New research from Waisman investigator, Tracy Hagemann, PhD, associate research professor, delves into the cognitive impairments and associated molecular changes caused by Alexander disease (AxD), revealing similarities to other neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
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When worlds collide: autism & ADHD
– “It seems like there has to be some type of biological aspect to this that we can hope to better understand through this project. Then we can better conceptualize what is co-occurring autism and ADHD and also hopefully have targets to be able to think about whether there are ways we can ameliorate some of those features,” Travers says.
New study reveals motor delays as possible key early indicator for autism diagnosis
A new large-scale, population-based study reveals that motor delays may be a common yet under-recognized symptom in autistic children.
Newly funded research to study astrocyte dysfunction in Rett syndrome
The lab of Waisman Center director, Qiang Chang, PhD, professor of medical genetics and neurology, has received $1 million in funding from the Department of Defense to study the dysfunction of astrocytes, a key brain cell that supports neurons, in Rett syndrome.
CDC reports rising autism rates with Wisconsin notably higher than the national average
The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among 8-year-old children in the U.S. has increased to 1 in 31 in 2022, up from 1 in 36 in 2020, according to a recently published report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network.
Statewide success: Managing threatening confrontations training enhances disability support for thousands
It focuses on teaching proactive and positive strategies for supporting individuals with disabilities through a broad range of behaviors and escalation levels.
Change ahead: Creating a road map to help families navigate the transition to adulthood for individuals with an intellectual and developmental disability
The road to adulthood can be rough terrain. It consists of uncharted territory and many changes.
Tim Markle receives 2025 Merle McPherson Family Leadership Award for tireless advocacy
Tim Markle, MA/CS, outreach manager of the Waisman Center’s Children’s Resource Center – South (CRC) and director of the Youth Health Transition Initiative (YHTI), recently received the 2025 Merle McPherson Family Leadership Award for exemplary contributions to further family/professional collaboration within state Title V programs and the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP).
New insights into language development: The role of joint attention in kids with Down syndrome and autism
Attention is a key component of learning. Think of how hard it is to learn someone’s name if all you can think about is the eyelash on their cheek. The same can be said for language learning.
National Doctors Day is March 30, 2025
Learn more about National Doctor’s Day here. Learn more about the many Waisman Center physicians who provide care as clinicians, who are researchers, or both. Melisa Carrasco McCaul, MD, PhD Pelin Cengiz, MD Peter Ferrazzano, …