{"page":1,"limit":10,"total":12,"totalPages":2,"data":[{"title":"ARI Statement on Acetaminophen, Leucovorin and Autism","short_description":"September 22, 2025 5 pm Eastern Time, US FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ARI Statement","image":"https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/acetaminophen-400x513.jpeg","details_url":"https://autism.org/acetaminophen-leucovorin/","long_description":[{"heading":"","paragraph":"September 22, 2025 5 pm Eastern Time, US FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"ARI Statement on Prenatal Acetaminophen Use, Leucovorin, and Autism","paragraph":"The Autism Research Institute (ARI) provides the following statement in response to recent media inquiries regarding potential connections between prenatal acetaminophen use, leucovorin supplementation, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). ARI’s Commitment to Evidence-Based Research ARI is committed to monitoring ongoing research and sharing accurate, evidence-based information with autistic people, families, researchers, and policymakers. This includes addressing questions about environmental influences and potential medical factors, such as the use of over-the-counter medications. “We know there are subtypes of autism, with no single cause explaining the condition and no single intervention benefiting everyone on the spectrum. Research should focus on understanding these differences rather than generalizing findings to every autistic individual,” said ARI Chief Science Officer, Dr. Steve Edelson. “By identifying unique biological, developmental, and environmental factors within each subtype, we can begin to develop more targeted, effective approaches.” Acetaminophen Research The Autism Research Institute acknowledges that recent studies have examined potential associations between prenatal acetaminophen (commonly known as Tylenol in the U.S.) exposure and autism. While these studies contribute to our understanding of possible risk factors, ARI maintains that the current evidence does not establish a definitive causal relationship between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism. Extensive studies, including a 2024 Swedish study analyzing nearly 2.5 million births, suggest that observed associations between prenatal acetaminophen use and autism may reflect familial confounding rather than a direct causal link. Research led by Dr. Mady Hornig of Columbia University underscores the complexity of these factors. Her work highlights the role of maternal immune responses and fever, showing that inflammation during pregnancy may affect neurodevelopment independently of medication use. Preliminary evidence also indicates that acetaminophen taken to reduce fever may be neutral—or even potentially protective—though these findings remain inconclusive. Leucovorin (Folinic Acid) Research ARI has supported Dr. Richard Frye’s research related to leucovorin (folinic acid) as a potential intervention in autism, particularly for individuals with metabolic differences such as impaired methylation or glutathione production. We are encouraged by the preliminary results suggesting that leucovorin supplementation may benefit certain subgroups of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Frye’s work represents potential progress in understanding possible biomarker-based approaches to intervention. However, we emphasize that this research is still evolving, and larger, controlled studies are needed to fully validate these findings and establish optimal treatment protocols. It is important to note that Dr. Frye’s leucovorin research explores potential therapeutic interventions rather than causative factors and should not be interpreted as supporting any specific theory about acetaminophen causation. Ongoing Commitment ARI remains committed to supporting rigorous, scientifically sound research into all aspects of autism spectrum disorders. We encourage: Continued investigation of the interplay between genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, and critical developmental periods Well-controlled studies that distinguish association from causation Investigation of maternal immune responses and inflammation as pathways to neurodevelopmental differences Research that includes autistic people and focuses on appropriate medical care Transparent communication about both the promise and limitations of emerging research Individuals, parents and healthcare providers are encouraged to make medical decisions based on established guidelines and consultation with qualified professionals, while staying informed about ongoing research developments. As Dr. Hornig notes, untreated fever during pregnancy carries known risks, and decisions regarding fever-reducing medications should be made carefully with medical guidance. “Autism is complex, and much remains to be learned,” Dr. Edelson said. “As always, ARI is committed to following the evidence wherever it leads and to providing clear, trustworthy information as new knowledge emerges.” Media Contact: [email protected]","img_url":[],"video_url":[]}],"_id":"6a34f294631514ff2252efb9"},{"title":"Editorial: Autism Research Institute – Imperative to Follow the Science","short_description":"Originally published in the Autism Research Review International Read for free at","image":"https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/researchers-400x233.png","details_url":"https://autism.org/editorial-autism-research-institute-imperative-to-follow-the-science/","long_description":[{"heading":"","paragraph":"Originally published in the Autism Research Review International Volume 40, Number 2 | Spring 2026 Originally published in the Autism Research Review International Volume 40, Number 2 | Spring 2026 Autism research did not begin with uncertainty. It began with a fundamental mistake. For decades, families were blamed for a condition they did not cause. Mothers were labeled distant. Parents were treated as the problem. This was not simply incorrect. It caused real harm and delayed meaningful scientific progress. While the field defended a flawed theory, the biology of autism was largely ignored. Dr. Bernard Rimland challenged that directly. At a time when doing so carried professional risk, he argued, with evidence and persistence, that autism was biological. Not psychological. Not caused by parenting. That shift was not incremental. It was a course correction. And it changed everything that followed.","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/updated-Steve-crop-150x150.jpg","https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/researchers-400x233.png"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Following the Biology, Not the Narrative","paragraph":"The Autism Research Institute has remained committed to a principle that is often easier to state than to follow: follow the biology. Not ideology. Not trends. Not what happens to be most acceptable at a given moment. Over the past decade, ARI-funded research has focused on measurable biological processes: immune function, gastrointestinal health, metabolism, neurology, genetics, and environmental exposures. This is sometimes framed as narrow. It is not. It is necessary. Autism is not a single entity. It is a spectrum of biological differences that cannot be fully understood by observing behavior alone. Studying behavior without examining underlying physiology is like studying fever without asking what is driving it.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"The Reality of Medical Burden","paragraph":"There is a reality that is often acknowledged quietly but not often confronted directly: Many autistic individuals live with significant, and sometimes severe, medical conditions. Not secondary issues. Central ones. Chronic gastrointestinal disease. Immune dysregulation. Severe sleep disruption. Allergies. Anxiety with clear physiological components. For many individuals, these are not peripheral concerns. They shape daily life. Ignoring these conditions in the name of reframing autism does not make them disappear. It leaves them unaddressed. ARI-funded research has focused on these challenges with increasing clarity. Studies examining gut inflammation, microbiome differences, immune signaling, and circadian disruption are not theoretical exercises. They are attempts to understand sources of discomfort, pain, and reduced quality of life. The goal is straightforward: Reduce suffering where it exists.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Systems, Not Silos","paragraph":"The science is moving in a direction that should have been obvious all along. Autism does not reside in a single system. Brain, immune system, gut, metabolism, and environmental inputs are interconnected. They influence each other continuously. Mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic disruption, genetic susceptibility, and environmental exposure may combine in ways that produce very different outcomes across individuals. This complexity is sometimes used as a reason to simplify the argument. It should be a reason to take the biology more seriously, not less.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"The Environmental Question That Remains Unsettled","paragraph":"Few areas in autism research generate more tension than environmental factors. The discussion is often polarized, either dismissed outright or pursued without sufficient rigor. Neither approach moves the field forward. ARI has taken a different position. The biology underlying individual variability, including how different systems respond to immune and environmental challenges, remains far from fully understood. Environmental influences are approached as biological variables, such as toxins and other exposures, with an emphasis on measurable effects. This includes asking questions that are often avoided. Science does not advance by declaring questions closed; it advances by asking them more precisely. Avoiding difficult questions may reduce controversy, but it does not increase understanding.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Neurodiversity and Biology: A False Divide","paragraph":"The neurodiversity movement has changed the conversation around autism in important ways. It has emphasized strengths, identity, and the need for acceptance. That contribution is crucial. But acceptance does not eliminate medical reality. Treating gastrointestinal disease, improving sleep, or addressing immune dysfunction does not alter identity. It addresses health. Framing biology and neurodiversity as opposing positions creates a false choice. It suggests that acknowledging medical challenges somehow undermines acceptance. It does not. If anything, ignoring medical issues in the name of acceptance risks overlooking suffering that is both real and, in many cases, treatable.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"A Legacy of Challenging What Is Comfortable","paragraph":"Dr. Rimland did not work within the boundaries of what was comfortable or widely accepted. He challenged assumptions that were deeply embedded in the field. That remains necessary. Progress in autism research has not come from consensus. It has come from questioning it. ARI continues to support research that asks difficult questions and follows the data, even when the answers are not simple or widely agreed upon.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"What Comes Next","paragraph":"The future of autism research will not be defined by a single explanation. It will be defined by integration: by bringing together genetics, physiology, environmental data, and lived experience into a more complete and nuanced understanding. It will also require greater precision, which will empower us to move beyond broad labels toward individual biological profiles. And it will require something that is often in short supply: a willingness to tolerate uncertainty while continuing to ask better questions.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"The Bottom Line","paragraph":"The goal is not to resolve every debate. The goal is to improve lives. That means reducing pain where it exists. Addressing medical conditions where they are present. And being willing to examine biology without avoiding uncomfortable areas. It also means respecting individuals for who they are. These goals are not in conflict unless we choose to frame them that way. The Autism Research Institute continues to take a position that is both simple and demanding: Follow the biology. Ask the questions that others avoid. And do not turn away from what the answers reveal. Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D. Executive Director, Autism Research Institute This editorial is available in PDF format – Download Here It appeared in Autism Research Review International, Vol. 40, No. 2, 2026 Citation: Edelson, S. M. (2026). Editorial: Autism Research Institute – Imperative to Follow the Science. Autism Research Review International, 40(2). https://arrionline.org/editorial-follow-the-biology/","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/researchers-400x233.png"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Editorial: Autism Research Institute – Imperative to Follow the Science","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2026-05-12T12:08:22-05:00 April 20th, 2026 | News , Research | Originally published in the Autism Research Review International Read for free at ARRIOnline.org Volume 40, Number 2 | Spring 2026 Originally published in the Autism","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/exhaust-320x202.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Editorial: What we breathe matters – Rethinking air pollution and autism","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2026-04-20T15:56:20-05:00 March 9th, 2026 | News , Research | For nearly sixty years, the Autism Research Institute (ARI) has tried to understand autism by looking beyond surface behaviors and asking deeper biological questions. From the beginning, Bernard Rimland challenged the dominant","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Untitled-design-48-320x202.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Editorial: Invisible threats – the role of environmental toxins in autism","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2025-11-24T14:39:51-05:00 November 21st, 2025 | Health , News , Research , Uncategorized | As our knowledge about autism continues to evolve, so does our understanding of its root causes. For many years, professionals blamed “refrigerator parents” and prescribed psychoanalytic therapy. Once the psychogenic theory was","img_url":[],"video_url":[]}],"_id":"6a34f294631514ff2252efb2"},{"title":"Planned Giving","short_description":"Starting a Legacy with Lasting Impact Planned giving creates a personal, meaningful contribution","image":"https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/family.jpg","details_url":"https://autism.org/planned-giving/","long_description":[{"heading":"Starting a Legacy with Lasting Impact","paragraph":"Planned giving creates a personal, meaningful contribution that affords you the opportunity to ensure innovative autism research and education continues in the future. Email us to request ARI’s planned giving brochure. Your attorney can help you designate your planned gift, to: Legal name: The Autism Research Institute Address: 4182 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116 Phone: 619-281-7165 Federal Tax ID: 95-2548452 Nonprofit Status: 501(c)3 not-for-profit established in 1967","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/family.