Melatonin is increasingly used to improve sleep in children; however, its long-term safety and effectiveness are not well understood. The medication should only be used as prescribed by a doctor and does not replace non-drug methods for addressing sleep issues.
A new study has shown that receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine during or shortly before pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk of autism or other developmental disorders in children.
A new large-scale study has found that autism occurs in girls almost as frequently as in boys, but girls are diagnosed significantly later. This highlights the need to revise diagnostic approaches and to better understand gender differences in how autism manifests.
A new study has found that people with autism express emotions differently than neurotypical individuals, which can make mutual understanding more difficult. This may be a two-way issue, not just a characteristic of autistic people.
The largest analysis of studies on alternative treatments for autism has found no convincing evidence of their effectiveness or safety. Most of these methods remain insufficiently researched and require further investigation.