autism

Some of the most affluent areas of England have seen the sharpest rises in the proportion of young people claiming disability benefits for ADHD and autism, according to a Guardian report. The findings are prompting debate about diagnosis rates, access to assessments and the pressures driving benefit claims among young adults.

A new study reports that autism is linked to two opposing molecular patterns in the brain, suggesting the condition may involve distinct biological profiles rather than a single underlying signature. Researchers say the findings could help explain why autism presents so differently across individuals and may guide more targeted approaches to studying and eventually treating the condition.