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Account Types ARI can be named Beneficiary of","paragraph":"A life insurance policy An individual retirement account (IRA) Checking or savings account Stocks, bonds and securities","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Benefits of Adding a Bequest","paragraph":"There is no cost for adding a bequest Federal tax exemptions may apply to the disbursement You retain control and use of your assets — if your circumstances change, you can modify it Bequests can be made as a percentage of your estate or for a specific dollar amount","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Sample Language to Use","paragraph":"“I give to the Autism Research Institute (incorporated in San Diego, CA, Federal tax identification number: 95-2548452) [the sum of ________dollars] [_____% of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate], to be used wherever the need is greatest in support of its mission.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Planned Giving Declaration Form - Tell Us About Your Gift","paragraph":"","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Planned Gift Declaration Form","paragraph":"","img_url":[],"video_url":[]}],"_id":"6a34f294631514ff2252efb5"},{"title":"Improving Clinical Understanding of Autism","short_description":"James McPartland, Ph.D., discusses current limitations in autism diagnosis and treatment,","image":"https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Untitled-design-28-400x225.jpg","details_url":"https://autism.org/applying-neuroscience/","long_description":[{"heading":"Improving Clinical Understanding of Autism","paragraph":"James McPartland, Ph.D., discusses current limitations in autism diagnosis and treatment, noting their reliance on behavioral observations despite the condition’s genetic and neurological underpinnings. He advocates integrating biomarkers as objective, measurable biological indicators that revolutionize clinical practice. The speaker details ongoing research into the N170 biomarker, its connection to social behavior and development, and potential for measuring intervention efficacy. McPartland outlines the collaborative work of the Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials (ABC-CT) and its implications for autism diagnosis and care.","img_url":[],"video_url":["https://www.youtube.com/embed/octvLVpYFwc?enablejsapi=1&rel=0&modestbranding=1","https://www.youtube.com/embed/octvLVpYFwc?enablejsapi=1&rel=0&modestbranding=1"]},{"heading":"The need for biomarkers in autism","paragraph":"McPartland describes how autism is diagnosed, highlighting that these methods have remained largely unchanged since the initial descriptions in 1943 (5:00) . Although today we understand that autism is rooted in genetics and the brain, there are no biological assays—meaning no tests to aid in diagnosis, guide treatment selection, or measure intervention effectiveness. He explains that this lack of biological criteria impedes our ability to provide optimal care (8:17) . The presenter details various categories of biomarkers as defined by the FDA, each serving a distinct “context of use” or purpose: Diagnostic biomarkers are used to identify the condition. Susceptibility or risk markers can indicate the likelihood of developing autism. Pharmacodynamic or response biomarkers show changes in response to treatment. Prognostic biomarkers help to predict the course of development. Predictive biomarkers estimate response to specific treatments. Stratification biomarkers are used to subgroup the highly heterogeneous autistic population meaningfully. This last category, McPartland suggested, represents the “lowest hanging fruit” for immediate impact in autism. Practical considerations for biomarker adoption in clinical settings include viability across the diverse autism population, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility (11:00) .","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"EEG as a promising biomarker technology","paragraph":"McPartland presents various methods for measuring brain activity in autism, including electroencephalography (EEG), fMRI, PET scans, and eye tracking. He highlights EEG as an ideal technology that detects electrical activity produced by brain cells from the scalp. This technology offers many advantages, especially that it is non-invasive, movement tolerant, widely applicable, cost-effective, and accessible, as they are widely available in hospitals. EEGs have also been used effectively to understand social communicative development, supporting their use in autism research (13:18) . The speaker notes the wide variability in clinical presentations of autism and the challenges this presents in using biomarkers for diagnostic purposes (18:00) .","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"The N170 biomarker and its Implications","paragraph":"The speaker describes the N170, an event-related potential (ERP) component measured by EEG. The N170 is a negative electrical spike that occurs around 170 milliseconds after seeing a human face. This indicates the brain’s rapid recognition of a face as a face, making it highly relevant to social communication (20:00) . McPartland outlines a 2004 study that compared the N170 in autistic and allistic (non-autistic) adolescents and adults. Preliminary findings show that autistic participants exhibited a slower N170 response, which was replicated in a younger cohort. These findings, the speaker asserts, suggest a difference at the fundamental stages of face perception (22:30) . Further research showed that the N170 latency correlated directly with impaired facial recognition abilities in autistic participants, providing crucial evidence that the N170 is not simply a brain anomaly, but a biomarker associated with a clinically relevant social function. Event-related brain potentials reveal anomalies in temporal processing of faces in autism spectrum disorder (McPartland et al., 2004)","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"A biomarker for social behavior and development","paragraph":"To determine if the N170 response is meaningfully tied to social behavior, subsequent research by McPartland and colleagues compared brain responses to faces (social), letters (non-social, an autistic strength), and houses (control). Results indicated the N170 latency is specific to social stimuli, where similar slowness was not observed in response to letters (28:00) . The only difference for letters was a tendency for autistic individuals to involve more of the right hemisphere, typically associated with faces (a difference in lateralization). These findings, the presenter asserts, confirm the N170 biomarker’s specificity to the social domain in autism, rather than a general indicator of slower sensory processing. As the findings were replicated in a younger cohort, this study also provides evidence of the N170 biomarker’s relevance to development (32:00) . Atypical neural specialization for social percepts in autism spectrum disorder (McPartland et al., 2011)","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Confounds and responses to behavioral interventions","paragraph":"McPartland briefly touches on research addressing confounds, such as eye gaze patterns. A 2021 study indicated that the N170 differences persisted even when eye gaze was experimentally controlled. This suggests that the brain difference is fundamental and not simply a consequence of where someone is looking, thus strengthening the validity of the N170 as a robust measure of underlying neural processes (34:00) . Studies also show that the N170 biomarker may be sensitive to changes in clinical status following behavioral interventions. The speaker explains that this suggests potential for N170 to serve as a response biomarker, capable of measuring the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions (36:00) . The N170 event-related potential reflects delayed neural response to faces when visual attention is directed to the eyes in youths with ASD (Parker et al., 2021) Brief Report: Preliminary Evidence of the N170 as a Biomarker of Response to Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorder (Kala et al., 2021) Social attention: a possible early indicator of efficacy in autism clinical trials (Dawson et al., 2012) Brain mechanisms of plasticity in response to treatments for core deficits in autism (Ventola et al., 2013)","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Large-scale autism biomarkers consortium for clinical trials","paragraph":"The presenter outlines the Large-Scale Autism Biomarkers Consortium Study, or the Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials (ABC-CT), a monumental effort to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and clinical application in autism. The overarching goal of the ABC-CT is to accelerate the development of effective treatments for social impairment in autism by identifying, developing, and validating a set of reliable, objective, and quantitative measures that can serve as biomarkers (42:00) . McPartland notes the rationale for this multicenter research study, highlighting its potential for bridging the research-to-clinic gap. The main study is longitudinal, tracking participants between 6 and 11 years old across multiple time points to evaluate candidate biomarkers’ stability and sensitivity to change. A battery of measures was collected, including clinician and caregiver assessments, biospecimens (DNA samples), and lab-based measures like EEG, eye tracking, and behavior observations (45:00) . The ABC-CT specifically investigates well-evidenced candidate biomarkers, such as N170. Candidate biomarkers must meet several criteria, including feasibility and construct validity. Identifying Age Based Maturation in the ERP Response to Faces in Children With Autism: Implications for Developing Biomarkers for Use in Clinical Trials (Webb et al., 2022) The Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials: Initial Evaluation of a Battery of Candidate EEG Biomarkers (Webb et al., 2023)","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Progress and impact","paragraph":"To date, the ABC-CT reports high levels of successful data acquisition and acceptance of the N170 latency in upright human faces. Therefore, the FDA views the N170 as a promising stratification (subgrouping) biomarker for clinical trials. An eye-tracking biomarker has also been submitted, the Oculomotor Index of Orienting to Human Faces (47:00) . In 2020, ABC-CT was renewed for a follow-up study to evaluate long-term stability, sensitivity to change, and longitudinal predictive value in the original cohort. Data collection occurred from May 2021 to August 2022, and a confirmation study was completed in March 2025. A feasibility study was also launched in August of 2024 (49:00) . McPartland underscores the importance of increasing inclusivity in neuroscience studies, specifically of autistic people with intellectual disabilities. He presents N170 latency replication studies in this group (50:30) .","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Implications for clinical practice","paragraph":"The speaker reiterates the potential impact of ABC-CT as a collaborative effort to develop objective tools that can address the heterogeneity of autism, improve the design and efficiency of clinical trials, and ultimately lead to more personalized and effective treatments for autistic individuals. He reiterates that rigorous study of biomarkers like the N170 holds immense implications for improving clinical understanding and care for autistic individuals via subgrouping, measurements of treatment effectiveness, earlier identification, and enhanced clinical trials (54:00) . The presenter asserts that a biomarker’s utility is a “moving target,” evaluated for its purpose in a particular situation. The ongoing research into the N170 and other biomarkers represents a critical step towards a future where objective biological measures significantly enhance clinical understanding and intervention for autism. McPartland provides thanks and acknowledgments before the Q&A (55:02) . James McPartland, Ph.D., is the Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry and Psychology at the Yale Child Study Center. He is a neuroscientist and practicing child psychologist who directs the Yale Developmental Disabilities Clinic. Dr. McPartland is also a founder and director of the Yale Center for Brain and Mind Health and the Principal Investigator of the Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials, a US-based effort to identify biological indices to enhance intervention research in autism. Dr. McPartland’s program of research investigates the brain bases of neurodevelopmental conditions to develop biologically-based tools to improve clinical care and quality of life for autistic people and their families. 5:00 – The need for biomarkers in autism 11:00 – Practical considerations for clinical practice 13:30 – EEGs as a promising biomarker technology 20:00 – The N170 biomarker 28:00 – N170: social and behavioral development 34:00 – Confounds and responses to behavioral interventions 42:00 – Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials (ABC-CT) 47:00 – ABC-CT progress and impact 54:00 – Implications for clinical practice Trouble viewing the knowledge quiz? Open it in a new window","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/mcpartland-james-200x300-1-e1710789125390.