Autism spectrum disorders articles from across Nature Portfolio

Gastrointestinal distress is common among individuals with autism. Here, authors show that autism gene variants disrupt enteric neuron migration and cause gut dysmotility. They identify a common SSRI that can ameliorate this dysmotility in Xenopus.

Leveraging four large, longitudinal, prospectively-followed mother–child cohorts, this study shows that a western diet in early–mid-pregnancy is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring.

People with intellectual disability are underrepresented and often actively excluded from autism research. A better understanding of autism requires inclusive research approaches that accurately represent the broad heterogeneity of the autistic population.

Largest study of its kind also finds increased risk in older adults with a range of intellectual disabilities.

A therapeutic strategy that alters gene expression in a rare and severe neurodevelopmental condition has been tested in stem-cell-based models of the disease, and has been shown to correct genetic and cellular defects.