#Autism

In a scientific renaissance reshaping our understanding of human sensation, new research led by David Ginty at Harvard Medical School is illuminating the breathtaking intricacies of touch—the first sense we develop and the most complex in both scope and impact on our lives. Recent findings, highlighted in a striking feature from Quanta Magazine, reveal how a rich tapestry of specialized cellular sensors underpins our ability to perceive everything from a lover’s gentle kiss to the prick of a thorn, and show that faulty touch processing may hold the key to conditions like chronic pain and autism (Quanta Magazine).

It might be easy to take touch for granted—until something goes wrong. But in recent research led by Harvard neurobiologist David Ginty, and reported by Quanta Magazine on April 16, 2025, scientists are uncovering an astonishingly intricate “landscape” of cellular sensors that give rise to the rich, nuanced sense of touch. Far surpassing the simplicity of earlier textbook diagrams, these findings paint touch as the most complex human sense, rooted in a vast, diverse family of sensory neurons scattered across skin and internal organs (Quanta Magazine).

In an exciting development, a Brazilian study has highlighted cannabidiol (CBD) as a potential supplement in easing autism symptoms in children and young adults. Researchers from the University of São Paulo have found that oral CBD intake led to significant improvements in social skills, reduced aggression, and eased tantrums among young participants. This promising research, presented at the 2025 European Congress of Psychiatry, suggests that CBD could be incorporated into autism treatment plans alongside traditional therapies. However, experts remain cautious, calling for larger trials to confirm these findings.

In a groundbreaking look at autism diagnosis, new research underscores systemic biases that have long obscured the understanding of autism in girls and women. Historically perceived as a predominantly male condition, autism’s complexity among females is becoming increasingly illuminated through the work of researchers like Gina Rippon, as highlighted in her book “Off the Spectrum: Why the Science of Autism Has Failed Women and Girls” source.

Rippon’s insights into how past diagnostic processes neglected girls question long-held assumptions with significant implications for Thailand, where tradition often dictates gender roles. With boys being ten times more likely to be referred for autism assessments, girls were often misdiagnosed with conditions like social anxiety or eating disorders before receiving an accurate autism identification. A 2023 study, illustrated in Rippon’s research, shows that 80% of girls misdiagnosed with other psychological conditions may indeed have autism source.

In an age where mental health awareness is at an all-time high, a new perspective from neuropsychiatrist Dr. Alastair Santhouse raises thought-provoking questions about the potential over-diagnosis of mental health conditions. Dr. Santhouse’s recent book, No More Normal: Mental Health in an Age of Overdiagnosis, argues that while mental health awareness is undoubtedly beneficial, it might also be leading more people to identify with symptoms that may not necessarily qualify as mental disorders. For Thai readers, understanding this global conversation is crucial in navigating local mental health discourses.

In a surprising and controversial move, the U.S. federal government has appointed David Geier, a well-known vaccine skeptic, to lead a study examining the disproven link between vaccines and autism. This decision, revealed by the Washington Post, has sparked outcry from the scientific community, given Geier’s history of promoting discredited research in this arena.

This development is part of a broader narrative where public health agendas in the U.S. appear to be influenced by prominent anti-vaccine figures. David Geier, in collaboration with his father, Mark Geier, has consistently advocated against vaccinations. Their research, often dismissed by the scientific community for its methodological shortcomings, focuses on purported dangers of vaccines, specifically mercury-based ingredients, which they claim are linked to autism—a claim that has been thoroughly debunked by numerous scientific studies over the years. Despite the widespread scientific consensus, their studies still hold sway among certain anti-vaccine circles, particularly those led by figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who now oversees health initiatives.