Search Results (439)

Drawing from a broad and multifaceted stream of educational research and practice that has gradually emerged in recent decades within science education field, widely known as Inquiry-Based Science Education (IBSE), the current study aims to extend its boundaries within the special education field. In particular it aspires to investigate to what extent teachers foster IBSE characteristics and accommodate the specific learning characteristics of students with autism when they are called to teach them projectile motion and the concept of force. To fulfill this goal, seven secondary school physics teachers with a background in special education were recruited to develop lesson plans on mechanics for high-functioning autistic adolescents. Our findings indicate that these teachers exhibit varying levels of engagement, with certain aspects of IBSE being applied more consistently than others. Notably, the nature of the content appears to play a significant role in shaping this variability. The findings show that teachers tend to demonstrate different levels of engagement, with some aspects of IBSE being more consistently applied than others. Interestingly, the nature of the content appears to play a significant role in influencing this variability. The findings of the current study are likely to contribute to teaching and learning science content to students that with autism spectrum disorder. Full article

Background/Objectives: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience high anxiety and low physical activity (PA). While the influence of parenting styles on these outcomes is well-documented in typically developing children, their role in autistic youth remains underexplored. The study examines how parenting style and parental encouragement of physical activity relate to anxiety and activity levels in ASD youth. Methods: The sample consisted of 76 parents of school-aged children diagnosed with ASD, including 54 parents of boys and 22 parents of girls (Aged 6–18; Mage = 10.75, SD = 3.67). The parents’ ages ranged from 23 to 65 years (M = 42.96, SD = 7.01). Results: Using a path model analysis, we found that authoritarian and permissive parenting were directly associated with elevated child anxiety. Authoritative and permissive parenting were inversely associated with child anxiety indirectly via parental encouragement of PA. Furthermore, authoritative and permissive parenting were inversely associated with the child’s PA score via encouragement of PA. Conclusions: The study establishes links between parenting styles and anxiety and physical activity in ASD children and adolescents, while identifying a specific mechanism that partially explains these associations. Full article

The increasing prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a significant health concern influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. However, limited data exist on the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics associated with ASD in our region. This cross-sectional study assessed 200 children (155 boys and 45 girls) diagnosed with ASD at Hawler Psychiatric Hospital in Erbil city between January and December 2023. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale-Second Edition (CARS-2) was used for diagnosis and severity assessment. The mean age of participants was 4.6 ± 1.8 years, with males representing 77.5% of the sample. Cesarean section was the most common mode of delivery. The average parental ages were 34.8 years for mothers and 38.5 years for fathers. The first signs of autism were noticed at a mean age of 25.7 ± 9.7 months, with the first medical consultation at 34.6 ± 15.4 months and diagnosis at 42.4 ± 15.5 months. Delayed speech was the most common reason for seeking medical help. Statistically significant associations were found between severe autism symptoms and several factors, including older child age, younger age at first assessment, delayed speech, parental consanguinity, paternal age over 40, lower paternal education, and lower socioeconomic status. These findings emphasize the critical role of early detection and the influence of both socio-demographic and clinical factors on ASD symptom severity, highlighting the need for targeted early intervention strategies to improve outcomes in affected children. Full article

Question-asking is a key component of social communication, and interventions targeting this skill may be able to improve social functioning in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD). This study introduced a novel intervention method called the three-character training of question-asking (TCT-Q), aimed at teaching children with HFASD how to appropriately use 11 questions in social interactions. The effectiveness of TCT-Q was tested through a randomized controlled trial. Thirty-seven children were assigned to TCT-Q group (n = 19) or treatment as usual (TAU) group (n = 18). Children and their caregivers received two 60 min sessions weekly. Outcome variables were measured before training (T1), after training (T2), and three months after training (T3). Results showed that the question-asking frequency in the TCT-Q group increased significantly after the intervention (ps < 0.001), and the increase was significantly greater than that in the TAU group (η_p² = 0.089–0.370). Although the TCT-Q group showed greater numerical improvements in social communication and autistic mannerisms (ps < 0.05), the group-by-time interaction did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, TCT-Q is a promising method for enhancing question-asking behaviors and social skills in children with HFASD. Full article