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Resources","paragraph":"","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Presentation Handout","paragraph":"Slides in PDF","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Cited Studies","paragraph":"Individuals with autism exhibit impairments in face recognition, and neuroimaging studies have shown that individuals with autism exhibit abnormal patterns of brain activity during face processing. The current study examined the temporal characteristics of face processing in autism and their relation to behavior. High-density event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded to images of faces, inverted faces, and objects from 9 individuals with autism spectrum disorder (15-42 years old) and 14 typical individuals (16-37 years old). The social motivation hypothesis posits that aberrant neural response to human faces in autism is attributable to atypical social development and consequently reduced exposure to faces. The specificity of deficits in neural specialization remains unclear, and alternative theories suggest generalized processing difficulties. The current study contrasted neural specialization for social information versus nonsocial information in 36 individuals with autism and 18 typically developing individuals matched for age, race, sex, handedness, and cognitive ability. Event-related potentials elicited by faces, inverted faces, houses, letters, and pseudoletters were recorded. Groups were compared on an electrophysiological marker of neural specialization (N170), as well as behavioral performance on standardized measures of face recognition and word reading/decoding. Consistent with prior results, individuals with autism displayed slowed face processing and decreased sensitivity to face inversion; however, they showed comparable brain responses to letters, which were associated with behavioral performance in both groups. Results suggest that individuals with autism display atypical neural specialization for social information but intact specialization for nonsocial information. Findings concord with the notion of specific dysfunction in social brain systems rather than nonspecific information-processing difficulties in autism. Atypical neural response to faces is thought to contribute to social deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Compared to typically developing (TD) controls, individuals with ASD exhibit delayed brain responses to upright faces at a face-sensitive event-related potential (ERP), the N170. Given observed differences in patterns of visual attention to faces, it is not known whether slowed neural processing may simply reflect atypical looking to faces. The present study manipulated visual attention to facial features to examine whether directed attention to the eyes normalizes N170 latency in ASD. ERPs were recorded in 30 children and adolescents with ASD as well as 26 TD children and adolescents. Results replicated prior findings of shorter N170 latency to the eye region of the face in TD individuals. In contrast, those with ASD did not demonstrate modulation of N170 latency by point of regard to the face. Group differences in latency were most pronounced when attention was directed to the eyes. Results suggest that well-replicated findings of N170 delays in ASD do not simply reflect atypical patterns of visual engagement with experimental stimuli. These findings add to a body of evidence indicating that N170 delays are a promising marker of atypical neural response to social information in ASD. LAY SUMMARY: This study looks at how children’s and adolescents’ brains respond when looking at different parts of a face. Typically developing children and adolescents processed eyes faster than other parts of the face, whereas this pattern was not seen in ASD. Children and adolescents with ASD processed eyes more slowly than typically developing children. These findings suggest that observed inefficiencies in face processing in ASD are not simply reflective of failure to attend to the eyes. Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by primary difficulties in social function. Individuals with ASD display slowed neural processing of faces, as indexed by the latency of the N170, a face-sensitive event-related potential. Currently, there are no objective biomarkers of ASD useful in clinical care or research. Efficacy of behavioral treatment is currently evaluated through subjective clinical impressions. To explore whether the N170 might have utility as an objective index of treatment response, we examined N170 before and after receipt of an empirically validated behavioral treatment in children with ASD. Method: Electroencephalography (EEG) data were obtained on a preliminary cohort of preschool-aged children with ASD before and after a 16-week course of PRT and in a subset of participants in waitlist control (16-weeks before the start of PRT) and follow-up (16-weeks after the end of PRT). EEG was recorded while participants viewed computer-generated faces with neutral and fearful affect. Results: Significant reductions in N170 latency to faces were observed following 16 weeks of PRT intervention. Change in N170 latency was not observed in the waitlist-control condition. Conclusions: This exploratory study offers suggestive evidence that N170 latency may index response to behavioral treatment. Future, more rigorous, studies in larger samples are indicated to evaluate whether the N170 may be useful as a biomarker of treatment response. For decades, researchers have sought to clarify the nature of the social communication impairments in autism, highlighting impaired or atypical ‘social attention’ as a key measurable construct that helps to define the core impairment of social communication. In this paper, we provide an overview of research on social attention impairments in autism and their relation to deficiencies in neural circuitry related to social reward. We offer a framework for considering social attention as a potential moderator or mediator of response to early behavioral intervention, and as an early indicator of efficacy of behavioral and/or pharmacological treatments aimed at addressing the social impairments in autism. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by social communication impairments and repetitive behaviors. Although the prevalence of ASD is estimated at 1 in 88, understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying the disorder is still emerging. Regions including the amygdala, superior temporal sulcus, orbitofrontal cortex, fusiform gyrus, medial prefrontal cortex, and insula have been implicated in social processing. Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated both anatomical and functional differences in these areas of the brain in individuals with ASD when compared to controls; however, research on the neural basis for response to treatment in ASD is limited. Results of the three studies that have examined the neural mechanisms underlying treatment response are promising; following treatment, the brains of individuals with ASD seem to “normalize,” responding more similarly to those of typically developing individuals. The research in this area is in its early stages, and thus a focused effort examining the neural basis of treatment response in ASD is crucial. Recent proposals have suggested the potential for neural biomarkers to improve clinical trial processes in neurodevelopmental conditions; however, few efforts have identified whether chronological age-based adjustments will be necessary (as used in standardized behavioral assessments). Event-related potentials (ERPs) demonstrate early differences in the processing of faces vs. objects in the visual processing system by 4 years of age and age-based improvement (decreases in latency) through adolescence. Additionally, face processing has been proposed to be related to social skills as well as autistic social-communication traits. While previous reports suggest delayed latency in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), extensive individual and age based heterogeneity exists. In this report, we utilize a sample of 252 children with ASD and 118 children with typical development (TD), to assess the N170 and P100 ERP component latencies (N170L and P100L, respectively), to upright faces, the face specificity effect (difference between face and object processing), and the inversion effect (difference between face upright and inverted processing) in relation to age. First, linear mixed models (LMMs) were fitted with fixed effect of age at testing and random effect of participant, using all available data points to characterize general age-based development in the TD and ASD groups. Second, LMM models using only the TD group were used to calculate age-based residuals in both groups. The purpose of residualization was to assess how much variation in ASD participants could be accounted for by chronological age-related changes. Our data demonstrate that the N170L and P100L responses to upright faces appeared to follow a roughly linear relationship with age. In the ASD group, the distribution of the age-adjusted residual values suggest that ASD participants were more likely to demonstrate slower latencies than would be expected for a TD child of the same age, similar to what has been identified using unadjusted values. Lastly, using age-adjusted values for stratification, we found that children who demonstrated slowed age-adjusted N170L had lower verbal and non-verbal IQ and worse face memory. These data suggest that age must be considered in assessing the N170L and P100L response to upright faces as well, and these adjusted values may be used to stratify children within the autism spectrum. Numerous candidate EEG biomarkers have been put forward for use in clinical research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but biomarker development has been hindered by limited attention to the psychometric properties of derived variables, inconsistent results across small studies, and variable methodology. The authors evaluated the basic psychometric properties of a battery of EEG assays for their potential suitability as biomarkers in clinical trials. This was a large, multisite, naturalistic study in 6- to 11-year-old children who either had an ASD diagnosis (N=280) or were typically developing (N=119). The authors evaluated an EEG battery composed of well-studied assays of resting-state activity, face perception (faces task), biological motion perception, and visual evoked potentials (VEPs). Biomarker psychometrics were evaluated in terms of acquisition rates, construct performance, and 6-week stability. Preliminary evaluation of use was explored through group discrimination and phenotypic correlations.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Don't Miss Upcoming Webinars","paragraph":"Sign up to receive webinar updates and special resources from the Autism Research Institute.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Watch Next","paragraph":"","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/clinician-e1571219985357.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Sustained Potential as a Biomarker of Language Functioning in Autism","paragraph":"Vardan Arutiunian, PhD Sustained potential (SP) is a neural response to periodic auditory stimuli registered with EEG 40Hz Auditory Steady-State Response. The talk…","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/AdobeStock_235640676-scaled.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Towards the Development of a Diagnostic Test for Autism Spectrum Disorder – Data Science Meets Metabolomics","paragraph":"Juergen Hahn, MS, PhD Juergen Hahn, Ph.D., ARI Scientific Advisory Board member, discusses how using machine learning can lead to biomarker discoveries in autism research.…","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/paid_-dna.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Biomarkers start telling us a story: Autism pathophysiology revisited","paragraph":"Antonio Persico, MD Antonio Persico, MD, a recent ARI Research Grant recipient, explores the role of biomarkers in understanding autism pathophysiology. He discusses…","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/research-lab.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Plural ‘Autisms’ and the Promises of Autism Metabolomics","paragraph":"Paul Whiteley, PhD Paul Whiteley, Ph.D. discusses the increasing move towards the pluralisation of autism — ‘the autisms’ — and the many routes…","img_url":[],"video_url":[]}],"_id":"6a34f294631514ff2252efbd"},{"title":"Warning Against Chlorine Dioxide Use","short_description":"May 12, 2015 - Concerned about reports of negative side effects","image":"https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/AdobeStock_229841704-e1559180397863.jpeg","details_url":"https://autism.org/dangerous-miracle-mineral-solution/","long_description":[{"heading":"","paragraph":"May 12, 2015 – Concerned about reports of negative side effects from a treatment called Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS), ARI reached out to a scientist and a handful of clinicians and asked them to share their thoughts. Their response: “ We advise against using Miracle Mineral Solution. We hope parents will remain critical of unsubstantiated claims that children have recovered or greatly improved in the absence of objective proof. We also strongly encourage any parents who choose to administer MMS to their children to report it to their physician so that side effects can be monitored.” “ We advise against using Miracle Mineral Solution. We hope parents will remain critical of unsubstantiated claims that children have recovered or greatly improved in the absence of objective proof. We also strongly encourage any parents who choose to administer MMS to their children to report it to their physician so that side effects can be monitored.”","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/AdobeStock_229841704-400x267.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Any medical treatment that uses “Miracle” on its label raises serious questions","paragraph":"We recognize the urgency parents may feel when confronted with a diagnosis of autism, which may lead them to undertake desperate treatments such as Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS, a.k.a. CD for chlorine dioxide, or ASEA). Any medical treatment that uses “Miracle” on its label raises serious questions of old-fashioned fraud. In particular, suspicions arise with Miracle Mineral Solution, a product whose primary ingredient has side effects known to be seriously damaging. We recognize that there are off-label treatments with variable amounts of data that parents and practitioners will attempt. As pioneers in the use of a biomedical approach to autism, however, we maintain that it is critical that a treatment be considered reasonably safe before we give it to children. We do not consider MMS to meet these standards, and it violates the principal precept of medical bioethics: “first, do no harm.” While many families spend years trying to detoxify their children, MMS introduces a known toxin into their bodies. MMS has properties similar to Clorox® bleach, which can burn the upper digestive tract. The mucous threads that children expel during MMS treatment, which have been touted as worms (though laboratory analysis does not support this claim), are the body’s method of protecting itself from induced oxidative stress in the lower digestive tract equivalent to the mid-day sun in its ability to produce severe sunburn.