AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

This study tested if the drug gabapentin could improve social skills in teenagers with autism. Researchers used brain scans to measure a specific brain chemical (GABA) before and after an 8-week treatment. They wanted to see if increasing this chemical with medication would lead …

This study tested whether teaching parents how to support their infant's social development very early can improve outcomes for children showing signs of autism. Researchers enrolled 269 families with infants as young as 6 months old, some at higher risk for autism. They compared…

This study tested whether shining a special near-infrared light on the brain could help children with autism. Six children aged 4-12 with autism and specific abnormal brain wave patterns wore a special head device twice a week for 10 weeks. Researchers looked for improvements in …

This small study tested whether giving creatine supplements could help people with autism. Researchers wanted to see if creatine could improve brain chemistry and reduce autism symptoms. They measured changes in the brain and tracked symptom severity in participants aged 10 and o…

This study tested whether parents of young children with autism could learn a proven therapy technique through weekly video calls with a trained therapist. Over 12 weeks, researchers taught parents how to use Pivotal Response Treatment at home to help improve their child's commun…

This study tested whether lithium, a medication, could improve social communication difficulties in children with a specific genetic condition called Phelan-McDermid syndrome, which causes autism. Twenty-two children received either lithium or a placebo for 12 weeks to see if it …

This study tested a school-based program designed to help autistic high school students improve key skills for adult life, like flexibility and planning. School staff delivered 25 lessons to 178 students, with support for using the skills at home. Researchers measured changes in …

This study tested a personalized, two-step therapy program for toddlers with autism to improve their social communication and language skills. It involved 199 children aged 2-3 years in community-based early intervention programs in New York. The program adjusted the type and int…

This study tested a school-based program designed to improve language and social skills in preschool children with autism. Researchers worked with teachers to implement the program in real classroom settings across multiple states. The goal was to create a practical approach that…

This study compared two FDA-approved medications (aripiprazole and risperidone) used to treat behavior problems in children with autism. Researchers wanted to see which medication caused more weight gain during real-world treatment. The trial followed 31 children under 18 who wer…

This study tested a technology-enhanced family navigation program designed to help families of children with autism find and connect with mental health services more quickly. Researchers worked with 65 families and primary care clinics to adapt and trial this support system. The …

This study tested if a child's own bone marrow cells, given via a spinal injection, combined with educational therapy, could help control autism symptoms. It involved 54 children with moderate to severe autism, aged 3 to 7 years old. Researchers compared children who received the…

This study tested whether a digital therapy app called MITA could help improve language skills in children with autism. Researchers enrolled 150 children aged 2 to 8 to use the app, which was designed to target specific thinking challenges common in autism. The main goal was to s…

This large, completed study tested whether a new medicine called AST-001 could improve the core social and behavioral challenges of autism in children. It involved 169 children in Korea and compared the medicine to a placebo. The goal was to see if this treatment could help where…

This study tested a new device called the EarliPoint System to see if it could help diagnose autism in children aged 2.5 to 7 years old. Researchers used the device to measure how children naturally watch short videos of social interactions, tracking their eye movements. They com…

This study tested a nutrition coaching program called 'Autism Eats' for toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The goal was to see if teaching parents specific feeding strategies could help their children eat more fruits and vegetables and develop better mealtime habits ea…

This study tested special safety kits designed to help prevent children with autism from wandering or dashing away from safe places. Caregivers of 65 children tried the kits and reported how useful the items were over 3 months, and whether the kits helped reduce their stress. The…

This study tested whether omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid supplements could improve autism symptoms and behaviors in young children. Researchers gave the supplements to 98 children aged 2-6 with autism spectrum disorder to see if they reduced inflammation and helped with communica…

This study tested whether adding fully immersive virtual reality technology to standard psychological and behavioral therapy could help children with autism spectrum disorder. Researchers looked back at medical records of 120 children aged 2-12 who received either standard therap…

This study tested whether exercise in a pool (aquatic training) works better than exercises on land for improving movement skills in young children with autism. Researchers worked with 40 children aged 3 to 5 years who have mild to moderate autism. They measured changes in motor …

This study tested a 6-week mobile app designed to support parents of children with autism. The app provided mindfulness training and parenting skills. Researchers measured if using the app was feasible for parents and if it helped reduce their stress and anxiety.

