Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities that can cause social, communication, and behavioral challenges. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 1 in 88 children in the U.S. has an ASD. While there are no proven cures for autism spectrum disorders, research has shown that early treatment can greatly reduce symptoms and increase a child’s ability to grow and learn new skills. Learn more about ASDs.

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  1. NDAR federation creates largest source of autism research data to date A data partnership between the National Database for Autism Research (NDAR), and the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) positions NDAR as possibly the largest repository to date of genetic, phenotypic, clinical, and medical imaging data related to research on autism spectrum disorders (ASD)....
  2. Science News, Medicare, Preference for Moving Shapes vs. People Linked to Autism in Babies A 1-minute video showing computer screensavers next to videos of dancing children may prove to be a simple, inexpensive screening tool for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in toddlers. According to an NIMH-funded study, infants as young as 14 months old who had autism spent more time looking at the moving shapes than social images, in […]...
  3. Balance tips toward environment as heritability ebbs in autism? The largest and most rigorous twin study of its kind to date has found that shared environment influences susceptibility to autism more than previously thought. The study, supported by the National Institutes of Health, found that shared environmental factors — experiences and exposures common to both twin individuals — accounted for 55 percent of strict […]...
  4. Balance tips toward environment as heritability ebbs in autism? The largest and most rigorous twin study of its kind to date has found that shared environment influences susceptibility to autism more than previously thought. The study, supported by the National Institutes of Health, found that shared environmental factors — experiences and exposures common to both twin individuals — accounted for 55 percent of strict […]...
  5. Statement on Glaucoma Awareness Month, January 2012 Glaucoma is a major cause of vision loss in the United States, affecting about 2.2 million Americans. The National Eye Institute (NEI) leads research toward better prevention, detection, and treatment of this often silent but devastating disease. During Glaucoma Awareness Month, NEI highlights research advances, showcases education and awareness efforts, and reminds Americans that early […]...
  6. 5-minute screen identifies subtle signs of autism in 1-year olds A five-minute checklist that parents can fill out in pediatrician waiting rooms may someday help in the early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Published today in the Journal of Pediatrics, the study’s design also provides a model for developing a network of pediatricians […]...
  7. Medicare Card, Comparable effectiveness shown for two common sudden deafness treatments Direct injection of steroids into the middle ear for the treatment of sudden deafness was shown to be no more or less effective than oral steroids in restoring hearing levels in a large comparison study of patients. The study results appear in the May 25, 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. […]...
  8. Federal law in prohibiting insurers from adjusting premiums Federal law in prohibiting insurers from adjusting premiums ...
  9. Medicare: Navigating College – A Handbook on Self Advocacy for Students with Autism Handbook from The Autistic Self Advocacy Network written by adults and youth with autism for current and future college students with autism. Discusses disability and special education laws that apply to students from grades K-12 and how students in college must advocate for themselves. Also includes information on independent living, health and safety, and social […]...
  10. Medicare Card, Stroke Prevention Study, Children with Sickle Cell Anemia, Iron Overload Stopped Early The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has stopped a clinical trial evaluating a new approach to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke in children with sickle cell anemia and iron overload because of evidence that the new treatment was unlikely to prove better than the existing treatment....
  11. Medicare, National Diabetes Awareness Month Can you figure out the common link between: being older than 45, giving birth to a baby that weighs more than 9 pounds and high blood pressure? They are all risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes This month is National Diabetes Awareness Month, a time when health organizations try to raise awareness about risk factors, […]...
  12. Autism blurs distinctions between brain regions Autism blurs the molecular differences that normally distinguish different brain regions, a new study suggests. Among more than 500 genes that are normally expressed at significantly different levels in the front versus the lower middle part of the brain’s outer mantle, or cortex, only 8 showed such differences in brains of people with autism, say […]...
  13. MedicareCard Replacement, Alcohol Awareness Month April is Alcohol Awareness Month. This nationwide campaign is intended to raise awareness about the consequences of excessive drinking, and to encourage those with a drinking problem to get help....
  14. Medicare, Medicare Card, NIH and Wellcome Trust Announce Partnership To Support Population-based Genome Studies in Africa The National Institutes of Health, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Wellcome Trust, a global charity based in London, today announced a partnership to support population-based genetic studies in Africa of common, non-communicable disorders such as heart disease and cancer, as well as communicable diseases such as malaria. […]...
  15. Medicare Card, National Institutes of Health launches summer institute on mHealth The National Institutes of Health today announced the creation of the first NIH Health, or mobile health, Summer Institute. Scheduled for the summer of 2011, this week-long workshop will bring together leaders in mobile health technologies, behavioral science researchers, federal health officials and members of the medical community to provide early career investigators with an […]...