions and duplicationsIN BRIEFCognition and behavior: Connectivity deficits link autism, TSCGenetics: Splicing gene alters expression of autism genesClinical research: Facial features can help diagnose autismTOOLBOXChoice of light-sensitive channel alters inhibitory signalsBLOGFat ratsTwin differencesNEWSDefects in autism risk genes may lead to slower signals Mutations in two genes linked to autism, neurexin and neuroligin, slow down neuronal signaling, according to research published 2 August in Science. Analyzing the mutations in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the study found that mutations in these genes affect signaling in the opposite direction than is typical.Read More >Scientists uncover new risk gene for autism Several lines of converging evidence suggest that low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2 (LRP2), which is involved in early patterning of the brain, is a risk gene for autism.Read More >WORKSHOP REPORTWorkshop Report: 16p11.2 deletions and duplications The chromosomal region 16p11.2, which spans about 29 genes, is strongly linked to autism. On 27 April, SFARI hosted a workshop to discuss the consequences of duplications or deletions of this region.Read More >IN BRIEFCognition and behavior: Connectivity deficits link autism, TSC Abnormalities in the connections between language-related brain regions are similar in people with autism and those with tuberous sclerosis, a genetic disorder characterized by benign tumors throughout the brain and body, according to a paper published 1 June in Cerebral Cortex.Read More >Genetics: Splicing gene alters expression of autism genes The autism-associated gene RBFOX1 modifies the sequence of hundreds of genetic messages, a number of which affect the expression of other autism-linked genes, according to a study published 7 July in Human Molecular Genetics.Read More >Clinical research: Facial features can help diagnose autism The presence of any of three abnormal physical features — an asymmetrical face, tufts of hair growing in the wrong direction or a prominent forehead — can help diagnose autism, according to a study published 6 June in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.Read More >TOOLBOXChoice of light-sensitive channel alters inhibitory signals An innovative technique that uses waves of light to silence brain signaling in live animals can affect subsequent neuronal signals, according to a study published 24 June in Nature Neuroscience.Read More >BLOGFat rats Overfed rodents could be throwing toxicology tests off kilter, according to a review published 13 June in Chemical Research in Toxicology.Read More >Twin differences Identical twins are born with significant differences in the chemical modifications to their DNA, suggesting that the uterine environment can profoundly influence development and risk for disease.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010Sent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Thanks, SarafPresident, Foggy Coast Ventures, Inc.Owner/Editor of sList Newsletterwww.sList.comsList@...5694 Mission Center Rd., PMB 436San Diego, CA 92108Winner USD-COMPASS Family Center STAR Award, 2011Winner 10News Leadership Award, 2010

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: August 14, 2012 7:34:51 AM PDTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 14 August 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSNonprofit rallies funds to create autism-related mouse modelCONFERENCE NEWS: Dup15q Scientific Meeting 2012Researchers home in on dosage effects of 15q11-13 regionResearchers eye pigs for modeling autism-related disorderIN BRIEFGenetics: FOXG1 mutations underlie atypical Rett syndromeClinical research: Maternal stress doesn't trigger autismMolecular mechanisms: Study links RAS pathway to autismTOOLBOXSoftware builds function-based gene networksBLOGRodent roundupHistorical perspectiveNEWSNonprofit rallies funds to create autism-related mouse model Concerned by researchers' lack of access to a valuable mouse model of autism, a nonprofit advocacy group is dedicating a chunk of its limited resources to the creation of a freely available version.Read More >CONFERENCE NEWS: Dup15q Scientific Meeting 2012Researchers home in on dosage effects of 15q11-13 region Researchers are beginning to tease apart how dosage of genes within the 15q11-13 chromosomal region contributes to autism symptoms.Read More >Researchers eye pigs for modeling autism-related disorder Researchers plan to develop pig models of Prader-Willi syndrome, an inherited disorder caused by the deletion of an autism-linked region of chromosome 15.Read More >IN BRIEFGenetics: FOXG1 mutations underlie atypical Rett syndrome Seven individuals who have the symptoms of Rett syndrome carry a genetic disruption near, or overlapping with, the FOXG1 gene, according to a report published 27 June in the European Journal of Human Genetics.Read More >Clinical research: Maternal stress doesn't trigger autism Experiencing a stressful event during pregnancy does not increase the risk of having a child with autism, according to an epidemiological study published 13 June in PLoS One.Read More >Molecular mechanisms: Study links RAS pathway to autism An autism-linked mutation in the signaling protein EPAC2 alters the shape of neuronal branches, according to a study published in the June issue of PLoS Biology.Read More >TOOLBOXSoftware builds function-based gene networks A new tool called Gene2FANs creates gene-association networks based on 14 databases that list gene function as well as protein-protein interactions, according to a study published 2 July in BMC Informatics.Read More >BLOGRodent roundup SAGE Labs has announced a new partnership with the autism science and advocacy organization Autism Speaks to fund the creation of three new rat models of autism.Read More >Historical perspective The debates surrounding the newest changes to the diagnostic criteria for autism have been percolating for decades, writes Sally Ozonoff in an editorial published 16 July in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010Sent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Thanks, SarafPresident, Foggy Coast Ventures, Inc.Owner/Editor of sList Newsletterwww.sList.comsList@...5694 Mission Center Rd., PMB 436San Diego, CA 92108Winner USD-COMPASS Family Center STAR Award, 2011Winner 10News Leadership Award, 2010

