Just like a car factory relies on inspectors to ensure that every vehicle is built correctly, cells depend on internal quality control systems to keep proteins functioning as they should. New research from Waisman Center investigator Luigi Puglielli, MD, PhD, professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, reveals that disruptions in one such system—the endoplasmic reticulum’s acetylation pathway—can lead to rare forms of autism and progeria, offering fresh insights into the cellular roots of these complex conditions.
Autism
Wisconsin researcher responds to White House autism announcement
Since that press conference on Monday afternoon, numerous medical organizations have pushed back, saying acetaminophen is safe for pregnant women to use
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.
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.
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.
Waisman in partnership with Forest County Potawatomi community receives grant to help break down barriers for indigenous populations accessing autism services
The Community Impact Grant Program, which is a part of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Wisconsin Partnership Program, recently awarded the Forest County Potawatomi Community and academic partner Lily Wagner, PhD, BCBA, director of the Waisman Center’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic and clinical psychologist, a $500,000 grant to start developing strategies to improve access to early autism diagnosis and intervention for indigenous populations.
Lauren Bishop, PhD – Slide of the Week
Processing neural activity to reconstruct network connectivity is a central focus of neuroscience, yet the spatiotemporal requisites of biological nervous systems are challenging for current neuronal sensing modalities.
Karla Ausderau, PhD – Slide of the Week
Autistic children experience high rates of feeding challenges, negatively affecting their health, eating patterns, and social eating experiences.
Maureen S. Durkin, PhD, DrPH – Slide of the Week
Prior literature has explored the prevalence of motor impairments in autistic individuals, but estimates come from clinical samples, convenience samples, or small sample sizes, limiting generalizability
Leann Smith DaWalt, PhD – Slide of the Week
Autistic adults experience challenges in maintaining employment; however, little is known about patterns of competitive employment through late midlife. This longitudinal study examined the change in hours of competitive employment for a cohort of autistic adults over a 22-year period.