(1) Background: A child’s new diagnosis of autism can represent a highly stressful event for parents. Subthreshold autistic traits (ATs) have been linked to higher vulnerability to psychopathology when exposed to stressful situations, and high rates of ATs have been reported among parents of autistic children. This study aimed to evaluate post-traumatic stress spectrum symptoms (PTSS) in parents of preschool children newly diagnosed with autism and to explore differences between mothers and fathers, besides the correlations with ATs. (2) Methods: A total of 134 parents of children newly diagnosed with autism were assessed by trained psychiatrists from the University of Pisa using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum-Self Report (AdAS-SR), the Trauma and Loss Spectrum-Self Report (TALS-SR), and the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS). (3) Results: Approximately 10% of parents met DSM-5-TR criteria for symptomatologic PTSD, with nearly 40% experiencing partial PTSD symptoms related to their child’s diagnosis. Mothers showed higher PTSD rates than fathers. The ATs significantly correlated with elevated TALS-SR scores, and logistic regression revealed a positive association between ATs and PTSD (p < 0.001). Linear regression analysis indicated that higher TALS-SR scores predicted lower SOFAS scores (p = 0.004). (4) Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential traumatic impact of a child’s new autism diagnosis on parents, particularly mothers and individuals with ATs. The results underscore the importance of targeted support strategies for parents, considering their key role in early interventions. Further research is needed to better understand parental psychological responses and to enhance support systems, ultimately improving family wellbeing and child outcomes. Full article

Background: People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) require a customised, multidisciplinary plan throughout their lifetime to support optimal health. The purpose of this scoping review was to synthesise research on the main scales used to detect signs of ageing in people with ASD. Methods: Eligible papers published between January 2003 and August 2025 were identified through searches of PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus, Web of Science, NICE and Cochrane databases. The assessment was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal and extraction checklist. Of the 820 papers reviewed, 24 were found to meet the established criteria. Results: Based on the evidence collected, 57 tools focusing on specific domains within the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment were identified: 19 addressed the functional domain, 18 the mental, 6 the biomedical, 1 the social, 2 related to frailty, 1 to fall risk, and 10 to quality of life. Conclusions: This review highlights the need to obtain a ‘multi-domain’ tool for the detection of ageing in autistic people, which would facilitate the development of a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment that makes planning customised care possible. Full article

Background: Bullying is a major public health issue with long-term psychological consequences, particularly for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or subthreshold autistic traits, known as “broad autistic phenotype” (BAP). Prior studies have suggested increased vulnerability to victimization and mood disorders in these populations, but the association between bullying, autistic traits, and affective symptoms remains underexplored. Methods: A total of 98 individuals with at least one ASD symptom (BAP group) and 159 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Participants were classified into four groups based on ASD symptoms and bullying history. Standardized self-report instruments (AdAS Spectrum, AQ, MOODS-SR) assessed autistic traits, mood symptoms, and suicidality. Group comparisons, correlation analyses, and multiple regression models were conducted to evaluate the relationships between bullying, autistic traits, and mood disturbances. Results: BAP individuals, particularly those with ASD, reported significantly higher rates of bullying than HCs. Bullied BAP participants exhibited the highest burden of mood symptoms and suicidality. Regression analyses identified both autistic traits and bullying history as significant predictors of suicidal ideation and overall suicidality, though only autistic traits predicted suicidal behaviors. AQ and MOODS-SR scores were positively correlated, especially in depressive and rhythmicity domains. Conclusions: Autistic traits and bullying experiences independently and interactively contribute to increased mood symptomatology and suicidality. These findings underscore the importance of early identification and targeted support for at-risk individuals with ASD or BAP, particularly those with a history of victimization. Full article