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: August 21, 2012 7:29:53 AM PDTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 21 August 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSResearchers probe source of language impairment in autismBone marrow transplant curbs autism symptoms in miceVIEWPOINTGenes and environment are two-way street in autism riskIN BRIEFClinical research: Autism common in rare syndromeMolecular mechanisms: Rett protein loss shrinks adult brainsCognition and behavior: Serotonin may alter emotion responseTOOLBOXResearchers recreate blood-brain barrier in dishBLOGBroken mirrorsMissed patternsNEWSResearchers probe source of language impairment in autism For nearly two decades, scientists have debated the relationship between language problems, seen in about half of children with autism, and another disorder called specific language impairment. Three papers published in the past several months attempt to resolve this debate, but their findings suggest that it is far from settled.Read More >Bone marrow transplant curbs autism symptoms in mice An altered immune system can cause autism-like behaviors, suggests a study published 31 July in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers found that a bone marrow transplant, which restores the animals' immune system, alleviates their anxiety and repetitive behavior.Read More >VIEWPOINTGenes and environment are two-way street in autism risk Genes and the environment each influence the role of the other in determining the risk of developing autism. Genetics can determine how susceptible one is to the environment, and environmental factors can influence gene expression and introduce mutations, says immunologist Janine LaSalle.Read More >IN BRIEFClinical research: Autism common in rare syndrome About 40 percent of individuals with Cornelia de Lange syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, also have autism, according to a study published in the August issue of the American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A.Read More >Molecular mechanisms: Rett protein loss shrinks adult brains Deleting the Rett syndrome gene from mature mouse brains leads to the same neurological and behavioral symptoms as deleting it during a key developmental stage, according to a study published 18 July in the Journal of Neuroscience.Read More >Cognition and behavior: Serotonin may alter emotion response Lowering blood levels of the amino acid tryptophan, a precursor to the chemical messenger serotonin, changes how the autism brain responds to emotions, according to a report published 4 June in PLoS One.Read More >TOOLBOXResearchers recreate blood-brain barrier in dish Using a two-step process to reprogram human stem cells, researchers have recreated the barrier that protects the brain from toxic molecules, according to a study published 24 June in Nature Biotechnology.Read More >BLOGBroken mirrors Research into the ability of children with autism to imitate has produced contradictory results: Some studies find that those with the disorder have difficulty imitating people, whereas others find no problems. A new study explores why.Read More >Missed patterns The assumption in some published overviews of autism tends to be that all of the problems relevant to the disorder can be found at synapses, the junctions between neurons. But it's difficult not to notice the striking number of chromatin-associated genes that have emerged as candidate risk factors over the past few months.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010Sent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Thanks, SarafPresident, Foggy Coast Ventures, Inc.Owner/Editor of sList Newsletterwww.sList.comsList@...5694 Mission Center Rd., PMB 436San Diego, CA 92108Winner USD-COMPASS Family Center STAR Award, 2011Winner 10News Leadership Award, 2010

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: August 28, 2012 7:00:35 AM PDTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 28 August 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSEpilepsy drug reverses autism-like symptoms in miceFather's age dictates rate of new mutationsIN BRIEFMolecular mechanisms: Serotonin mimics may treat fragile XCognition and behavior: Words bias impressions in autismGenetics: Rare epilepsy syndromes share autism mutationsTOOLBOXAlgorithm fine-tunes analysis of rare variantsBLOGLife's bloodGuest blog: Heart mattersNEWSEpilepsy drug reverses autism-like symptoms in mice Researchers have homed in on the brain region thought to be responsible for the autism-like symptoms that can accompany Dravet syndrome, a rare epilepsy disorder, according to research published Wednesday in Nature.Read More >Father's age dictates rate of new mutations With every passing year, men are increasingly likely to transmit new mutations to their children, according to the largest study yet of the so-called paternal age effect, published yesterday in Nature. The findings could help explain why older men are more likely to have a child with autism or schizophrenia than are younger men, the researchers say.Read More >IN BRIEFMolecular mechanisms: Serotonin mimics may treat fragile x Compounds that target the receptor for the chemical messenger serotonin could help treat fragile X syndrome, according to a study published 17 July inBiological Psychiatry.Read More >Cognition and behavior: Words bias impressions in autism Individuals with autism rely more on words than on facial expressions when interpreting social cues, and this may result from low activity in two brain regions, according to a paper published 22 June in PLoS One.Read More >Genetics: Rare epilepsy syndromes share autism mutations Individuals with either of two rare forms of epilepsy have duplications or deletions that encompass genes implicated in autism and language impairment, according to a study published 27 June in Epilepsia.Read More >TOOLBOXAlgorithm fine-tunes analysis of rare variants A new algorithm increases the accuracy of techniques that detect rare genetic variants among populations, according to a study published 27 July inBioinformatics.Read More >BLOGLife's blood The first approved stem cell trial for autism will soon be under way. Is there a rationale for testing stem cells to improve symptoms of the disorder?Read More >Guest blog: Heart matters Rather than make blanket decisions, doctors must gauge the level of cognitive impairment in individuals with autism when considering them for organ transplants, says bioethicist Arthur Caplan.