This study tested whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called rTMS could improve symptoms in children with autism. Thirty-five children, aged 5 to 11, received either real or sham (fake) magnetic pulses to see if it helped with memory, social skills, and sensory pro…

This study tested whether a special school exercise program could help autistic children sleep better. Researchers worked with 106 children aged 7-12 who had autism and sleep problems. Half the children participated in a 16-week sensory-friendly physical activity program during s…

This study tested whether a special motor skills program could help young children with autism. Twenty-eight children aged 4-6 participated. Half received a 12-week program of games and activities designed to improve their movement and sensory processing, while the other half con…

This small pilot study tested a life skills training program designed to help adults with autism become more independent. Thirty participants learned practical skills like personal care, home management, and community navigation. The goal was to see if the program was practical t…

This study tested whether a short, 10-session version of a proven parent training therapy, delivered by video call, could help reduce disruptive behaviors in young children with autism. Eighty families were randomly assigned to receive either this special telehealth program or th…

This study tested an 8-week mindfulness program for teenagers with autism and their parents. The goal was to see if learning mindfulness skills could help reduce anxiety, depression, and stress for the teens and improve their parents' well-being. Teens and parents attended weekly…

This study tested whether adding horses to occupational therapy helps autistic children ages 6-11 better manage their emotions, hyperactivity, and behavior compared to standard clinic therapy. Over 10 weeks, researchers compared the two approaches by measuring behavior changes an…

This study tested whether a special therapy program for anxiety could work well in local community centers for autistic children and teens. Researchers adapted a proven talk therapy to be more accessible and studied if families and clinics could use it. The goal was to see if thi…

This small, completed pilot study explored whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique could help improve social skills and thinking in people with autism. Sixteen participants received magnetic stimulation to specific brain areas thought to be involved in social understan…

This study tested whether a special coaching program could help parents of young children (ages 1.5 to 4.5) who have or are at risk for developmental delays. The program combined a personal coach, online education tools, and peer support. Researchers wanted to see if this approac…

This study tested whether interactive robot sessions could help children with autism spectrum disorder better understand and recognize emotions. Forty children ages 4-8 were randomly assigned to either receive the robot program or continue with their usual activities for 8-14 wee…

This study tested an online educational program designed to support adults who have a brother or sister with autism. The program aimed to increase their understanding of autism, improve their well-being and resilience, and strengthen their sibling relationship. Researchers measur…

This study tested whether participating in arts activities like theater, dance, music, or museum visits could improve mental health. Over 500 adults in Greece with conditions like depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia were randomly assigned to either join weekly arts sessions for…

This study tested whether a special water exercise program could help boys with mild autism. Thirty-five boys aged 6-12 were split into two groups: one did swimming and water exercises twice a week for 16 weeks, while the other continued their normal school routine. Researchers m…

This study tested whether a non-invasive light treatment, called transcranial photobiomodulation, could help reduce core symptoms of autism in adults. Forty-one participants with autism received either the real light treatment or a sham (placebo) version at home over eight weeks.…

This study tested whether an online training program called Work Chat could help autistic adults improve their workplace social skills. Researchers wanted to see if delivering this training completely online was practical and effective. The program aimed to help participants bett…

This study tested a special 8-week nursing program designed to help mothers of children with autism. It aimed to reduce feelings of stigma and improve their mental well-being. The program involved weekly one-on-one sessions and was compared against a group of mothers who did not …

This study tested whether a nasal spray containing the hormone vasopressin could help improve social skills and communication in children with autism. Researchers enrolled 157 children and teenagers, giving them either the spray or a placebo to compare effects. The main goal was …

This study tested whether two types of gentle, non-invasive electrical brain stimulation could safely help improve symptoms in children with autism. Researchers compared children who received one of two stimulation techniques to a group that received standard care, looking for ch…

This study tested whether a specific diet plan combined with nutritional supplements could help improve thinking skills, sleep quality, and body function in children and young adults with Down syndrome, autism, or ADHD. It involved 76 participants aged 2 to 35 who followed the pr…

This study tested whether a brief, non-invasive brain stimulation treatment could improve core symptoms in children with autism. 200 children aged 4-10 received either real or fake stimulation for 5 days. Researchers measured changes in social skills, language, and behavior to se…

This study investigated whether therapeutic horseback riding could help reduce problem behaviors and improve social skills in children and teens with autism who also have other mental health conditions. Researchers compared 10 weeks of riding lessons to barn activities without ho…

