Each year, the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) releases a list of scientific advances that represent significant progress in the field. The "2019 IACC Summary of Advances" provides short, plain language summaries of the top research breakthroughs selected by the IACC from a pool of research articles nominated by the…

This study examined the differential contribution of pre-and perinatal risks in narrowly versus broadly defined autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and across core symptom domains, IQ and co-morbid problems. Children with a DSM-IV diagnosis of autistic disorder (AD) (n = 121) or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)…

Of particular interest to studying the etiology of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) is the potential for multiple risk factors to combine through non-random mechanisms--assortative mating. Both genetic influences and a high-testosterone prenatal environment have been implicated in the etiology of ASDs, and given that waist-hip ratio (WHR) is…

Twenty-five autistic children were compared with 25 controls for number of factors identified as optimal in the pre-, peri-, and neonatal period, as noted in medical records. Autistic Ss showed greatly reduced optimality, especially with regard to prenatal factors, in contrast with other reports denying brain injury in autism. (Author/CL)

The autistic syndrome is considered in the context of a disorder of brain development. The authors conclude that disruption of developmental loci most probably occurs in the end stages of neuronal development, after migrating neurons have reached their final place in the brain and are elaborating communicative processes. (Author)

The article presents a case history of a pair of male monozygotic twins who both had autism. During pregnancy the mother suffered from severe toxemia, and delivery occurred 2 months before term. (Author/DLS)

Pregnancy and delivery complications in the birth of 23 high-functioning autistic females and 23 high-functioning autistic males of similar intelligence quotient and age were compared with those of 54 normally developing siblings. Findings suggest that these factors may be less significant in high-functioning individuals than in severely retarded…

Evidence for the genetic basis of autism is offered, as is evidence that environmental determinants also play a role. Research involving the Human Genome Project, using linkage analysis with affected autistic sibling pairs to identify polymorphic marker genes, is described and proposed. (DB)

Birth order and maternal ages at time of birth were compared for 113 autistic children (3 to 12 years old) and the Iowa general population. An excess of mothers aged 35 or older was observed in the autistic group. A deviation from average in birth order was observed in autistics. (Author/SEW)

This paper presents two case studies of children who developed herpes virus infection in the intrauterine or early postnatal period and presented with features of autism around two years of age. Other research suggesting a link between herpes and autism is reviewed. (DB)

Examines the biological factors underlying autism, focusing on research in four areas: (1) neurological abnormalities; (2) biochemical abnormalities; (3) genetic problems; and (4) problems during pregnancy or birth. Maintains that autism is a heterogeneous disorder and that there is no unified model that explains its etiology. (Author/KB)

Recent evidence supports a role for genetics in autism, but other findings are difficult to reconcile with a purely genetic cause. Pathological changes in the cerebellum in autism are thought to correspond to an event before 30-32 weeks gestation. Our purpose was to determine whether there is an increased incidence of stressors in autism before…

The article reviews a variety of biophysical variables which contribute to autism or autistic symptoms, and discusses the nature and manifestations of these psychobiological variables in terms of the need for individual yet comprehensive educational interventions and family support services. (DLS)

The annotated bibliography of over 1,200 citations published between 1943 and 1983 is intended as a comprehensive reference guide to the scientific study of infantile autism. After a search of the literature was conducted, the information was organized by format and subject, first for journal articles (19 topics are concerned with general…