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010Sent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Thanks, SarafPresident, Foggy Coast Ventures, Inc.Owner/Editor of sList Newsletterwww.sList.comsList@...5694 Mission Center Rd., PMB 436San Diego, CA 92108Winner USD-COMPASS Family Center STAR Award, 2011Winner 10News Leadership Award, 2010

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: August 28, 2012 7:00:35 AM PDTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 28 August 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSEpilepsy drug reverses autism-like symptoms in miceFather's age dictates rate of new mutationsIN BRIEFMolecular mechanisms: Serotonin mimics may treat fragile XCognition and behavior: Words bias impressions in autismGenetics: Rare epilepsy syndromes share autism mutationsTOOLBOXAlgorithm fine-tunes analysis of rare variantsBLOGLife's bloodGuest blog: Heart mattersNEWSEpilepsy drug reverses autism-like symptoms in mice Researchers have homed in on the brain region thought to be responsible for the autism-like symptoms that can accompany Dravet syndrome, a rare epilepsy disorder, according to research published Wednesday in Nature.Read More >Father's age dictates rate of new mutations With every passing year, men are increasingly likely to transmit new mutations to their children, according to the largest study yet of the so-called paternal age effect, published yesterday in Nature. The findings could help explain why older men are more likely to have a child with autism or schizophrenia than are younger men, the researchers say.Read More >IN BRIEFMolecular mechanisms: Serotonin mimics may treat fragile x Compounds that target the receptor for the chemical messenger serotonin could help treat fragile X syndrome, according to a study published 17 July inBiological Psychiatry.Read More >Cognition and behavior: Words bias impressions in autism Individuals with autism rely more on words than on facial expressions when interpreting social cues, and this may result from low activity in two brain regions, according to a paper published 22 June in PLoS One.Read More >Genetics: Rare epilepsy syndromes share autism mutations Individuals with either of two rare forms of epilepsy have duplications or deletions that encompass genes implicated in autism and language impairment, according to a study published 27 June in Epilepsia.Read More >TOOLBOXAlgorithm fine-tunes analysis of rare variants A new algorithm increases the accuracy of techniques that detect rare genetic variants among populations, according to a study published 27 July inBioinformatics.Read More >BLOGLife's blood The first approved stem cell trial for autism will soon be under way. Is there a rationale for testing stem cells to improve symptoms of the disorder?Read More >Guest blog: Heart matters Rather than make blanket decisions, doctors must gauge the level of cognitive impairment in individuals with autism when considering them for organ transplants, says bioethicist Arthur Caplan.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010Sent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: September 4, 2012 7:45:36 AM PDTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 4 September 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSDiagnosis eludes many girls with autism, study saysChromosome 15 duplications common in autismVIEWPOINTPostmortem brains crucial for autism researchIN BRIEFCognition and behavior: Early words improve autism outcomeGenetics: Study finds risk gene for autism in malesClinical research: Fragile X unlinked from intelligenceTOOLBOXNew device rapidly identifies worms with mutations BLOGRacial CareLife's bloodNEWSDiagnosis eludes many girls with autism, study says Girls are less likely to be diagnosed with autism than boys are, unless they also have intellectual or behavioral problems, according to a study published 26 June in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.Read More >Chromosome 15 duplications common in autism About 1 in 500 children referred to genetic testing for undefined developmental delay, intellectual disability, or autism have duplications of the 15q11-13 chromosomal region, according to a new analysis. That makes the region the second most common large genetic alteration linked to autism.Read More >VIEWPOINTPostmortem brains crucial for autism research Postmortem brains from individuals with autism allow researchers to look at patterns of gene expression in different cell types, and to understand the interplay among neurons and neural circuits, says Dan Arking.Read More >IN BRIEFCognition and behavior: Early words improve autism outcome Children with autism who spoke their first words before 2 years of age may have better outcomes than those who talked later, according to a study published 7 June in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.Read More >Genetics: Study finds risk gene for autism in males Mutations in AFF2, a gene located on the X chromosome, are about five times as common in men with autism as in controls, according to a study published 10 July in Human Molecular Genetics.Read More >Clinical research: Fragile X unlinked from intelligence Women who have intelligence quotients in the normal range may nevertheless have fragile X syndrome, often described as the most common inherited form of mental retardation, according to a case study published 27 June in Molecular Autism.Read More >TOOLBOXNew device rapidly identifies worms with mutations A new tool can sort through a population of mutant nematodes and identify those with altered neuronal connections, according to a study published 19 August in Nature Methods.Read More >BLOGRacial care Parents of minority children with autism are more likely to report that their children have poor quality of care than are parents of minority children with other developmental disabilities.Read More >Life's blood The first approved stem cell trial for autism will soon be under way. Is there a rationale for testing stem cells to improve symptoms of the disorder?Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010Sent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: September 18, 2012 6:57:29 AM PDTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 18 September 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSModel reveals new links between autism and fragile XAutism risk gene found to alter brain wiring VIEWPOINTInsights for autism from syndromeIN BRIEFClinical research: Infertility does not raise risk of autismMolecular mechanisms: Rett syndrome gene regulates RNACognition and behavior: Regression marks autism syndromeTOOLBOXVideo technology reveals autism gait is symmetricalBLOGCrystal ballMissing supportNEWSModel reveals new links between autism and fragile X Mice that lack the autism-linked gene neuroligin-3 show similar deficits in neuronal connections to those seen in fragile X syndrome, an inherited form of mental retardation, according to research published 13 September in Science. Restoring the gene in adolescent mice reverses the problem, suggesting a potential pathway for treatment.Read More >Autism risk gene found to alter brain wiring MET, a leading candidate gene for autism risk, influences the strength of connections between brain regions involved in social behaviors, and this effect is especially prominent in people with the disorder. The findings are from a large study using several imaging techniques, published 6 September inNeuron.Read More >VIEWPOINTInsights for autism from syndrome Studying the well-characterized syndrome could help researchers understand autism and discover new therapeutic targets, says s Meyer-Lindenberg.Read More >IN BRIEFClinical research: Infertility does not raise risk of autism Undergoing fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization, does not increase the risk of having a child with autism, according to two epidemiology studies published this July.Read More >Molecular mechanisms: Rett syndrome gene regulates RNA MeCP2, the gene mutated in people with Rett syndrome, may regulate rates of RNA production in developing neurons, according to a study published 3 August in Stem Cells.Read More >Cognition and behavior: Regression marks autism syndrome Characteristic symptoms of Phelan-McDermid syndrome — a disorder caused by the loss of the 22q13.3 chromosomal region — may include bipolar disorder and a sudden loss of skills during adulthood, according a study published in June in Molecular Syndromology.Read More >TOOLBOXVideo technology reveals autism gait is symmetrical Researchers have used a motion-capture system to show that children with autism do not rely on one side of the body more than the other when walking. Their findings were published in the 2012 issue of Autism Research Treatment.Read More >BLOGCrystal ball Want to predict your future? An algorithm promises to foretell your success in five years’ time.Read More >Missing support Despite the growing number of young adults with autism, few studies have looked at how best to support these teens as they transition into adulthood.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: September 25, 2012 8:22:55 AM PDTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 25 September 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWS'Noisy' brain signals could underlie autism, study saysDrug improves social deficits in fragile X syndrome DIRECTORS' COLUMNPick of the litterIN BRIEFMolecular mechanisms: Autism mutations cause cell stressCognition and behavior: Autism model mice ignore playmatesGenetics: Large chromosomal duplications can be harmless TOOLBOX'Maturation index' predicts neurons' developmental ageBLOGDelayed diagnosisEconomic imperativeNEWS'Noisy' brain signals could underlie autism, study says Sensory responses in the brain of an individual with autism vary much more than in someone without the disorder, according to a study published 20 September in Neuron. This may explain why some people with autism are extremely sensitive to lights and sounds.Read More >Drug improves social deficits in fragile X syndrome A drug called arbaclofen improves behavioral problems in people with fragile X syndrome, an inherited condition that can lead to mental retardation and autism, according to the results of a clinical trial published today in Science Translational Medicine. A second study published in the same journal showed that the drug restores normal brain function in a mouse model of the disorder.Read More >DIRECTORS' COLUMNPick of the litter New genetic variants that increase susceptibility to autism are emerging at a rapid pace. Given the profusion of data, it seems timely to assess the availability and usefulness of mouse models in which to study these genetic risk factors.Read More >IN BRIEFMolecular mechanisms: Autism mutations cause cell stress Autism-linked mutations in CNTNAP2 prevent proper localization and folding of the protein and activate a cellular stress response, according to a study published 23 August in Human Molecular Genetics.Read More >Cognition and behavior: Autism model mice ignore playmates Mice lacking EN2, an autism-linked gene, have a range of behavioral problems, including social deficits, problems with learning and memory, and motor abnormalities, according to a