Background: Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most common monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorders, and is characterized by the excessive immature excitatory synapses in cortical neurons, leading to excitatory/inhibitory imbalance and core autistic behaviors. This synaptic pathology has been attributed to dysregulated levels of synaptic proteins, including CYFIP2: a key regulator of synaptic structure and plasticity. However, the mechanism underlying the increased CYFIP2 protein level in FXS neurons remains unclear. Neurons abundantly secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) enriched with bioactive cargos (proteins and miRNAs). Objectives: the goal of this research is to identify whether EV-dependent secretion plays important roles in regulating the intracellular CYFIP2 protein level in WT and FXS neurons. Methods and Results: our proteomic analysis reveals that CYFIP2 protein is packaged in EVs released by mouse cortical neurons. Pharmacological and genetic blockades of neuronal EV release significantly elevated intracellular CYFIP2 levels by 78 ± 14% and 168 ± 39%, respectively. Glutamate-evoked EV release significantly reduced the CYFIP2 level by 24 ± 2%. Neurons from Fmr1 KO mice, an FXS model, secreted significantly less EVs (46 ± 5%) than the wild type, and showed significantly elevated CYFIP2 (by 155 ± 31%). Evoking EV release in FXS neurons significantly lowered the intracellular CYFIP2 (by 53 ± 6%). Conclusions: these findings identify an EV-secretion-dependent mechanism that controls neuronal CYFIP2 level, implicating EV-mediated export in the regulation of synaptic protein homeostasis, synaptic remodeling, and FXS-associated synaptic deficits. Full article

People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face significant barriers to accessing and maintaining employment, many of which stem from work environments that fail to accommodate their neurological diversity. This article aims to analyze the occupational risks faced by autistic individuals in the workplace. A total of 39 scientific studies were reviewed, and the results identified nine predominant thematic categories of occupational risks. Particularly prominent were deficient communication, lack of structured support, cognitive overload, and difficulties coping with change. The reported situations were examined in detail, with attention paid to their specific contexts. A clear predominance of psychosocial risks over ergonomic ones was observed. The review also highlights several underexplored yet equally relevant risk factors, such as discontinuity in supported employment programs, difficulties in requesting reasonable accommodations, discrimination, a lack of professional recognition, and the negative effects of digital or remote environments, such as isolation. This study underscores the importance of recognizing unsafe conditions arising from the lack of neurodiversity-informed adjustments as a necessary step toward implementing organizational and social adaptations in the workplace. Full article

Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) predicts risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD), although the mechanisms are unknown. Because ASD and autistic-like traits have been associated with both prenatal stress and DNA methylation differences, it is important to examine whether epigenetic mechanisms mediate the pathway from PNMS to later autistic-like outcomes. This study aimed to determine the extent to which DNA methylation mediates the association between PNMS from a natural disaster and autistic-like traits in offspring assessed during adolescence. Five months following the 1998 ice storm in Quebec, we recruited women who had been pregnant during the crisis and assessed their PNMS: objective hardship, subjective distress, and cognitive appraisal. At age 13, their children provided blood samples for DNA. At ages 15, 16 and 19, the youth self-reported their own autistic-like traits using the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire. This longitudinal design allowed us to track the developmental pathway from prenatal exposure, through adolescent DNA methylation, to later behavioral outcomes. Analyses included youth with data on PNMS, DNA methylation, and the BAPQ (n = 27 at age 15; 22 at age 16; and 13 at age 19). Results showed that mothers’ disaster-related objective hardship and their negative cognitive appraisal of the disaster were associated with DNA methylation at age 13, which then were associated with the severity of their children’s Aloof Personality and Pragmatic Language Deficits, but not Rigid Personality, at ages 15, 16 and 19. Mediation was significant particularly through genes within the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, which has been implicated in various neurodevelopmental disorders, including ASD. Interestingly, while greater PNMS predicted more severe ASD traits, the epigenetics effects were for less severe traits. Although other interpretations are possible, these results could suggest that DNA methylation, assessed in early adolescence, may protect against ASD traits at later ages, particularly when there is a mismatch between the prenatal environment (disaster) and the postnatal environment (absence of disaster). The interpretation of these findings benefits from the longitudinal design and is discussed in the context of fetal programming and the predictive adaptive response. Full article

