New autism study reveals "tantalizing clues" about its development

Scientists have made a breakthrough in our understanding of the neuroscience behind autism spectrum disorders that promises to "revolutionize" the way we approach treatment, scientists say. The discovery revolves around an important chemical messenger that we tend to associate with pleasure and reward: dopamine. Autism spectrum disorders are a diverse group of conditions characterized by some degree of difficulty with social interaction and communication. They affect roughly 1 in 100 children worldwide, according to data from the World Health Organization. There are many potential causes of autism spectrum disorders, and...