study published 19 July in PLoS One.Read More >Genetics: Large chromosomal duplications can be harmless Traditional prenatal testing cannot distinguish between large disruptive chromosomal duplications and multiple harmless repeats, according to a study published 25 July in the European Journal of Human Genetics.Read More >TOOLBOX'Maturation index' predicts neurons' developmental age Researchers have developed an index that can predict the age of developing interneurons, which inhibit signals in the brain, according to a study published 24 August in PLoS One. They then used this measurement to show that interneurons are immature in autism brains.Read More >BLOGEconomic imperative The cost of caring for individuals with autism increases throughout childhood and adolescence, by approximately five percent with each year of age.Read More >Delayed diagnosis Children with autism are being incorrectly diagnosed with developmental delay, and Hispanic children with developmental delay are going undiagnosed, according a study in California.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010Sent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Thanks, SarafPresident, Foggy Coast Ventures, Inc.Owner/Editor of sList Newsletterwww.sList.comsList@...5694 Mission Center Rd., PMB 436San Diego, CA 92108Winner USD-COMPASS Family Center STAR Award, 2011Winner 10News Leadership Award, 2010

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: October 2, 2012 6:56:39 AM PDTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 2 October 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSProposed guidelines won't miss autism cases, study saysRegression may mark one-third of autism cases VIEWPOINTPlacenta plays potent role in autism riskIN BRIEFCognition and behavior: Bilingualism aids people with autismGenetics: Early seizures define Rett-like syndromeClinical research: Arthritis drug improves autism treatment TOOLBOXHuman stem cells generate miniature brain regionsBLOGLanguage boostGuest blog: Utah, revisitedNEWSProposed guidelines won't miss autism cases, study says The proposed changes to the diagnostic criteria for autism are unlikely to exclude many people currently diagnosed with Asperger syndrome or pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified, according to a large analysis published today in the American Journal of Psychiatry.Read More >Regression may mark one-third of autism cases About one in three children with autism abruptly lose language, social or other developmental skills in their second year of life, according to a meta-analysis published 2 August in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.Read More >VIEWPOINTPlacenta plays potent role in autism riskAs the central organ regulating maternal-fetal interactions, the placenta is perfectly positioned to mediate environmental and genetic risk factors during prenatal development. It may also relay risk factors for autism to the fetus, says .Read More >IN BRIEFCognition and behavior: Bilingualism aids people with autism Being fluent in both English and Spanish may boost the use of communicative gestures in children with autism, according to a study published 1 August in theJournal of Child Neurology. Read More >Genetics: Early seizures define Rett-like syndrome Mutations in the CDKL5 gene lead to developmental delay starting at birth, seizures that begin before 3 months of age, and subtly atypical facial features, according to a study published 8 August in the European Journal of Human Genetics.Read More >Clinical research: Arthritis drug improves autism treatment The anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib, sometimes marketed as Celebrex, improves the effectiveness of risperidone for treating irritability in people with autism, according to a study published 11 July in Psychopharmacology.Read More >TOOLBOXHuman stem cells generate miniature brain regions Researchers have induced stem cells to form three-dimensional clumps of neurons that resemble miniature brains, according to a study published 31 July in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Read More >BLOGLanguage boost The antidepressant sertraline may improve language deficits in children with fragile X syndrome, according to a small study in the annual issue of Autism Research and Treatment.Read More >Guest blog: Utah, revisited New analysis of an in-depth study of autism rates in Utah in the 1980s highlights how changing diagnostic guidelines may be contributing to the rise in prevalence.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Thanks, SarafPresident, Foggy Coast Ventures, Inc.Owner/Editor of sList Newsletterwww.sList.comsList@...5694 Mission Center Rd., PMB 436San Diego, CA 92108Winner USD-COMPASS Family Center STAR Award, 2011Winner 10News Leadership Award, 2010

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: October 9, 2012 6:59:35 AM PDTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 9 October 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSStudy supports 'two-hit' model for developmental delayResearchers uncover new drug target for fragile X CONFERENCE NEWSNew technologies may aid early detection of autismAutomated analyses may improve study of social deficits Institute aims to mass-produce stem cellsIN BRIEFGenetics: RNA improvisations altered in autismClinical research: Israeli study shows high autism prevalenceMolecular mechanisms: Autism gene linked to fragile X traitsTOOLBOXShort screening tool flags children with autismBLOGQuiet CareGuest blog: Speedy miceNEWSStudy supports 'two-hit' model for developmental delay A comprehensive analysis of large deletions and duplications of DNA bolsters the idea that some cases of developmental delay and autism result from a combination of two damaging hits to the genome, according to research published 12 September in the New England Journal of Medicine.Read More >Researchers uncover new drug target for fragile X Deleting an enzyme that regulates protein synthesis reverses some of the molecular and behavioral deficits