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Long Term Effects","paragraph":"We simply cannot know what, if any, damage may occur in the long term. We have seen severe mineral deficiencies, malabsorption, loss of beneficial flora, and anemia in our patients who have undergone this treatment. The disruption of children’s gut epithelium and flora could have unforeseen consequences to their immune systems. At some point later in life, they may be also at higher risk for esophageal or stomach cancers, among other issues. Some parents of sick children report dramatic improvements in stool as well as other symptoms. Does this mean MMS is an effective treatment? Not necessarily. Nature’s strong impulse toward healing is stimulated by stress. Fasting, physical exertion to the point of exhaustion, sleep deprivation, torture, and severe physical and emotional trauma muster the resources of the mitochondria, muscles, mind, and soul to rise to the occasion. While any resulting temporary improvements may seem “miraculous,” there are safer and lower-risk ways to induce a healing response. Given these issues, we advise against using Miracle Mineral Solution at this time. We hope parents will remain critical of unsubstantiated claims that children have recovered or greatly improved in the absence of objective proof. We also strongly encourage any parents who choose to administer MMS to their children to report it to their physician so that side effects can be monitored. Sidney Baker, MD; Ali Carine, DO; Suruchi Chandra, MA; Kelly M. Barnhill, MBA, CN, CCN; John Green, MD; Maya Shetreat-Klein, MD; Vicki Kobliner MS RDN; Dana Laake, RDH, MS, LDN; Elizabeth Mumper, MD; Nancy O’Hara, MD; and William Parker, PhD Public-health agencies have previously stated that chlorine dioxide is not an approved treatment for medical conditions: Learn more HERE","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/AdobeStock_154166314-320x202.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"2026 Research Updates: GI Symptoms & Behavior","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2026-06-16T12:04:17-05:00 December 2nd, 2026 | Anxiety , Challenging Behaviors , depression , Gastrointestinal , Health , Immune Issues , Medical Care , Neurological , Parenting , Pregnancy , Research , Research , Self Injury , Self-Injury , Webinar | Free webinar at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time (US), December 2, 2026 Dr. Bradley Ferguson, PhD, a 2024 research grant recipient, will share emerging research on the interaction of GI symptoms and behavior in autism.","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/adult-behavior-320x202.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Autism in the Wild: Creating Technologies to Support More Effective Interventions in Real-World Environments.","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2026-05-15T15:43:15-05:00 September 16th, 2026 | Anxiety , Challenging Behaviors , depression , Gastrointestinal , Health , Immune Issues , Medical Care , Neurological , Parenting , Research , Research , Self Injury , Self-Injury , Webinar | Free webinar at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time (US), September 16, 2026 How can technology help us better understand and support autistic people in daily life? In this presentation, Matthew Goodwin, PhD, Professor at","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/gastro-400x267.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Research Updates: Gastrointestinal Issues and Autism","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2026-02-18T13:02:59-05:00 July 29th, 2026 | COVID-19 , Health , Immune Issues , Medical Care , Neurological , Parenting , Pregnancy , Research , Research , Webinar | Free webinar at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time (US), July 29, 2026 Harland Winter, MD, will discuss his research on gastrointestinal conditions in individuals with autism. Dr. Winter is an active investigator and educator","img_url":[],"video_url":[]}],"_id":"6a34f294631514ff2252efb4"},{"title":"Autism Health and Nutrition","short_description":"Kelly Barnhill, MBA, CN, CCN, discusses nutrition in autism based on recent","image":"https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nurition-research.jpeg","details_url":"https://autism.org/health-nutrition/","long_description":[{"heading":"","paragraph":"Kelly Barnhill, MBA, CN, CCN , discusses nutrition in autism based on recent publications. She outlines research updates on amino acid patterns, probiotics, and dietary interventions, underscoring both what we know and what we don’t know. The speaker discusses the clinical interpretation and application of this research, touching on common nutrient deficiencies before the Q&A.","img_url":[],"video_url":["https://www.youtube.com/embed/JOE0rvdIP2o?wmode=transparent&autoplay=0","https://www.youtube.com/embed/JOE0rvdIP2o?wmode=transparent&autoplay=0"]},{"heading":"In this webinar:","paragraph":"0:00 – Introductions 2:00 – Prospective study on amino acid patterns 5:50 – Prospective Study on Probiotic Intervention 7:40 – Systematic Review of Dietary Intervention and Gut Health 10:54 – Bibliometric Analysis of Influential Articles 13:47 – Systematic Review of Probiotics in Autism 16:06 – Nutrition Reviews Study on Mediterranean Diet 19:28 – Study on Gluten- and Casein- Free Diet 21:48 – Review on Ketogenic Diet 26:16 – Food, Nutrition, and Autism 27:57 – Systematic Review – Food as Medicine 34:40 – Clinical interpretation and application 40:30 – Micronutrients 44:10 – Q&A","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Prospective Study on Amino Acid Patterns","paragraph":"Dr. Barnhill outlines a 2025 study on amino acid patterns in over 1,200 children (2-8 years) with autism. Researchers found lower levels of glutamine in children with autism and significant differences in several amino acids across groups (2:00) . Specifically, the study noted that those with neurological impairment were deficient in amino acids that presented with susceptibility to neurocytotoxicity and oxidative stress, while those with nutritional concerns presented with a different set of issues, pointing more toward metabolic concerns. Barnhill explains that these findings substantiate clinical observations and suggest that specific amino acid imbalances may be related to different manifestations of autism, supporting the use of nutritional therapeutic intervention to balance amino acid levels. The speaker emphasizes that this is the only amino acid study presented in a prospective way that has been published in a reputable journal in the past few years. Amino Acid Patterns in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder: A Preliminary Biochemical Evaluation (Ferraro et al., 2025)","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Prospective Study on Probiotic Intervention","paragraph":"The presenter outlines another recent study that speaks to the concerns of effects of probiotic support for children with autism, AD/HD, and children with both diagnoses (AuDHD) (5:50) . Children were given a probiotic or a placebo for three months. Researchers saw a significant improvement in hyperactivity and impulsivity in both the autism and ADHD groups. Most notably, the “comfort score” on a quality-of-life instrument showed significant improvement for autistic children. Barnhill notes that, although this is a small study, its findings support clinical observations that probiotics can improve gastrointestinal symptoms and other related issues in children with autism, potentially impacting their quality of life. Effect of Probiotics on the Symptomatology of Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents: Pilot Study (Rojo-Marticella et al., 2025)","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Systematic Review of Dietary Intervention and Gut Health","paragraph":"Barnhill examines a systematic narrative review of all articles published between 2000 and 2024 related to autism, dietary interventions, probiotics, and the microbiome. (25-year review) (7:40) . The review validated that dietary intervention can improve GI symptoms and gut health for children with autism, which in turn improves their quality of life. Researchers also identified a cycle where sensory processing issues lead to food avoidance (ARFID), which decreases microbiome diversity and increases harmful microbial species, leading to a neuroinflammatory process that affects behavior (9:12) . The speaker asserts that this review provides a strong rationale for addressing GI and microbiome concerns as part of a comprehensive care plan for individuals with autism. Unraveling the Connections: Eating Issues, Microbiome, and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorder (Tomaszek et al., 2025)","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Bibliometric Analysis of Influential Articles","paragraph":"The speaker highlights another 25-year study that reviewed all publications on microbiome treatment in autism since 2000 to identify the most impactful and cited articles (10:54) . This is one of the first in a series of bibliometric analyses. The study identified two landmark publications: a 2013 mouse model study that established the link between the gut microbiome and ASD, and a very early, relatively small study from 25 years ago that showed improvements in both GI symptoms and behavior in a small group of autistic children treated with an oral antibiotic. These two studies, along with many more, laid the groundwork for the growing field of gut-brain research in autism and further validated the clinical utility of targeting gut health. Influential articles in autism and gut microbiota: bibliometric profile and research trends (Ying et al., 2025)","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Systematic Review of Probiotics in Autism","paragraph":"Barnhill discusses a systematic review that analyzed 10 completed and published clinical studies, as well as 18 ongoing clinical trials, on the use of probiotics in autism. (13:47) . Reviewers found that probiotics can improve social behaviors, drastically improve GI symptoms, and positively alter the gut microbiome when used appropriately . The presenter emphasizes this paper as a valuable and easily accessible resource for clinicians and parents, as it provides research backing for the use of probiotics in addressing a range of symptoms beyond just GI issues – essentially describing what we’ve learned and why it’s important. Probiotics in autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review of clinical studies and future directions (Barba-Vila et al., 2025)","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Nutrition Reviews Study on Mediterranean Diet","paragraph":"Barnhill notes that we are seeing more and more solid research emerging about how dietary intervention benefits individuals across the board, highlighting that there is no one-size-fits-all approach for any of us and what that means for clinical applications. She outlines a 2025 evaluation of all studies on children (6-16 years) with autism and ADHD, examining responses to nutritional interventions (16:06) . The paper concluded that 70% of individuals who followed a Mediterranean diet showed significant improvement in ADHD symptoms. It also noted significant improvements in depression (80%) and anxiety (50%). The speaker states that these results suggest that focusing on a whole, unprocessed Mediterranean-style diet can be a profound and effective intervention for improving neurological and mental health symptoms. Mediterranean Diet and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review (Camprodon-Boadas et al., 2025)","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Study on Gluten- and Casein-Free Diet","paragraph":"The speaker outlines another 2025 study that evaluated a 12-week trial involving 80 children (4-10 years), using a strict, prescribed gluten- and casein-free diet in combination with and separate and distinct from a neurodevelopmental physical therapy program (19:28) . Barnhill notes that families prepared meals on their own, meaning there was no technical control group. Researchers saw significant gains in gross motor skills and cognitive function only when the diet was combined with the therapy program . The dietary group alone showed no significant changes. This study suggests that a multidisciplinary, holistic approach is key, and that dietary interventions may be more effective when combined with other therapies. Effect of Therapeutic Diet Along with Special Physiotherapy Program on Gross Motor Development and Cognitive Function in Autistic Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial (Alsayegh et al., 2025)","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Review on Ketogenic Diet","paragraph":"A review of all published papers on the ketogenic diet for individuals with autism found that the diet is not appropriate for everyone due to the high heterogeneity of autism. However, Barnhill continues, it does hold great potential for some individuals by reducing bacterial dysbiosis, decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines, enhancing gut health, and providing a neuroprotective effect via ketone bodies (21:48) . Barnhill underscores that while the ketogenic diet can be effective for the right patient, it should only be implemented with professional guidance due to its complexity and potential dangers when applied inappropriately. More research is needed. Exploring the potential of the ketogenic diet in autism spectrum disorder: metabolic, genetic, and therapeutic insights (Schrickel et al., 2025)","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Food, Nutrition, and Autism","paragraph":"The presenter provides a summary article describing our current understanding of nutrition and autism from a societal and cultural perspective. The paper tangentially addresses all the issues that people in the US should be aware of and attuned to, including environmental and food exposures from prenatal to childhood. Barnhill asserts this study is foundational for building an appropriate dietary approach and understanding what barriers might exist (26:16) . Food, nutrition, and autism: from soil to fork (Shepard et al., 2024)","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Systematic Review – Food as Medicine","paragraph":"The speaker notes a recent systematic review that addresses the use of dietary intervention and therapeutic nutritional support across various diagnoses (27:57) . The authors highlight several publications that support the idea that food can be considered a form of medicine and is increasingly understood as a pharmaceutical component in health and medical diagnoses. Barnhill emphasizes the importance of not viewing food choices and dietary recommendations for autism as “other” to the general population’s