Genetic factors are thought to play a major role in the development of autism – but for decades what they are has proven elusive. Now scientists are starting to uncover clues. Until the 1970s, the prevailing belief in psychiatry was that autism was a consequence of bad parenting. In the 1940s, the Austrian psychiatrist Leo […]
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On April 19, 2024, the Office of Research & Creative Activities (ORCA) hosted the 136th Faculty Research Lecture at Schoenberg Hall. Nominated and selected by peers, Gordon and Virginia MacDonald Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Human Genetics Daniel Geschwind discussed progress in understanding the causes of complex brain disorders.You can read more about Professor […]
We are proud to announce the publication of many years of work by the PsychENCODE consortium, which includes 9 papers in Science (https://lnkd.in/gsqKeenW). PsychENCODE is focused on elucidating the genetic and molecular mechanisms that underlie susceptibility for a broad range of neuropsychiatric conditions, ranging from autism to PTSD and schizophrenia. Several of these papers also […]
A paper by Cirnigliaro et al. published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) demonstrating the heritability of autism, identifying seven new genes that increase the risk of autism, and showing dysfunctions and delays in language skills are likely a core feature of autism has sparked headlines across numerous news outlets. The […]
Dr. Daniel Geschwind with special guest Oprah Winfrey and honorees Andrea and Peter Roth at WOW2023, the mental health summit hosted by UCLA’s Friends of the Semel Institute and the Stewart and Lynda Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA Board of Advisors. Held at UCLA Royce Hall on May 4, the summit featured Winfrey in conversation […]
Dr. Geschwind talks with Matt Villano from CNN about what autism is and what causes it. Read the full interview “What is autism? An expert explains”.
UCLA Health published an article about the release of a Nature paper from Gandal et al. that showed brain changes in autism are comprehensive throughout the cerebral cortex. Read the full article here.
Read the National Academy of Medicine press release here.
UCLA Health published an article about the release of a Science paper from Cooper et al. identifying new risk genes for Alzheimer’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Cooper et al. used massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs) to simultaneously test 5,706 genetic variants in 25 loci associated with Alzheimer’s and nine loci associated with PSP. […]
Read the UCLA Health article here.