in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome, according to research published 2 October in Neuron.Read More >CONFERENCE NEWSNew technologies may aid early detection of autismEmerging technologies and software may help assess the subtle behaviors, such as gaze or social gestures, that go awry in children with autism, researchers said on 28 September at the Engineering and Autism conference.Read More >Automated analyses may improve study of social deficitsSophisticated eye-tracking tools and other technologies are making it easier to record and analyze social interactions, and may help researchers study social deficits in children with autism. Researchers debuted some of these tools 28 September at the Engineering and Autism conference in Los Angeles.Read More > Institute aims to mass-produce stem cellsThe nonprofit Institute for Brain Science in Seattle plans to make neurons from stem cells derived from people with a number of different disorders. The resource, described 25 September at a conference in New York, will be available to all scientists.Read More >IN BRIEFGenetics: RNA improvisations altered in autism RNA editing, which creates multiple forms of a protein, is common among proteins involved in neuronal signaling, and may be abnormal in people with autism, according to a study published 7 August in Molecular Psychiatry.Read More >Clinical research: Israeli study shows high autism prevalence A new study finds that 48 of every 10,000 children in Israel have autism. This rate, published 27 July in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, is higher than previous estimates for Israel, but lower than the reported U.S. prevalence.Read More >Molecular mechanisms: Autism gene linked to fragile X traits Deleting CYFIP1, a gene within a region linked to Angelman syndrome and autism, in mice leads to symptoms reminiscent of fragile X syndrome, according to a study published 10 August in PLoS One.Read More >TOOLBOXShort screening tool flags children with autism A subset of questions on two behavioral screens can distinguish children with autism from those with other developmental disorders, according to a study published 23 August in Autism.Read More >BLOGQuiet Care Adapting the hospital environment to suit the needs of children with autism can cut down how long the children spend there and how often they return, suggests a study in the 2012 issue of Autism Research and Treatment.Read More >Guest blog: Speedy mice Amphetamines and other compounds with stimulant properties may improve social behaviors in a subset of individuals who have autism with hyperactivity, says Jill Silverman.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: October 16, 2012 7:26:15 AM PDTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 16 October 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSMouse model links autism risk gene to mitochondriaCommon variants, en masse, may add up to strong autism riskCONFERENCE NEWS: Society for Neuroscience 2012Old mice may pass on 'epimutations' to offspringCatalog of mice cries aids quest to find their meaningMouse studies point out limits of Rett syndrome treatmentMice mimic pain tolerance seen in Phelan-McDermid syndromeFor more reports from the 2012 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, click here. VIEWPOINTA call for open-science approaches in autism researchIN BRIEFClinical research: Maternal depression linked to mild autismMolecular mechanisms: Angelman region affects serotoninCognition and behavior: Sensory sensitivity tied to autismTOOLBOX'Spiny mice' model risk of autism from maternal infectionBLOGNeuroscience in NOLATelling toolsNEWSCommon variants, en masse, may add up to strong autism risk Individually, common genetic variants confer little risk for autism. But taken together, they may contribute significantly, predicts a statistical analysis published 15 October in Molecular Autism.Read More >Mouse model links autism risk gene to mitochondria A new mouse model provides the first molecular link between the known autism risk gene PTEN and the mitochondrial dysfunction sometimes seen in the disorder. Mice with half the normal amount of PTEN protein in their brains have social deficits reminiscent of autism and faulty mitochondria, according to a study published 10 August in PLoS One.Read More >CONFERENCE NEWS: Society for Neuroscience 2012Old mice may pass on 'epimutations' to offspring The sperm of old mice has an unusual epigenome, the profile of chemical modifications to the underlying DNA code, according to a poster presented Saturday at the 2012 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in New Orleans. The findings suggest an explanation for the so-called paternal age effect in autism.Read More >Catalog of mice cries aids quest to find their meaning One research team is cataloging the vocalizations of 1,000 different mice, and a second group is creating a tool that will allow researchers to distinguish calls made by several mice as they interact, according to two posters presented Sunday at the 2012 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in New Orleans.Read More >Mouse studies point out limits of Rett syndrome treatment It’s easy to think of animal model studies as a stepping stone to pass over as soon as possible in favor of human studies of potential autism treatments, but two posters on Rett syndrome treatment presented Sunday afternoon at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in New Orleans show why mouse work remains important even after clinical trials are underway.Read More >Mice mimic pain tolerance seen in Phelan-McDermid syndrome People with Phelan-McDermid syndrome, which causes severe intellectual disability and is often accompanied by autism, also have a blunted response to pain. New research on a mouse model of the syndrome, presented at the 2012 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, aims to find out why.Read More >For more reports from the 2012 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, click here.VIEWPOINTA call for open-science