nutritional understanding. Culturally, we continue to recognize that our diets are integral to health and need to be taken seriously. She states that “we need to hold autism research and interventions to the same standards.” This study ultimately resolidifies the interconnectedness of the gut and brain by highlighting the impact of microbiome health in the GI system on both the vagal nerve and cognition (31:00) . Nutraceuticals in Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review (Bozzatello et al., 2024)","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Clinical interpretation and application","paragraph":"According to the presented information, Barnhill asserts that clinicians should assume that diet matters and that a nutritionist or dietary specialist should be included in care counseling and planning for children and adults with autism (34:40) . She underscores the importance of avoiding packaged food products, ensuring fiber and water intake are sufficient, and addressing feeding concerns with care and compassion. She also suggests incorporating family and community into diet changes, meal preparation, and eating habits. The speaker also suggests working with a professional to outline any specialized diets (37:40) .","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Micronutrients & Therapeutic Support","paragraph":"Barnhill lists common micronutrient deficiencies, including B vitamins, fat-soluble A and D, and Omega-3 fatty acids. She notes that addressing gaps with supplemental support is reasonable and appropriate to meet the minimal needs in the case that someone doesn’t have access to those nutrients via diet (40:30) . She cautions viewers about the supplement market, noting that it is not regulated; and suggests consulting with someone well-versed in what’s needed and the efficacy of different brands before the Q&A (44:10) . About the speaker: Kelly Barnhill, MBA, CN, CCN, is the Director of the Nutrition Clinic at The Johnson Center for Child Health and Development. She is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, with over a decade of experience working with nutrition in children with autism and related disorders. At the Johnson Center, she directs a team of dieticians and nutritionists that has served over 3000 children through this practice. Ms. Barnhill also serves as Chair of ARI’s Board of Directors and sits on ARI’s Scientific Advisory Board.","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/barnhill-color-small.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Take the knowledge quiz","paragraph":"Can’t see the quiz below? Take it online HERE","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/self-injury_edelson-320x202.png"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Self-Regulation Strategies for Self-Injury","paragraph":"autismAdmin 2025-04-23T13:23:10-05:00 March 25th, 2025 | Adults on the Spectrum , Anxiety , Assessment , depression , Meltdowns , News , Self Care , Self Injury , Self-Injury , Webinar | Emily Ferguson, Ph.D., discusses self-regulation strategies for self-injurious behaviors (SIB). She outlines recent research on the frequency and distribution of different SIBs across a large sample, underscoring the importance of assessing individual behavior","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/AdobeStock_330058041-320x202.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Wellbeing Wins: Integrating Positive Psychology into the Autism Community","paragraph":"autismAdmin 2025-02-24T12:07:09-05:00 January 2nd, 2025 | Adults on the Spectrum , Anxiety , Anxiety , Back to School , depression , Executive Function , Health , Neurological , News , Self Care , Sleep Issues , Social Skills , Webinar | Patricia Wright, PhD, MPH, and Katie Curran, MAAP, introduce Proof Positive - The Autism Well-being Alliance. The speakers describe positive psychology, its impact on well-being, and why it matters for autistic","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/AdobeStock_209628810-320x202.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Biomarkers start telling us a story: Autism pathophysiology revisited","paragraph":"autismAdmin 2024-09-23T15:39:35-05:00 March 30th, 2024 | Biomarkers , News , Research , Ways to Help , Webinar | This is a joint presentation with the World Autism Organisation. Antonio Persico, MD, a recent ARI Research Grant recipient, explores the role of biomarkers in understanding autism pathophysiology. He","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/AdobeStock_198409225.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Depression In ASD: Insights From A Network Analysis","paragraph":"autismAdmin 2022-01-13T11:00:30-05:00 January 11th, 2021 | Adults on the Spectrum , Anxiety , Challenging Behaviors , Health , Parenting , Webinar | Depression as co-occurring condition in autism is frequently reported, but there is not a consensus on the risk factors. Tune in to learn about recent research on the","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/AdobeStock_268642142-320x202.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD): Overview & Case Study","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2023-02-17T13:30:26-05:00 May 9th, 2018 | Gastrointestinal , Health , Nutrition , Webinar | Nutritionist Kelly Barnhill shares research updates about nutrient intake and dietary status in ASD patients. Presentation includes an overview of the SCD diet for ASD patients a case study review. Published:","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Untitled-design-56-320x202.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Anxiety and ASD – Live Expert Q&A","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2021-07-19T14:09:09-05:00 March 15th, 2017 | Anxiety , Webinar | Dr. Lauren Moskowitz answers questions about using positive strategies to address challenging behaviors. To review Dr. Moskowitz's previous talk on positive strategies for addressing anxiety and OCD, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoFJrxQbeI8 Because this was a","img_url":[],"video_url":[]}],"_id":"6a34f294631514ff2252efb8"},{"title":"Editorial: Invisible threats – the role of environmental toxins in autism","short_description":"As our knowledge about autism continues to evolve, so does our","image":"https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Untitled-design-48-400x225.jpg","details_url":"https://autism.org/editorial-invisible-threats-the-role-of-environmental-toxins-in-autism/","long_description":[{"heading":"","paragraph":"As our knowledge about autism continues to evolve, so does our understanding of its root causes. For many years, professionals blamed “refrigerator parents” and prescribed psychoanalytic therapy. Once the psychogenic theory was debunked, genetic research began to dominate autism science. Today, while we know that genes play a significant role in autism, we are beginning to recognize the critical importance of another factor: the environment (Rimland, 1964). Currently, questions persist about the relative influence of genetics and environment on autism, with many people still viewing it as a purely genetic condition. However, as research findings mount, a clearer picture is forming. It is apparent that in many if not most cases, the condition arises from a complex interplay between genetic susceptibility and environmental influences (Hallmayer et al., 2011). Research increasingly shows that invisible yet potentially harmful substances can have long-lasting impacts on the fetus before birth and in the early stages of life, highlighting the need for us to take meaningful steps to reduce exposure to these substances—especially during crucial formative months in prenatal and early childhood development. I believe it is time for the autism field to move beyond the vague use of the word “environment” and begin focusing on specific environmental toxins implicated in autism. Identifying and drawing attention to these toxins will help us to guide public policy, develop targeted interventions, and protect future generations of children.","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Edelson_12-24.jpg","https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Untitled-design-48-400x225.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"The interplay of genes and environment","paragraph":"When discussing the causes of autism, it is useful to frame the issue in terms of genetic susceptibility and environmental influences . Genetic susceptibility helps to explain why many individuals exposed to the same environmental toxin may experience little or no effect, while a small portion develop long-term disabilities. It is likely that there is no specific “autism gene,” but rather, a combination of genetic vulnerabilities that increase susceptibility to certain environmental influences. These vulnerabilities may affect systems such as the immune system, which protects the body from foreign substances, and the metabolic system, which affects the body’s ability to detoxify harmful substances.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Environmental risk factors currently implicated by research","paragraph":"Controlled studies on the effects of human exposure to toxins are of course neither ethical nor feasible, and correlational studies can only suggest an association rather than a cause-and-effect relationship. For example, autism appears to be more common in cities than in rural areas; however, this does not necessarily indicate a causal link, as better access to diagnostic services in cities likely accounts for this pattern. What adds credibility is that many of these risk factors show a distance or dispersion effect. The closer one is to a source—such as pesticides or particulate matter from vehicle exhaust—the higher the risk of autism (Shelton et al., 2014; Volk et al., 2011). In addition, replication by independent research groups in different regions of the country provides relatively strong evidence supporting a possible causal relationship (Becerra et al., 2013; von Ehrenstein et al., 2019). Environmental toxins that currently are strongly implicated in autism (see Goines & Ashwood, 2013; Landrigan et al., 2012) include: Air pollutants: particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide Pesticides: organophosphates, pyrethroids, permethrin, malathion, avermectin Metals: lead, lithium, mercury, cadmium, aluminum, chromium, arsenic, manganese Plastics and industrial chemicals: phthalates, bisphenol A, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Patterns emerging from well-documented research","paragraph":"In addition to identifying environmental toxins that can alter fetal and early childhood development, it is important to understand the mechanisms by which they cause harm. We know that when toxins enter the body, their effects depend on several factors, particularly the ability of the immune and metabolic systems to defend against them. In addition, the level of exposure is critical. This includes both the duration and amount of exposure, as well as the timing. For example, there is evidence suggesting that certain adverse neurological events may occur during the second trimester of pregnancy (Bilder, 2019). Once toxic agents begin circulating in the body, they can trigger several well-documented biological processes linked to autism. These include brain inflammation (Vargus et al., 2005), oxidative stress (a marker of neuroinflammation; Usui et al., 2023), maternal immune activation (Ayoub, 2025; Usui et al., 2023), and disrupted cellular function. Naviaux (2020) has shown that cellular responses to toxins can initiate what is known as the cell danger response , in which the body enters a defensive state that can impair communication between cells. Interestingly, emerging research indicates that the effects of particulate matter extend to the gut microbiome (Filardo et al., 2022). Exposure to particulate matter has been associated with disruptions in gut microbial balance that are also reported in autism, including reductions in microbial diversity (Fouladi et al., 2020; Kang et al., 2017). Furthermore, decreases in Bacteroidetes and Lactobacillus —both reported in autism—have also been associated with exposure to particulate matter (Li et al., 2023; Strati et al., 2017; Liu et al., 2021; Mihailovich et al., 2024). Building on this understanding, a major study published earlier this year identified four distinct subtypes of autism (Litman et al., 2025; see ARRI 2025, Vol. 3). One subgroup, termed “broadly affected,” was characterized by severe delays in reaching developmental milestones such as walking and talking, along with pronounced social-communication challenges and marked restrictive and repetitive behaviors. This subtype closely corresponds to what is often referred to as profound or severe autism (Lord et al., 2024). Notably, autism that arises in the context of maternal immune activation during pregnancy—which can be triggered by toxic exposures or infections—is also frequently described as severe or profound (Ellul et al., 2023). What is very interesting is that both maternal immune activation profiles and de novo mutations were most prevalent in the “broadly affected” group. De novo mutations are not inherited from parents but instead arise spontaneously as errors during cellular replication, often occurring during early embryonic development. Their occurrence can be influenced by factors such as advanced parental age—a well-documented risk for both mothers and fathers (Croen et al., 2007)—as well as environmental exposures that disrupt genomic stability (Pugsley et al., 2022). This raises an important question: Could many individuals who are severely affected by autism represent cases in which toxic exposures during pregnancy trigger maternal immune activation and simultaneously contribute to the emergence of de novo mutations? Research exploring this possibility is urgently needed, as it may be relevant to more than one-quarter of the autism population (Hughes et al., 2023). In a related ongoing research project, Judith Miller, a clinical psychologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, is conducting a comprehensive study of environmental factors to which individuals are exposed over time. She is leading a multi-year project that integrates genomic and exposomic data (the latter focusing on lifetime exposures to environmental factors) from more than 100,000 children, including about 4,000 autistic children, and links this data to detailed maternal health records. The study incorporates geospatial data on air and water quality, green space access, and a wide range of other environmental exposures to explore how genetic susceptibility and environmental context may interact in autism.