Autism
![autism](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PDr8eHjRRwER3UCXKkuZAY-320-80.jpg)
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is a developmental disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others. About 1 in 68 children in the United States has autism. Here's the latest news on autism and possible treatments for the condition.
Latest about Autism
![A Black girl writes in a notebook in a classroom.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NWxW7zXa6N4vHnuVVekcNB-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NWxW7zXa6N4vHnuVVekcNB-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NWxW7zXa6N4vHnuVVekcNB-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NWxW7zXa6N4vHnuVVekcNB-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NWxW7zXa6N4vHnuVVekcNB-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NWxW7zXa6N4vHnuVVekcNB-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NWxW7zXa6N4vHnuVVekcNB-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NWxW7zXa6N4vHnuVVekcNB-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Rates of autism diagnosis in children are at an all time high, CDC report suggests
By Sascha Pare published
A 2020 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among 8-year-old children is the highest it's ever been.
![Child getting vaccination](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/okmEU9pqAMaFfPaUiBESGQ-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/okmEU9pqAMaFfPaUiBESGQ-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/okmEU9pqAMaFfPaUiBESGQ-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/okmEU9pqAMaFfPaUiBESGQ-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/okmEU9pqAMaFfPaUiBESGQ-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/okmEU9pqAMaFfPaUiBESGQ-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/okmEU9pqAMaFfPaUiBESGQ-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/okmEU9pqAMaFfPaUiBESGQ-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Confirmed: No Link Between Autism and Measles Vaccine, Even for 'At Risk' Kids
By Laura Geggel published
![Pregnant woman in garden](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cPv5EyivYEQ655G5HUKwPV-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cPv5EyivYEQ655G5HUKwPV-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cPv5EyivYEQ655G5HUKwPV-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cPv5EyivYEQ655G5HUKwPV-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cPv5EyivYEQ655G5HUKwPV-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cPv5EyivYEQ655G5HUKwPV-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cPv5EyivYEQ655G5HUKwPV-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cPv5EyivYEQ655G5HUKwPV-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Autism Risk May Increase If Child's Mother Has High DDT Exposure
By Laura Geggel published
Pregnant women who have high levels of a byproduct from the banned insecticide DDT in their bodies may be more likely to have a child with autism, a new study finds.
![Cannabis and CBD](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k4DgPN3kDMAzd7mPRa5i5D-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k4DgPN3kDMAzd7mPRa5i5D-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k4DgPN3kDMAzd7mPRa5i5D-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k4DgPN3kDMAzd7mPRa5i5D-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k4DgPN3kDMAzd7mPRa5i5D-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k4DgPN3kDMAzd7mPRa5i5D-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k4DgPN3kDMAzd7mPRa5i5D-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k4DgPN3kDMAzd7mPRa5i5D-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Can Marijuana Treat Autism? These Clinical Trials Aim to Find Out
By Laura Geggel published
A growing number of clinical trials are looking into whether compounds in marijuana can be used to treat some of the symptoms of autism.
![Teacher working with elementary school children.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aVNLmmeXCWQYgBDKErYs38-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aVNLmmeXCWQYgBDKErYs38-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aVNLmmeXCWQYgBDKErYs38-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aVNLmmeXCWQYgBDKErYs38-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aVNLmmeXCWQYgBDKErYs38-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aVNLmmeXCWQYgBDKErYs38-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aVNLmmeXCWQYgBDKErYs38-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aVNLmmeXCWQYgBDKErYs38-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
What's Behind the Recent Rise in Autism in the US?
By Rachael Rettner published
The percentage of kids with autism in the United States continues to rise, according to a new report.
![A baby plays with colorful toys.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TdKVEQ9aJx9GTZdbZyRwtX-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TdKVEQ9aJx9GTZdbZyRwtX-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TdKVEQ9aJx9GTZdbZyRwtX-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TdKVEQ9aJx9GTZdbZyRwtX-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TdKVEQ9aJx9GTZdbZyRwtX-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TdKVEQ9aJx9GTZdbZyRwtX-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TdKVEQ9aJx9GTZdbZyRwtX-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TdKVEQ9aJx9GTZdbZyRwtX-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
AI Predicts Autism Based on Infant Brain Scans
By Tracy Staedter published
A new machine learning program can predict, in 6-month-old babies, which ones will go on to develop autism, researchers report.
![Suramin](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zHF3vjwiX5P4VxMxtWvbYb-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zHF3vjwiX5P4VxMxtWvbYb-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zHF3vjwiX5P4VxMxtWvbYb-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zHF3vjwiX5P4VxMxtWvbYb-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zHF3vjwiX5P4VxMxtWvbYb-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zHF3vjwiX5P4VxMxtWvbYb-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zHF3vjwiX5P4VxMxtWvbYb-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zHF3vjwiX5P4VxMxtWvbYb-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Can a Drug That Fights Parasites Also Help with Autism?
By Laura Geggel published
A 101-year-old drug that is often used to treat people in Africa with parasitic infections may help ease some of the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder in children, a new study finds.
![US Congress](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uzinQvGMs5bVCMC5ZLUZAP-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uzinQvGMs5bVCMC5ZLUZAP-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uzinQvGMs5bVCMC5ZLUZAP-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uzinQvGMs5bVCMC5ZLUZAP-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uzinQvGMs5bVCMC5ZLUZAP-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uzinQvGMs5bVCMC5ZLUZAP-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uzinQvGMs5bVCMC5ZLUZAP-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uzinQvGMs5bVCMC5ZLUZAP-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
New Policies Would Threaten Autism Research, Experts Say
By Christopher Wanjek published
The real threat for those with autism is not vaccines but rather the proposed changes to Obamacare, which could reduce services for people with the condition.
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