NIMH Pages about Autism

Overview of Autism…

Find current clinical trials on Autism…External Link: Please review our disclaimer.

Publications about Autism

A Parent’s Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder

This guide is intended to help parents understand what autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is, recognize common signs and symptoms, and find the resources they need. It’s important to remember that help is available.

Science News about Autism

Fat-free See-through Brain Bares All

Press Release • April 10, 2013

Scientists can now study the brain’s finer workings, while preserving its 3-D structure and integrity of its circuitry using a breakthrough method, called CLARITY, that substitutes a clear gel for fat that normally holds the brain’s working components in place, making its normally opaque and impenetrable tissue see-through and permeable.

New NIH Funding for Two Autism Centers of Excellence

Press Release • April 02, 2013

The National Institutes of Health announced new funding for two Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE), bringing to eleven the number of ACE centers now being funded for up to five years.

Autism Risk Unrelated to Total Vaccine Exposure in Early Childhood

Science Update • March 29, 2013

Autism Not Linked to Early Vaccines

Prevalence of Parent-reported Autism

Science Update • March 20, 2013

Prevalence of Parent-reported Autism

Developing Male Brain Exposed to Less Stress-Protective Protein

Science Update • March 12, 2013

Why are rates of schizophrenia and autism higher in males? New evidence implicates an enzyme expressed in the placenta that helps protect the developing fetal brain from adverse effects of maternal stress early in pregnancy.

More Science News about Autism

Posts about Autism

The Four Kingdoms of Autism

By Thomas Insel on February 26, 2013

Dr. Insel describes how different perspectives separate the communities interested in autism, and suggests the common ground that would provide an avenue to move forward.

Autism Progress

By Thomas Insel on December 26, 2012

Dr. Insel highlights key recent findings in research on autism spectrum disorders.

Summer Science

By Thomas Insel on August 24, 2012

Numerous provocative advances in neuroscience were reported during the summer of 2012.

The New Genetics of Autism – Why Environment Matters

By Thomas Insel on April 04, 2012

Dr. Insel discusses how new research may help tie together seemingly disparate findings in genetic vs environmental risk factors in autism spectrum disorders.

Autism Prevalence: More Affected or More Detected?

By Thomas Insel on March 29, 2012

Dr. Insel discusses the CDC's latest report on autism prevalence.

More Posts about Autism

Meeting Summaries about Autism

NIH Workshop on Nonverbal School-Aged Children with Autism

April 13, 2010 – April 14, 2010
Rockville, Maryland
NIH Workshop on Nonverbal School-Aged Children with Autism Meeting Summary

Translational Approaches to Studying Repetitive Behavior and Resistance to Change in Autism

September 06, 2007 – September 07, 2007
Washington, D.C.
NIMH held this multidisciplinary workshop to identify major trends, gaps, and opportunities in clinical and basic research on repetitive behavior and resistance to change in autism.

Director’s Updates about Autism

NIMH’s Response to New Autism Prevalence Estimate

October 15, 2009

On October 5, 2009, researchers with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Massachusetts General Hospital published a new estimate of the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) among children in the United States.

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