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Final thoughts","paragraph":"Can we realistically reduce harmful exposures when they are so deeply tied to economic and political forces? Cleaning up pollution in the air, water, and soil is an enormous undertaking and often prohibitively expensive, but there are many practical and cost-effective steps we can take. In the near term, the highest priority should be protecting those most vulnerable: pregnant women and very young children. One promising effort in this area is P2i (Preconception to Infancy), a new initiative launched by the Northwest Autism Foundation. This comprehensive program is designed to support couples from the preconception stage through their children’s infancy, with the goal of promoting safer pregnancies and fostering healthier early development. One of the key goals of P2i is to reduce the body burden of toxic chemicals in mothers and their children. There is also growing interest in interventions to reduce the harmful effects of environmental toxic exposures in autism. Strategies focus on enhancing detoxification pathways, such as increasing glutathione synthesis and strengthening antioxidant defenses. Additional approaches that support mitochondrial function, lower oxidative stress, and modulate immune responses may further reduce toxicant burden and its neurodevelopmental impact (see Rossignol & Frye, 2012). Given the importance of efforts such as these, I believe it is time for the autism field to speak more openly and directly about specific environmental toxins and exposures. Greater transparency about these risk factors—such as exposure to certain heavy metals, pesticides, air pollutants, and prenatal stressors—will foster better public understanding and help guide prevention and policy efforts. Researchers and clinicians have a responsibility to communicate emerging evidence clearly and without unnecessary delay. Open dialogue among scientists, policymakers, and the public will accelerate progress toward reducing harmful exposures and improving outcomes for future generations. Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D. Executive Director, Autism Research Institute References available at www.ARRIReferences.org . This editorial is available in PDF format – Download Here It originally appeared in Autism Research Review International, Vol. 39, No. 4, 2025","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/researchers-400x233.png"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Editorial: Autism Research Institute – Imperative to Follow the Science","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2026-05-12T12:08:22-05:00 April 20th, 2026 | News , Research | Originally published in the Autism Research Review International Read for free at ARRIOnline.org Volume 40, Number 2 | Spring 2026 Originally published in the Autism","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/exhaust-320x202.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Editorial: What we breathe matters – Rethinking air pollution and autism","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2026-04-20T15:56:20-05:00 March 9th, 2026 | News , Research | For nearly sixty years, the Autism Research Institute (ARI) has tried to understand autism by looking beyond surface behaviors and asking deeper biological questions. From the beginning, Bernard Rimland challenged the dominant","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Untitled-design-48-320x202.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Editorial: Invisible threats – the role of environmental toxins in autism","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2025-11-24T14:39:51-05:00 November 21st, 2025 | Health , News , Research , Uncategorized | As our knowledge about autism continues to evolve, so does our understanding of its root causes. For many years, professionals blamed “refrigerator parents” and prescribed psychoanalytic therapy. Once the psychogenic theory was","img_url":[],"video_url":[]}],"_id":"6a34f294631514ff2252efb6"},{"title":"ARI’s 2025 Impact","short_description":"Advocating for Independent Research and Education For nearly six decades, ARI has","image":"https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-accomplishments-logo-400x167.jpg","details_url":"https://autism.org/aris-2025-impact/","long_description":[{"heading":"","paragraph":"Advocating for Independent Research and Education For nearly six decades, ARI has funded groundbreaking research, expanded educational initiatives, and brought clinicians and scientists together worldwide. Yet researchers and clinicians continue to face unprecedented financial challenges, and much important work remains. ARI remains dedicated to fostering innovative research, convening scientific meetings and think tanks, and delivering high-quality, free online education that empowers autistic individuals, their families, and the professionals who serve them. None of this would be possible without the generous partnership of donors. Print ARI’s 2025 Accomplishments (PDF) 2025 Stub-Year Report (Fiscal Transition Period) 2025 ARI Scientific Research Grant Awards View Past Years’ Accomplishments","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-FY-Stub-year-cover-400x482.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Research","paragraph":"ARI will award nearly $600,000 in grants to scientists whose work will have a direct impact on the lives of those on the autism spectrum. The funds supported research in immune, gastrointestinal, metabolic, and neurologic issues. ARI will award nearly $600,000 in grants to scientists whose work will have a direct impact on the lives of those on the autism spectrum. The funds supported research in immune, gastrointestinal, metabolic, and neurologic issues. ARI’s annual in-person Scientific Think Tank occurred last May in Seattle, convening researchers and clinicians to discuss emerging findings about autism. ARI’s annual in-person Scientific Think Tank occurred last May in Seattle, convening researchers and clinicians to discuss emerging findings about autism. In early October, ARI facilitated the first-ever United Nations Think Tank on Autism in partnership with the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation. Held in New York City, the think tank brought together experts from across the globe to discuss the challenges facing autistic adults and older adults. This collaboration drives our mission forward through timely knowledge exchange, allowing practitioners and researchers to advance the health of autistic people throughout the lifespan. In early October, ARI facilitated the first-ever United Nations Think Tank on Autism in partnership with the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation. Held in New York City, the think tank brought together experts from across the globe to discuss the challenges facing autistic adults and older adults. This collaboration drives our mission forward through timely knowledge exchange, allowing practitioners and researchers to advance the health of autistic people throughout the lifespan. ARI held its annual online scientific symposium in November 2025. This international conference featured live presentations and discussions to provide researchers with updates on metabolic issues, co-occurring gastrointestinal conditions, and genetics. ARI held its annual online scientific symposium in November 2025. This international conference featured live presentations and discussions to provide researchers with updates on metabolic issues, co-occurring gastrointestinal conditions, and genetics. ARI continues to develop a global research network to keep researchers up to date with the latest news in the scientific community; this includes sharing articles on conducting research, informing them of various funding sources, and notifying them of the latest studies published in peer-reviewed journals. ARI continues to develop a global research network to keep researchers up to date with the latest news in the scientific community; this includes sharing articles on conducting research, informing them of various funding sources, and notifying them of the latest studies published in peer-reviewed journals.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Publications","paragraph":"ARI continues to publish its quarterly science newsletter, Autism Research Review International (ARRI) , summarizing current medical, sensory, and educational research. This year ARI’s quarterly scientific journal, Autism Research Review International (ARRI), moved online and is now available for free. ARRI highlights emerging findings and is distributed to our global autism networks. Read the ARRI online. ARI continues to publish its quarterly science newsletter, Autism Research Review International (ARRI) , summarizing current medical, sensory, and educational research. This year ARI’s quarterly scientific journal, Autism Research Review International (ARRI), moved online and is now available for free. ARRI highlights emerging findings and is distributed to our global autism networks. Read the ARRI online. ARI’s monthly e-newsletter keeps more than 140,000 subscribers up to date on new resources and the latest research. ARI’s monthly e-newsletter keeps more than 140,000 subscribers up to date on new resources and the latest research. ARI publishes a bimonthly e-newsletter, Clinical Research in Autism , for obstetricians, pediatricians, and nurses who want to keep up to date with research relevant to their practice. ARI publishes a bimonthly e-newsletter, Clinical Research in Autism , for obstetricians, pediatricians, and nurses who want to keep up to date with research relevant to their practice.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Continuing Medical Information","paragraph":"We continue to offer free continuing education talks on autism featuring updates and Q&A on co-occurring metabolic conditions and emerging research on brain imaging. The talks offer free credits for physicians and is available for viewing by the general public. By connecting physicians to improved standards of care, ARI aims to amplify understanding of the medical nature of autism. We continue to offer free continuing education talks on autism featuring updates and Q&A on co-occurring metabolic conditions and emerging research on brain imaging. The talks offer free credits for physicians and is available for viewing by the general public. By connecting physicians to improved standards of care, ARI aims to amplify understanding of the medical nature of autism.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Online Learning","paragraph":"ARI continues to host live webinars multiple times each month featuring top researchers and treatment professionals. In 2025, thousands of viewers registered to watch live presentations on various topics, including research updates, nutrition, behavioral support, assessment, educational therapies, adult issues, and more. One webinar each quarter (four per year) is offered in joint providership with the World Autism Organization. ARI webinars, both live and recorded, offer real-time, captioned translation support in more than 20 languages. ARI continues to host live webinars multiple times each month featuring top researchers and treatment professionals. In 2025, thousands of viewers registered to watch live presentations on various topics, including research updates, nutrition, behavioral support, assessment, educational therapies, adult issues, and more. One webinar each quarter (four per year) is offered in joint providership with the World Autism Organization. ARI webinars, both live and recorded, offer real-time, captioned translation support in more than 20 languages. Clinical webinars, aimed at guiding healthcare providers worldwide, are offered with live Q&A and simultaneous language interpretation. Clinical webinars, aimed at guiding healthcare providers worldwide, are offered with live Q&A and simultaneous language interpretation. ARI’s YouTube channel offers free access to recorded webinar presentations, educational videos, social stories, and talks from past conferences. Our channel has garnered more than 1.3 million views and is a valuable tool in democratizing education and expanding autism understanding. ARI’s YouTube channel offers free access to recorded webinar presentations, educational videos, social stories, and talks from past conferences. Our channel has garnered more than 1.3 million views and is a valuable tool in democratizing education and expanding autism understanding.","img_url":[],"video_url":["https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCewrICyE_Pl9LiyCHp6GnRQ"]},{"heading":"Outreach in the U.S.","paragraph":"ARI offers a hotline for parents and professionals, who can reach a live person for information and support. Contact Us ARI offers a hotline for parents and professionals, who can reach a live person for information and support. Contact Us","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"International Outreach","paragraph":"ARI fosters global connections within the autism community by rapidly sharing key findings and resources. Our research network includes over 130 members worldwide who receive monthly updates on grant opportunities, cutting-edge studies from peer-reviewed journals, and insights into research techniques and best practices. Simultaneously, our global support network engages nearly 230 groups across 77 countries, providing updates on the latest autism research, care strategies, and organizational activities. By bridging these networks, ARI enhances communication, emphasizing emerging discoveries about autism’s underlying biology and evidence-based approaches to care. ARI fosters global connections within the autism community by rapidly sharing key findings and resources. Our research network includes over 130 members worldwide who receive monthly updates on grant opportunities, cutting-edge studies from peer-reviewed journals, and insights into research techniques and best practices. Simultaneously, our global support network engages nearly 230 groups across 77 countries, providing updates on the latest autism research, care strategies, and organizational activities. By bridging these networks, ARI enhances communication, emphasizing emerging discoveries about autism’s underlying biology and evidence-based approaches to care. ARI is an NGO (non-governmental organization) registered with the United Nations. ARI is an NGO (non-governmental organization) registered with the United Nations. ARI continues to translate many key articles, as well as our Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) , into different languages—the ATEC is now available in 27 languages online. On average, more than 150 users per day complete ARI’s ATEC. ARI continues to translate many key articles, as well as our Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) , into different languages—the ATEC is now available in 27 languages online. On average, more than 150 users per day complete ARI’s ATEC.