approaches in autism research Sharing data and tools is universally efficient, but the study of autism in particular presents challenges that can benefit from an open-science framework, says Randy Buckner.Read More >IN BRIEFClinical research: Maternal depression linked to mild autism Women who have a history of bipolar disorder or depression are more likely to have a child with Asperger syndrome than classic autism, according to a study published in the 2012 issue of Autism Research and Treatment.Read More >Molecular mechanisms: Angelman region affects serotonin Mice that model Angelman syndrome or have a duplication of the 15q11-13 chromosomal region have aberrant brain levels of the chemical messenger serotonin, according to a study published 16 August in PLoS One.Read More >Cognition and behavior: Sensory sensitivity tied to autism An atypical response to sensory stimuli, such as smells and sounds, may be a core feature of autism, suggest two studies published in the past few months.Read More >TOOLBOX'Spiny mice' model risk of autism from maternal infection The so-called 'spiny mouse' species has a gestational period twice as long as that of typical laboratory mice. This makes them good models for studying the link between prenatal exposure and autism risk, according to a study published 29 August in Brain, Behavior and Immunity.Read More >BLOGNeuroscience in NOLA After nine long years, the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting is returning to New Orleans. And SFARI.org's reporters are ready to deliver the best advances in autism research that emerge.Read More >Telling tools Which test a clinician uses to diagnose a child with autism may determine whether that child meets the criteria proposed in the newest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: December 11, 2012 8:53:23 AM PSTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 11 December 2012 | A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWS Autism-linked protein sets pace for brain developmentStudy allays fears about usefulness of induced stem cellsVIEWPOINT How to undo stereotypes that hinder women in scienceSPECIAL REPORT Outlook: AutismIN BRIEF Clinical research: Motor ability can predict autismMolecular mechanisms: Star cells abnormal in autism brainsCognition and behavior: Gender influences autism symptomsTOOLBOX Software tool homes in on disease-linked mutationsBLOGColoring bookPregnant pauseSobering sampleCONNECT WITH THE SFARI COMMUNITY What does a genetic mosaic tell us? NEWSAutism-linked protein sets pace for brain development Mutations in SYNGAP1, which are associated with severe intellectual disability and an increased risk of autism, do damage by speeding up the rate at which neuronal connections mature, according to a mouse study published 9 November in Cell.Read More >Study allays fears about usefulness of induced stem cells Some of the genetic variability seen in stem cells derived from skin arises from differences in the skin cells themselves, according to a study published 18 November in Nature. The findings have implications for both stem cell research and our understanding of human biology.Read More >VIEWPOINTHow to undo stereotypes that hinder women in science Late this summer, a paper from Yale University researchers led by Jo Handelsman delivered some sobering news: There is still a clear bias against female scientists. The findings confirm the impression of many women in science, at all career levels, who feel undervalued, writes Hazel Sive.Read More > SPECIAL REPORTOutlook: Autism A special report on the rising prevalence of autism and the mysteries that remain in understanding the disorder.Read More >IN BRIEFClinical research: Motor ability can predict autism Babies at high risk for developing autism are more likely than controls to have delays in acquiring motor skills, according to two long-term studies published in the past few months.Read More >Molecular mechanisms: Star cells abnormal in autism brains Postmortem brains from individuals with autism have astrocytes that are smaller but denser than in control brains, according to a study published 21 September in the Journal of Neuroinflammation. The researchers found similar alterations in a mouse that lacks the autism-linked gene NLGN3.Read More >Cognition and behavior: Gender influences autism symptoms Men with autism struggle with attention to detail and dexterity, according to a study published 17 October in PLoS One. Men and women with the disorder both have trouble with social skills, however.Read More >CONNECT WITH THE SFARI COMMUNITYWhat does a genetic mosaic tell us? Tell us what you think: If our bodies are genetic mosaics, what does that mean for how we study disorders?Read More > TOOLBOXSoftware tool homes in on disease-linked mutations By combining pedigree information with sequencing data, a new software tool helps focus on genetic variants likely to be responsible for disease, researchers reported 10 October in Bioinformatics.Read More >BLOGGuest blog: Coloring book Sebastian Seung invites an online community of citizen scientists to revolutionize neuroscience by mapping connections between the brain's neurons.Read More >Pregnant pause Chromosomal microarray is more sensitive than the current gold-standard method for detecting genetic abnormalities in a fetus. But the technology isn't yet ready for use in all pregnant women.Read More >Sobering sample A survey of health and education professionals finds that about half of them object to the prosed changes in the diagnostic criteria for autism.Read More >View this e-mail in your browser | View archived newsletters160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 | | sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: December 18, 2012 6:55:59 AM PSTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 18 December 2012 | A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWS Study supports flawed protein synthesis theory of autismFlu during pregnancy raises child's risk of autismSPECIAL REPORT Outlook: AutismIN BRIEF