FASD Language Guides and New Autism-Related Studies - Roundup for July 16, 2025

(USA) FASD anti-stigma and preferred language guide free pdf download.

CANFASD language guide. 2024 version.

New study: Massively parallel reporter assay investigates shared genetic variants of eight psychiatric disorders.

"The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 8 people (970 million) suffer from a psychiatric disorder of some kind.1 Because of the high comorbidity between different psychiatric disorders, common genetic etiology has been suggested.2 A study comparing genetic correlations across 25 different brain disorders suggested shared genetic risk factors (pleiotropy) across psychiatric disorders.3

To investigate this further, the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC)4 conducted a meta-genome-wide association study (GWAS) of eight psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (AUT), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD), schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BIP), major depressive disorder (MDD), Tourette syndrome (TS), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and anorexia nervosa (ANO), to identify pleiotropic genetic variants.5 Among the 136 genome-wide significant (GWS) loci (hereafter referred to as “cross-disorder loci”), 109 loci were associated with more than one disorder, underscoring widespread pleiotropy in psychiatric genetics. Pleiotropy may account for the extensive phenotypic comorbidity observed across different psychiatric disorders."

2018 Study: Social Support, Well-being, and Quality of Life Among Individuals on the Autism Spectrum 

"...effective social support and subjective well-being mediate whether autistic people achieve a high quality of life."

New Study: Major autism study uncovers biologically distinct subtypes, paving the way for precision diagnosis and care

"Researchers at Princeton University and the Simons Foundation have identified four clinically and biologically distinct subtypes of autism, marking a transformative step in understanding the condition’s genetic underpinnings and potential for personalized care."

Thank You Autworks!

If anyone is curious, what really got my ass in gear to get the Little Man tested was watching videos submitted to Autworks, which is a research center at Harvard specializing in trying to find the genetic map of autism and other disorders.

It was through a pilot project of theirs, where people post videos of autistic kids, that I could really see my son in them. I'd really like to thank them because it helped us a lot. If you have any doubts about the children in your life, take a look at some of these videos and see.