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"National Autism History Museum","paragraph":"ARI’s National Autism History Museum offers an engaging and comprehensive look at the prolific history of autism research and discovery. Its interactive exhibits highlight prominent autistic figures and underscore critical moments in the evolution of autism research. Leading researchers from many areas are collaborating with ARI to curate a collection of historical artifacts. In 2025, we extended the program’s outreach by offering on-site educational displays at libraries in the San Diego and Memphis, Tennessee to increase awareness and understanding of autism’s history ARI’s National Autism History Museum offers an engaging and comprehensive look at the prolific history of autism research and discovery. Its interactive exhibits highlight prominent autistic figures and underscore critical moments in the evolution of autism research. Leading researchers from many areas are collaborating with ARI to curate a collection of historical artifacts. In 2025, we extended the program’s outreach by offering on-site educational displays at libraries in the San Diego and Memphis, Tennessee to increase awareness and understanding of autism’s history","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Autism Resources","paragraph":"ARI supports critical research initiatives, including a brain tissue bank at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (University of Maryland) and a gastrointestinal tissue bank at the Digestive Function Laboratory Repository (Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston). ARI supports critical research initiatives, including a brain tissue bank at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (University of Maryland) and a gastrointestinal tissue bank at the Digestive Function Laboratory Repository (Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston). ARI also offers practical support through vibrant social media channels that share the latest news, research, and resources on autism. ARI also offers practical support through vibrant social media channels that share the latest news, research, and resources on autism. Over the past two years, ARI has released free online tools to assist professionals and parents in identifying treatments that may reduce or eliminate self-injurious behaviors (SIB) and sleep disturbances . Over the past two years, ARI has released free online tools to assist professionals and parents in identifying treatments that may reduce or eliminate self-injurious behaviors (SIB) and sleep disturbances .","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-accomplishments-logo-700x368.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"ARI’s 2025 Impact","paragraph":"Advocating for Independent Research and Education For nearly six decades, ARI has funded groundbreaking research, expanded educational initiatives, and brought clinicians and scientists together worldwide. Yet researchers and clinicians continue to face unprecedented","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024-320x202.png"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"ARI’s 2024 Impact","paragraph":"This is what you helped us achieve Since 1967, we have advocated for cutting-edge research while connecting emerging voices in the scientific community with the vision to improve the health and well-being of","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-logo-cropped-700x421.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"ARI’s 2023 Accomplishments and Impact","paragraph":"Connecting investigators, professionals, parents, and autistic people worldwide is essential for effective advocacy. Throughout 2023, we continued our work offering focus on education while funding and support research on genetics, neurology, co-occurring medical","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022-accomplishments-logo-320x202.png"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"ARI’s 2022 Accomplishments","paragraph":"At ARI we understand what it means to be different because ARI has always been unique. We have learned a lot over the past 56 years. We continue to focus on education while","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021b-320x202.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"ARI’s Accomplishments in 2021","paragraph":"For more than five decades, we have been challenging the traditional view of autism as an untreatable disorder and have advanced research to improve the health and well-being of people on the autism","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2020-2-320x202.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"ARI’s Accomplishments in 2020","paragraph":"The Covid-19 pandemic upended many lives, and the need to provide meaningful support while sustaining research has been as important as ever. While the causes of ASD remain unclear, recent scientific advances challenge","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Help ARI improve the quality of life for children and adults with autism","paragraph":"","img_url":[],"video_url":[]}],"_id":"6a34f294631514ff2252efb7"},{"title":"Perspective: Adult sibling with profound ASD","short_description":"Mojdeh Mostafavi, MD, shares her deeply personal journey as a sibling","image":"https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/AdobeStock_184882305-400x267.jpeg","details_url":"https://autism.org/perspective-adult-sibling-with-profound-asd/","long_description":[{"heading":"","paragraph":"Mojdeh Mostafavi, MD , shares her deeply personal journey as a sibling supporting a loved one with profound autism. She describes her experiences from early childhood through adulthood, highlighting the challenges and triumphs that her family and care team have experienced. The speaker shares ten meaningful insights about her family’s journey, highlighting the importance of communication and advocacy from a very young age. Mostafavi emphasizes the complexities of ever-evolving sibling relationships before the Q&A.","img_url":[],"video_url":["https://www.youtube.com/embed/yAYgpzOYZ0I?wmode=transparent&autoplay=0","https://www.youtube.com/embed/yAYgpzOYZ0I?wmode=transparent&autoplay=0"]},{"heading":"In this webinar","paragraph":"2:00 – Introduction 4:30 – Early life, diagnosis, and family response 9:00 – The role of siblings and at home care 14:05 – Behavioral challenges during adolescence 17:00 – Adulthood milestones and medical crises 21:30 – Ongoing care and the unknown future 23:00 – Welcome to Holland – a sibling’s perspective 27:00 – Ten reflections from an adult sibling of someone with profound autism 34:00 – Communication challenges and triumphs 43:00 – Family, community, care teams — the importance of support 47:40 – Q&A","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Early Life, Diagnosis, and Family Response","paragraph":"Mostafavi’s brother was born in 1995, when she was just two years old. During pregnancy and early infancy, his development seemed uncomplicated. However, at around 18 months, their parents, both medical professionals, noticed a profound developmental regression. He began losing words as he learned new ones, stopped responding to his name, started to avoid eye contact, and exhibited classic stimming behaviors like lining up toys, hand flapping, and finger twisting. The speaker explains that this regression occurred within a five-or six-week period, during which his preschool teacher suggested they get an autism assessment (4:30) . In 1996, her brother was diagnosed with autism; this was a traumatic experience for her parents, who received a largely negative prognosis. Her parents recall being told that he would likely never speak or live independently and that many strongly suggested institutionalization. Mostafavi reminds viewers that during the mid-1990s, autism prevalence was reported as 1 in 10,000, so there was very little understanding or resources available (7:00) . Undeterred, her parents embarked on a journey of self-education, extensively researching interventions and support strategies. They successfully pioneered a home-based program to address their son’s profound needs in an area with few specialized services.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"The Sibling’s Role: Integration and Transformation","paragraph":"Growing up, Mostafavi’s life was intrinsically linked to her brother’s care. Their home was a hub for various therapies, including occupational therapy (OT), speech-language pathology (SLP), and ABA. From a young age, she was actively involved in these sessions, often tasked with modeling behaviors or assisting therapists. The speaker emphasizes how this deep involvement made her feel valued and important, which mitigated feelings of being a “glass child” and fostered an understanding and supportive sibling relationship (9:00) . It was in her elementary years, around ages six to eight, that she first recognized the unique differences in her family life compared to her peers (12:00) .","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Adolescence and Behavioral Challenges","paragraph":"Adolescence proved to be an exceptionally challenging period for her brother, particularly due to his limited verbal communication skills and subsequent difficulty expressing his needs and emotions. These challenges often led to intense behavioral outbursts, primarily aggression, including hair pulling, scratching, and biting, usually received by herself or her mother (14:05) . Mostafavi underscores that her brother showed remorse after such outbursts, highlighting not only their close bond, but also the lasting distress externalized behaviors can have on everyone involved. The hormonal shifts of puberty further complicated her brother’s ability to self-regulate. The presenter recalls the incredible support they received from her brother’s care team and how they assisted in navigating this challenging moment for their family (15:00) . Mostafavi notes her brother’s naturally loving disposition, stating that, even in these hard moments, 95% of the time, it was just awesome. It was that 5% where he struggled with communication that would result in aggressive behaviors.","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Adulthood and medical crises","paragraph":"Mostafavi highlights that her experience differs from many because all the support systems they had took place in their home . During early adulthood, her brother reached many key milestones, like going to the movie theater, getting his first hair cut at the barber, and getting his wisdom teeth removed (17:00) . The speaker briefly describes the first severe medical crisis her brother had when he was 27, which led to hospitalization and an induced coma. The cause was eventually traced to severe, unexpressed pain, leading to extensive medical evaluation and ultimately a diagnosis and intervention. The presenter comments on how disruptive it was to the entire family to be unable to manage and care for her brother at home. This process forced the family to reassess their resources, their son’s evolving needs, and the family’s well-being. It was a transformative period that instilled a deeper sense of awareness and appreciation for the ongoing challenges of supporting a loved one with profound autism (20:00) . Her brother remains at home with their parents, benefiting from a consistent care team, some of whom have been involved for over a decade. While aggression has subsided, he still experiences self-injurious behaviors, mainly head-hitting, often linked to unexpressed pain. The family is actively working with his medical team to mitigate these symptoms and behaviors. Despite these ongoing challenges, a home-based program with his long-standing care team remains the most effective option for his needs (21:30) .","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Reflections on the complexities of being a sibling","paragraph":"To articulate the sibling experience, the speaker references Emily Pearl Kingsley’s poem, Welcome to Holland , originally about the parental journey of having a child with special needs. Mostafavi adapts this analogy to the sibling perspective, explaining that a child growing up in “Holland” (a life with a sibling with autism) doesn’t initially understand the concept of “Italy” (a typical life). As they grow, they begin to recognize differences and form their understanding of the world, realizing that “Holland” is the only life they’ve ever known. This perspective highlights that the complexity and evolution of their unique life journey only become fully appreciated in adulthood (23:00) . The speaker provides ten insights/reflections on her experiences as a sibling of someone with profound autism. She emphasizes the multifaceted and ever-evolving nature of the sibling relationship, explaining that their dynamic constantly shifts as both individuals navigate life stages—childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. For Mostafavi, this role often includes aspects of caregiving and, in the future, the role of guardian (27:00) . She clarifies that her experience doesn’t align with the “glass child” concept because of her deep integration into her brother’s care, which made her feel valued. However, she acknowledges the profound and complex emotional and psychological impact, including feelings such as hurt, anger, guilt, frustration, love, sadness, and grief. All of these require continuous coping strategies even today (30:00) . A significant aspect of the speaker’s experience is the unique “language” or means of communication she shares with her brother and sister. Living with someone with substantial verbal communication challenges has honed her ability to understand and interpret non-verbal cues (34:00) . She touches on the importance of advocacy and empowerment from a young age and the complexities of planning for the future (40:00) . Mostafavi asserts the importance of finding “your people” and navigating social life and relationships. The power found in people who support, nourish, and understand the nuances of your life cannot be understated (43:00) . The speaker ends by reminding viewers that these are her experiences and that this may look different for everyone. During the Q&A, she discusses therapy for siblings and much more (47:40) . Originally published on January 6th, 2025","img_url":[],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"The speaker:","paragraph":"Mojdeh Mostafavi, MD is a dual-trained internist and pediatrician currently pursuing a pediatric fellowship in gastroenterology at Mass General Hospital for Children. With a profound personal connection to autism through her brother, Dr. Mostafavi’s dedication to advancing autism care is driven by her commitment to equitable healthcare and her expertise in integrating behavioral theory. Her passion lies in providing care across the lifespan, reflecting her belief in how today’s actions shape future experiences. Her work exemplifies a deep commitment to enhancing access and quality of care for all individuals, particularly those affected by autism.","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Mojdeh-Mostafavi-Portrait-400x560.