Autism spectrum disorder

Mental health content has not just risen in volume, it's changed significantly in just a few years. Some conditions have increasingly attracted the spotlight, while others have receded from view, and the relationships among them have also changed.

Researchers have developed a urine-based screening tool that may help identify individuals who are most likely to later receive an autism diagnosis. It potentially opens the door to earlier, more accessible assessment and support networks.

If you've wondered why you procrastinate with doing your taxes early or starting mundane jobs, it's not because you dislike them. New research has uncovered a specific pathway in the brain that slams the brakes on investing energy in these tasks.

Despite high-profile advice to avoid Tylenol when pregnant and a potential warning-label change, a comprehensive umbrella study of reviews has found no credible link between acetaminophen and autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Scientists have rejected claims that acetaminophen is a key driver of autism spectrum disorder, cautioning that research is inconclusive and excludes genetics and a suite of other influences. What's more, it focuses on a "cure," not understanding.

In a massive study, scientists have failed to find any meaningful link between the use of opioid painkillers and the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, challenging earlier research suggesting otherwise.

A comprehensive review looking at autistic adults over the age of 40 has found that as many as 90% of cases are undiagnosed, leading older adults – who are more susceptible to poor mental and physical health outcomes – with no recognition or support.

Obesity before pregnancy, not just during, may shape a child’s brain and raise the risk of autism, a new study has found. Epigenetic changes in eggs triggered gene shifts linked to autism-like behaviors, revealing a critical window for prevention.

We know autism is not a single, homogeneous condition. Instead it's shaped by different traits, genes, and life experiences. Scientists have now discovered four distinct types of autism, each with its own biological signature.

Tiny 3D organs connected themselves in a lab dish, forming a replica of the human pain pathway, in a new study. The discovery allows scientists to better understand chronic pain and offers an animal-free method of testing pain treatments.

After recording kids copying the dance moves of an on-screen avatar for just a minute, an innovative tool can accurately distinguish neurotypical children from those with autism. It can even tell autism from ADHD, conditions that commonly overlap.