SFARI NEWS

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8 May 2012

A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative

NEWS Debate over quality of adult-derived stem cells rages on Chromosome exchanges reveal new autism-related genes IN BRIEF Molecular mechanisms: Growth factor altered in autism brains Clinical research: Autism development follows distinct paths Genetics: Study further implicates rare CNVs in autism TOOLBOX Blood biomarkers can help diagnose schizophrenia BLOG Complex case Biased search

NEWS

Debate over quality of adult-derived stem cells rages on

As the use of induced pluripotent stem cells grows, researchers are searching for ways to make them behave more predictably.

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Chromosome exchanges reveal new autism-related genes

Large-scale swapping of genetic material between chromosomes may play an important role in autism, according to a study published 27 April in Cell.

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IN BRIEF

Molecular mechanisms: Growth factor altered in autism brains

The brains of individuals with autism have higher-than-typical levels of the precursor to a neuronal growth factor called BDNF, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology. The results suggest a mechanism for altered brain development in autism. Read More >

Clinical research: Autism development follows distinct paths

A fraction of children with autism show significant improvements in social and communication skills over time compared with their peers with the disorder, according to a study published 2 April in Pediatrics.

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Genetics: Study further implicates rare CNVs in autism

Individuals with autism are more likely than controls to have small, rare duplications or deletions of stretches of DNA in genes that play a role in dampening signals in the brain, according to a study published 2 April in Molecular Autism.

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TOOLBOX

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Blood biomarkers can help diagnose schizophrenia

A biological signature in the blood could be used to aid the early diagnosis of schizophrenia, according to a study published 12 April in Molecular Psychiatry.

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BLOG

Complex case
Multiple levels of complexity make it challenging to develop drugs to treat autism.

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Biased search
Publication bias is making antidepressants look like a better option for treating autism than they really are, according to a study published last week in Pediatrics.

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