Molecular mechanisms: Autism genes regulate cell sensorsCognition and behavior: Slow response to faces seen in TSCGenetics: DNA modification marks autism genesTOOLBOX Precocious piglets may model neurological disordersBLOGAutism alternativesCONNECT WITH THE SFARI COMMUNITY Can we crowdsource autism research? NEWSStudy supports flawed protein synthesis theory of autism A new study bolsters the idea that overactive protein synthesis contributes to autism. The findings, published 21 November in Nature, show that dampening a single overabundant protein, neuroligin-1, reverses both abnormal brain activity and social deficits in mice.Read More >Flu during pregnancy raises child's risk of autism Women who have the flu while pregnant double their risk of having a child with autism, according to a large study published 12 November in Pediatrics. The results add to growing evidence of a connection between maternal infection and autism.Read More > SPECIAL REPORTOutlook: Autism A special report on the rising prevalence of autism and the mysteries that remain in understanding the disorder.Read More >IN BRIEFMolecular mechanisms: Autism genes regulate cell sensors Genes involved in neuropsychiatric disorders tend to be required for the formation of primary cilia — small tentacles on the cell surface that sense the external environment — according to a study published 3 October in PLoS One.Read More >Cognition and behavior: Slow response to faces seen in TSC Children with the autism-related disorder tuberous sclerosis complex show sluggish brain activity in response to images of faces, according to a study published 8 November in the Journal of Child Neurology.Read More >Genetics: DNA modification marks autism genes A newly discovered DNA modification may play a role in development and regulate the expression of genes linked to fragile X syndrome and autism, according to a study published 5 October in Human Molecular Genetics.Read More >CONNECT WITH THE SFARI COMMUNITYCan we crowdsource autism research? Sebastian Seung launched a new online community game that aims to map the trillions of connections in the human brain. How might crowdsourcing advance autism research?Read More > TOOLBOXPrecocious piglets may model neurological disorders The brains of newborn pigs are similar in shape and mature at the same rate as those of human infants. That makes piglets a good model for studying neurological disorders, according to a study published in the November issue ofThe Journal of Nutrition.Read More >BLOGAutism alternatives More than one-quarter of children with autism receive some kind of complementary or alternative therapy, according to a large study published 1 November in Pediatrics.Read More >View this e-mail in your browser | View archived newsletters160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 | | sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

[Guest guest]

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: January 2, 2013 6:59:57 AM PSTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 2 January 2013 | A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeSPECIAL REPORT 2012 Year in ReviewINVESTIGATOR PROFILES Philpot: Managing risks to reap big rewardsIN BRIEF Cognition and behavior: 'Baby sibs' show repetitive motionsGenetics: Family of regulatory proteins altered in autismClinical research: Larger brains in autism, fragile XTOOLBOX Network tool highlights links between genes and disordersBLOGDSM-5 approvedBrothers and sistersCONNECT WITH THE SFARI COMMUNITY What stood out to you in 2012? SPECIAL REPORT2012 Year in Review Take a look back at the most important developments in autism research in 2012, including notable papers, top techniques, major controversies and predictions for the future.Read More > INVESTIGATOR PROFILES Philpot: Managing risks to reap big rewards Smart risk management has propelled Philpot from one adventure to another, whether it's attempting unusual drug screens, learning to rock climb or taking his family to see volcanoes in Chile.Read More >IN BRIEFCognition and behavior: 'Baby sibs' show repetitive motions Infant siblings of children with autism show more repetitive movements as 1-year-olds than do children who do not have a family history of the disorder, according to a study published 19 October in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.Read More >Genetics: Family of regulatory proteins altered in autism Researchers have identified several harmful autism-linked mutations in a family of proteins that regulate the expression of various genes, they reported 10 October in Autism Research.Read More >Clinical research: Larger brains in autism, fragile X Young boys with fragile X syndrome or autism have larger brains overall than controls do, but the two groups show enlargement of different parts of the brain, according to an imaging study published in September in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.Read More >CONNECT WITH THE SFARI COMMUNITYWhat stood out to you in 2012? We packaged the year's research highlights from our vantage point. What advances stood out to you in 2012? And where do you see the field going?Read More > TOOLBOXNetwork tool highlights links between genes and disorders Autworks, a new online tool, has data on almost 20,000 human genes linked to nearly 3,000 disorders. The tool, published 28 November in BMC Medical Genomics, creates gene-network maps for each disorder and highlights the overlap between them.Read More >BLOGDSM-5 approved After several years of debate, the American Psychological Association has approved the new version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the guidelines used to diagnose psychiatric disorders.Read More >Brothers and sisters People with autism have fewer children than average, and so do their brothers, according to a study of Swedes born between 1950 and 1970.Read More >View this e-mail in your browser | View archived newsletters160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 | | sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010