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Take the knowledge quiz","paragraph":"Can’t see the quiz below? Take it online HERE","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/paid-teens-320x202.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Understanding and Supporting Puberty in Autistic Girls and Boys","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2025-09-11T12:52:59-05:00 August 28th, 2025 | Gender , Health , Medical Care , News , Parenting , Research , Research , Self Care , Sexuality , Social Skills , Webinar | Blythe A. Corbett, Ph.D., discusses her lab's research on puberty, adolescence, and mental health in autistic individuals. She emphasizes puberty as a period of significant biological maturation involving several physical, biological, hormonal,","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/teens-2-320x202.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Live Q&A—Masking: Deconstructing the Myths","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2025-10-23T13:56:31-05:00 August 5th, 2025 | Adults on the Spectrum , Health , Medical Care , Research , Research , Webinar | This is a follow-up session to Dr. Dena Gassner's June 11th, 2025, presentation on the same subject. You can watch the live recording for more context and information. In the","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/AdobeStock_238082786-320x202.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Gender, Sexuality, and Autism","paragraph":"autismAdmin 2024-08-07T10:38:10-05:00 July 12th, 2024 | Adults on the Spectrum , Autism Spectrum Disorders , Gender , Health , News , Self Care , seniors , Sensory , Sexuality , Social Skills , Ways to Help , Webinar | Dr. Wenn Lawson, Ph.D., delves into the intersection of autism, sexuality, and gender. He describes monotropism as a theory of attention and addresses common sex differences in autism. The presenter discusses","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/AdobeStock_557444134-320x202.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Gender Discomfort and Autism","paragraph":"autismAdmin 2024-11-22T08:34:54-05:00 June 16th, 2023 | News | \"I think society has an expectation where you have to be male or female, or you can be somewhere in between [...]. But they don't get that, actually, there are many genders","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/lgbtq-320x202.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"LGBTQIA+ and Autism","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2026-05-29T16:06:26-05:00 June 13th, 2022 | News , Parenting | Contemporary research on the intersection of autism, sexuality, and gender identity asserts that autistic individuals are more likely to identify as LGBTQIA+ than the allistic (non-autistic) population. Similarly, the prevalence of autism","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/faces-320x202.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Symptoms are similar in young boys, girls with ASD","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2024-04-28T17:44:29-05:00 July 26th, 2021 | News , Research | Research indicates that in school-aged children, teenagers, and adults with autism spectrum (ASD), symptoms differ significantly between males and females. Because of this, there are concerns that the skewed male-to-female ratio of","img_url":[],"video_url":[]}],"_id":"6a34f294631514ff2252efbc"},{"title":"Editorial: Navigating New Territory – The Growing Focus on Autistic Seniors","short_description":"This editorial originally appeared in ARI’s Autism Research Review International –","image":"https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_7709-scaled-e1757607275433-400x426.jpg","details_url":"https://autism.org/growing-focus-on-autistic-seniors/","long_description":[{"heading":"","paragraph":"This editorial originally appeared in ARI’s Autism Research Review International – now available online. Visit the ARRI Online to continue reading this issue and more. Contributors (listed in alphabetical order) Vanessa H. Bal, Ph.D., Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology, Rutgers University; Margaret L. Bauman, M.D., Associate Professor of Anatomy and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine; Mary Doherty, M.D., Clinical Associate Professor, University College Dublin School of Medicine; Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D., Autism Research Institute, San Diego, CA; Dena L. Gassner, Ph.D. (c), Senior Research Scientist, AJ Drexel Autism Institute: Drexel University; Robert L Hendren, DO, Professor of Psychiatry Emeritus, UCSF, Autism Research Institute; Wenn Lawson, Ph.D., A/Prof, Curtin University, Western Australia; David B. Nicholas, Ph.D., Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary; Christopher Palmer, M.Sc., Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability, Malta; Gaetano Alistair Savour, Ph.D., Chairperson, Autism Advisory Council, Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Malta; Fakhri Shafai, Ph.D., AIDE Canada, Richmond, BC For many years, the autism community focused nearly all of its attention on the needs of children and adolescents. As the prevalence of pediatric autism diagnoses has increased over the past three decades, researchers and service providers have broadened their focus to include the needs of individuals transitioning to adulthood and young adults. Today, there is increasing recognition of the importance of supporting autistic individuals throughout the entire lifespan, including old age. In a 2017 report to Congress, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated that approximately 50,000 autistic youth are expected to transition into adulthood each year in the United States. Over the coming decades, a growing wave of these individuals will be entering later adulthood. Medicaid enrollment data has shown a steady increase in service use for this group. The issue of aging in autism began to gain attention about a decade ago, and continues to grow in importance as rising numbers of autistic individuals age into their senior years. Prominent autistic individuals who are now over 60 years of age—including Temple Grandin, Stephen Shore, John Elder Robison, Wenn Lawson, Cos Michael, and Mark Rimland, the son of Dr. Bernard Rimland—highlight the relevance of this issue. Some of the needs of autistic seniors, such as the requirement for appropriate living arrangements and good health care, appear straightforward. However, many less-obvious challenges are becoming clear as we are now hearing from autistic individuals approaching their senior years as well as from clinical and community researchers who are studying aging. To explore these challenges, a dedicated group of autistic individuals and researchers has been meeting nearly monthly for approximately five years to discuss aging-related issues. This group has organized two major think tanks, resulting in published articles discussing their findings and conclusions (Edelson et al., 2023; Nicholas et al., 2025). This group is currently planning a third think tank meeting at the United Nations, scheduled for next month (October 3, 2025). In preparation for this upcoming event, several additional autistic individuals have joined the planning committee to help determine important topics for discussion. Recently, during one of their planning meetings, I was struck by the sheer number and complexity of senior-related issues identified by participants. To help prioritize these topics for the upcoming U.N. think tank, I asked the participants to rank these topics based on their perceived importance. As the result of this ranking, the identified topics have been grouped under five key areas: In the area of Physical and Mental Health in Aging , participants noted concerns related to dementia, Parkinson’s disease, extrapyramidal symptoms, and other age-related medical conditions (e.g., cancer, cardiac disease, stroke). They also stressed the importance of understanding the impact of medications on aging autistic individuals and exploring implications of hypermobility in older autistic adults (for example, those with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome). The broader spectrum of physical and mental health challenges associated with aging was recognized as posing concerns requiring urgent attention. Regarding Healthcare Access, Navigation, and Delivery , participants highlighted menopause as an area in which there are significant unmet healthcare needs. They also emphasized the importance of making healthcare systems easier to navigate and reducing administrative burdens and bureaucratic barriers. Additionally, there was considerable concern about addressing the needs of autistic seniors requiring long-term care or acute medical treatment, including issues involving hospital admissions. Preparing autistic adults to communicate effectively with healthcare providers during medical visits was also identified as a critical area, along with addressing sensory sensitivities and nutritional needs in outpatient surgery units, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare environments. Participants noted that differences in sensory processing, communication, and stress response among autistic individuals may complicate the recognition and treatment of age-related health conditions, often leading to misdiagnosis or delayed care. They also stressed that autistic individuals should receive routine preventive care, including colonoscopies, prostate screening, and mammograms. Tailored clinical approaches that account for neurodivergent aging trajectories are urgently needed. In the domain of Community, Autonomy, and Daily Life , the benefits of receiving a late autism diagnosis and self-recognition in older adults were highlighted. Community living options, regular health screenings, and protection from financial vulnerability were viewed as crucial for maintaining autonomy and quality of life. Participants noted the importance of supporting autistic individuals’ rights and legal capacity, while examining mechanisms such as guardianship and newer avenues such as supported decision-making and co-decision-making. Additionally, loneliness, social isolation, and parenting challenges faced by aging autistic adults—particularly those diagnosed later in life—were identified as vital areas of concern. Social Determinants of Health and Discrimination also emerged as critical issues, with contributors expressing deep concern about ableism, ageism, housing insecurity, retirement, and forced retirement. Intersectionality, especially involving LGBTQIA+ and other multi-marginalized identities, was underscored as needing more focused attention. Participants also suggested learning from other sectors, such as the LGBTQIA+ community, in order to better address systemic issues. Finally, End-of-Life and Palliative Care was recognized as an essential area needing more comprehensive planning and support. Participants emphasized the importance of respectful and informed end-of-life decision-making and palliative care tailored specifically for autistic individuals, including making clear and accessible communication readily available. The richness and complexity of the issues discussed illuminate an undeniable reality: Proactive engagement and systemic preparation are vital. Addressing these topics not only will aid autistic adults in navigating their later years but also will help to build an essential framework for policymakers, caregivers, support persons, healthcare providers, and society at large. Enhanced research, informed policy development, and dedicated resources will ensure that autistic seniors can live with dignity, autonomy, and comprehensive support. Critical to this aim is the key role and contribution of autistic people themselves in determining their priorities and what is needed in their middle and later years. It is crucial that ongoing dialogues and forthcoming initiatives foster increased awareness among autistic individuals, families, support networks, healthcare practitioners, and policymakers. Collectively, these collaborative efforts can drive meaningful changes in both practice and policy, ultimately creating a world where autistic seniors can thrive throughout their aging process. Although awareness of the needs of the aging autistic community is increasing, the time for action is now. We must seize this momentum to ensure that autistic seniors experience the highest possible quality of life, made possible by informed, compassionate care, oversight, and support and a well-designed infrastructure capable of meeting their evolving needs. References available at www.ARRIReferences.org. This editorial originally appeared in Autism Research Review International, Vol. 39, No. 3, 2025","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_7709-scaled-e1757607275433-400x426.jpg","https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/researchers-400x233.png"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Editorial: Autism Research Institute – Imperative to Follow the Science","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2026-05-12T12:08:22-05:00 April 20th, 2026 | News , Research | Originally published in the Autism Research Review International Read for free at ARRIOnline.org Volume 40, Number 2 | Spring 2026 Originally published in the Autism","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/exhaust-320x202.jpeg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Editorial: What we breathe matters – Rethinking air pollution and autism","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2026-04-20T15:56:20-05:00 March 9th, 2026 | News , Research | For nearly sixty years, the Autism Research Institute (ARI) has tried to understand autism by looking beyond surface behaviors and asking deeper biological questions. From the beginning, Bernard Rimland challenged the dominant","img_url":["https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Untitled-design-48-320x202.jpg"],"video_url":[]},{"heading":"Editorial: Invisible threats – the role of environmental toxins in autism","paragraph":"Melanie Glock 2025-11-24T14:39:51-05:00 November 21st, 2025 | Health , News , Research , Uncategorized | As our knowledge about autism continues to evolve, so does our understanding of its root causes. For many years, professionals blamed “refrigerator parents” and prescribed psychoanalytic therapy. Once the psychogenic theory was","img_url":[],"video_url":[]}],"_id":"6a34f294631514ff2252efba"}],"start_count":0,"end_count":10}