Background/Objectives: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who attend pediatric emergency services face challenges related to their sensory, cognitive, and behavioral characteristics. This study explored the perceptions of healthcare professionals and parents regarding the need to implement adaptations, particularly a sensory-adapted room, for children with ASD in pediatric emergency departments. Methods: A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted through semi-structured interviews (October–December 2024) until data saturation. Participants included healthcare professionals and parents of children diagnosed with ASD. Intentional coding and co-occurrence analysis were performed using Atlas.ti (version 25.0.1). The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (code: 204-458-1). Results: Eighteen informants participated (10 professionals and 8 parents). Professionals’ interviews revealed three themes and eight subthemes: Professional Training (approach strategies; training received; perceived needs), Hospital Environment (resource allocation; infrastructure; perceived needs during the emergency visit), and Emotional Aspects (emotional experience related to patient care; professionals’ personal perceptions). Parents’ interviews yielded four themes and ten subthemes: Professional Training (perceptions of staff training; demonstrated emotional competencies; socioemotional relationships during care), Hospital Environment (infrastructure; perceived needs during emergency visits), Emotional Aspects (families’ experiences; emotions during care), and ASD (diagnostic characteristics; children’s needs; sensory regulation). Conclusions: Pediatric emergency services should be adapted to better meet the needs of children with ASD. Both healthcare professionals and parents recognize the importance of such adaptations, particularly sensory-adapted spaces. The main barriers identified were a lack of professional training, inadequate hospital environments, and stress affecting both patients and provider. Priority measures include continuous ASD-specific training programs, improvements in sensory infrastructure, and more flexible clinical protocols, advancing toward a more inclusive and comprehensive model of care. Full article

Maternal Immune Activation (MIA) is a phenomenon of pathophysiological stimulation of the maternal immune system during gestation which potentially leads to functional and structural disturbances of fetal neurogenesis. It occurs due to the alteration of paracrine signals between the maternal organism and the developing nervous system of the fetus. Any disturbances in the brain at embryonic and early postnatal stages might compromise its natural developmental trajectory, which could potentially increase the risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive and bipolar disorders, etc. Presumably, all these conditions could initiate the development of age-related cognitive impairment in late ontogenesis, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and others. As the main immune cell population in the CNS, microglia both mediate its proper development and receive pathological stimuli from the maternal organism. This could lead to microglia premature activation and could become a part of the mechanisms of the fetal CNS development alterations. In this review, we discuss the role of prenatal activation of microglia in neuropsychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative disease development. We highlight approaches to modeling MIA, as well as sex differences in the morphological and functional state of microglia in the context of physiological conditions. There is a hypothesis discussed regarding the contribution of these distinctions to neuropsychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative disease incidence, prevalence, and progression in males and females. Full article