This small pilot study tested whether a 10-week group class for parents could help them feel more confident and skilled in supporting their autistic preschool children. Researchers compared the class to a shorter seminar and a waitlist group to see if the training improved parent…

This study tested a program called SENSE Theatre® to see if it could help improve social skills in adults with autism. The program uses acting techniques, scripted and improvised role-play, and trained peer models to help participants practice social interactions. Researchers mea…

This study tested whether a 12-week movement program could help young children with autism improve their physical coordination and daily life skills. Researchers worked with 28 children aged 4-6, having half participate in twice-weekly movement sessions while the other half conti…

This study tested an online program designed to help parents improve sleep for their preschool-aged children with autism. Researchers adapted proven sleep strategies into easy-to-access videos and materials that parents could use at home. The goal was to see if this online approa…

This study tested a 40-week at-home music program using special bone-conduction headphones. The goal was to see if it could help children with autism who are very sensitive to sounds, by reducing their stress reactions and improving their daily living skills. Eight children, aged…

This study tested whether a special program of judo training and nutritional advice could help children and teenagers with autism. Researchers wanted to see if this combination could improve their physical fitness, body composition, and eating habits. The program ran for 10 month…

This study aimed to understand why children with autism have a higher risk of developing epilepsy and to see if regular physical exercise could help. Researchers enrolled 50 children, aged 10-15, with autism and/or epilepsy to measure their genes, brain activity, sleep, and think…

This study aimed to evaluate children with known or suspected genetic disorders while providing hands-on training for medical staff. Researchers enrolled 96 children of any age to perform medical exams, genetic testing, and other evaluations to gather data and improve research me…

This research study aimed to better understand how a specific brain area is involved in social perception in people with autism. Researchers used a non-invasive magnetic stimulation technique on the brains of 97 adults (both with autism and healthy volunteers) while they looked a…

This study explored whether brain scans and a non-invasive brain stimulation technique could help identify biological markers for catatonia in people with autism. Researchers worked with 26 participants aged 15-40 who have autism and catatonia symptoms. They used MRI scans to gui…

This study aimed to test two new tools for measuring changes in social and communication skills in young children with autism. It involved 84 children aged 18 months to 5 years who received a play-based therapy called JASPER, delivered either by a clinician or a parent. The main …

This study aimed to validate a set of tools to measure social function in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Researchers tested 400 children, aged 6-11, with and without ASD, using brain wave recordings (EEG), eye-tracking, and behavior assessments over 24 weeks. The g…

This study aimed to understand why parent-led language training works better for some families than others. Researchers observed 156 parent-child pairs, including children with typical development, language delays, and autism. They measured how parents' own language skills and aw…

This study aimed to understand if there are differences in the gut bacteria of children with autism compared to their neurotypical brothers and sisters. Researchers collected stool samples from 20 children aged 3-10, comparing those with autism to their siblings to control for sh…

This study aimed to understand how children's ability to learn patterns from speech and print might predict their future language and reading skills. Researchers followed 41 first-graders, some with autism and some without, over three months. They used computer games and brain sc…

This small pilot study aimed to understand what happens in the brain during occupational therapy for children with autism. Researchers measured brain activity and behavior in children before and after 6-8 weeks of standard therapy. The goal was to see if a child's level of engage…

This study developed and tested a new coaching program called Families FORWARD. It was designed to help parents and caregivers of autistic teenagers (ages 14-21) plan for their child's future as they become adults. The program involved 6-7 personalized sessions focusing on commun…

This study aimed to understand how sensory-based activities might change brain structure in children with autism. Researchers used MRI scans and behavioral tests on 29 boys aged 6-8 years to see if they could predict which sensory interventions might work best for different child…

This study aimed to understand how mindfulness classes affect the brain in adults with autism. Researchers measured brain activity before and after 8 weeks of stress-reduction classes to see if symptom improvements were linked to brain changes. The goal was to learn how the brain…

This study tested a device that tracks where children look while watching videos to see if it can measure changes in their verbal, learning, and social skills over time. It involved 325 children, aged 15 months to 7 years, who have autism or are typically developing. The goal was…

This study aimed to understand how the body's metabolism, particularly of certain amino acids, might be connected to mood and cognitive functions in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Researchers compared 40 adults and adolescents with ASD to healthy volunteers, measurin…

This study aimed to understand how posture, hand function, and sensory processing relate to eating behaviors in children with autism. Researchers compared 40 children with autism to 40 healthy children, measuring their balance, head posture, hand skills, and sensory responses. Th…