A broad range of interests characterized by unusual content and/or intensity, labeled as circumscribed interests are a core diagnostic feature of autism. Recent evidence suggests that a distinction can be drawn between interests that, although characterized by unusually high intensity and/or inflexibility, are otherwise common in terms of their content (e.g., an interest in movies or animals), labeled as restricted interests and interests that are generally not salient outside of autism (e.g., an interest in traffic lights or categorization), labeled as unusual interests. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2023
• February 2023

Circumscribed interests encompass a range of different interests and related behaviors that can be characterized by either a high intensity but otherwise usual topic [referred to as restricted interests] or by a focus on topics that are not salient outside of autism [referred to as unusual interests]. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2023
• February 2023

Maternal immune activation and prenatal maternal stress are well-studied risk factors for psychiatric conditions such as autism and schizophrenia. Animal studies have proposed the gut microbiome as a mechanism underlying this association and have found that risk factor-related gut microbiome alterations persist in the adult offspring. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2024
• August 2024

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and intellectual disability (ID), commonly emerge during early development and impact functioning across cognitive, social-emotional, communication, and sensorimotor domains. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2017
• March 2017

This study examined UHR transition risk as a function of cannabis use characteristics which vary largely between people, due to a variety of factors. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2017
• March 2017

ASD, in the context of prenatal maternal stress exposure, may be associated with a more severe phenotype, particularly when there are multiple prenatal exposures ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2017
• November 2017

Treatment with fluoxetine compared with placebo resulted in significantly lower scores for obsessive-compulsive behaviors at 16 weeks ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2019
• October 2019

This review discusses early brain development and the etiological factors that may give rise to atypical developmental trajectories, along with neuroimaging insights ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2019
• March 2019

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy disorder characterized by hypertension. Epidemiological studies have associated preeclampsia with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring, such as autism and schizophrenia. Preeclampsia has also been linked with maternal vitamin D deficiency, another candidate risk factor also associated with autism. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2021
• December 2021

The provision of timely, effective, and socially valid non-pharmacological intervention is at the core of efforts to support the development of young autistic children. These efforts are intended to support children to develop skills, empower their caregivers, and lay the foundation for optimal choice, independence, and quality of life into adulthood. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2021
• December 2021