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a range of conditions, primarily marked by deficits in social behaviors, along with several comorbidities such as sleep abnormalities and motor dysfunction. Recent studies have identified genetic risk factors associated with ASD, including the CAMK4 (calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 4). However, the molecular mechanisms linking CAMK4 dysregulation and ASD-associated phenotypes remain poorly understood. Here, we used Drosophila melanogaster as a model system to investigate ASD-associated phenotypes in flies with dysregulated CaMKI, the fly homolog of mammalian CAMK4. We show that CaMKI manipulations affect sleep, circadian rhythmicity, and social behavior. Consistent with the higher prevalence of dementia observed in autistic patients, we also observed a significantly enhanced behavioral decline in motor performance and dendritic degeneration in flies expressing RNAi-based CaMKI knockdown in flight motoneurons, suggesting a link between developmental and degenerative processes. As aberrant synaptic pruning is hypothesized to underlie the synaptic phenotypes observed in brains of autistic patients, we examined synaptic phenotypes following CaMKI manipulations using the larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and observed miswiring phenotypes suggesting aberrant synaptic refinement. We performed shotgun mass-spectrometry proteomics and identified various molecular candidates, particularly molecules involved in cytoskeleton regulation and chemorepulsion, likely to regulate the phenotypes described here. Thus, our results suggest that CaMKI plays a role in developmental processes and influences aging-dependent degenerative processes, possibly providing mechanistic insight into the genetic basis of ASD etiology and the development of effective treatments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Idiopathic toe walking (ITW) is a diagnosis of exclusion in children who demonstrate a persistent toe-walking gait without an identifiable underlying neuromuscular or orthopedic pathology. The classification of toe-walking behavior (TWB) in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) remains an area of debate, with some considering it a part of the broader ITW spectrum, while others view it as a distinct entity. Children with TWB associated with ASD (Autistic Toe Walking—ATW) present unique clinical challenges. This subgroup exhibits a higher prevalence of toe walking, and their gait patterns are often associated with underlying neurodevelopmental differences, frequently leading to increased resistance to conventional treatment approaches and higher rates of persistence and recurrence. This narrative review aims to summarize the available evidence on interventions for ATW, highlight differences compared to ITW and discuss implications for clinical practice. Methods: A literature search was performed, including articles that addressed interventions for toe walking in children with ASD. Results: The literature is limited and heterogeneous. Identified interventions include physiotherapy, orthoses, botulinum toxin injections, serial casting, and surgical procedures. Evidence of effectiveness is scarce, with most studies consisting of small case series. ATW differs from classic ITW in some aspects of pathophysiology and clinical presentation. Treatment decisions should balance potential benefits with risks, particularly regarding repeated anesthesia exposure during casting versus earlier surgical options. Conclusions: Evidence for managing ATW is limited. While comparisons to ITW may be useful, clinicians must recognize that they present distinct characteristics. Future research should focus on standardized definitions and controlled trials to guide management. Full article

Background/Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is frequently associated with self-injurious behaviors, posing significant risks to individuals and considerable challenges for families and professionals. While various interventions have been proposed, evidence regarding their relative effectiveness remains fragmented. The general aim of this study was to perform a narrative review to analyze effective non-pharmacological interventions targeting self-injurious behaviors (SIBs) in autistic children and adolescents, addressing the following research question: Which non-pharmacological interventions are effective in reducing self-injurious behaviors in autistic children and adolescents, and under what conditions? The review focused on identifying treatment types, contexts of implementation, and outcome efficacy. Methods: This review was conducted based on a search in WoS, SCOPUS and PubMed databases. According to the PICOS criteria, we included studies involving children and adolescents with ASD and interventions for self-injurious behaviors. We compared different types of interventions and evaluated outcomes in terms of reduction in SIBs. Eligible studies were those reporting quantitative or qualitative outcomes on SIB interventions, published within the past 10 years. Results: Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The interventions included applied behavior analysis (ABA), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), sensory integration therapy, and pharmacology. The reported outcomes generally indicated reductions in the frequency and severity of self-injurious behaviors. However, many studies lacked long-term follow-up data, and few addressed the generalization of treatment effects. Methodological variability limited both the comparability across studies and the generalization of results. Conclusions: This review emphasized a multidisciplinary, individualized approach to treating self-injurious behaviors in autistic youth. ABA emerged as the most effective intervention, while CBT proved beneficial for higher-functioning adolescents, and sensory therapies addressed specific challenges. Combined treatments showed promise, and family involvement and long-term research remain essential. Full article