Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

New research probes the relationship between certain genes and brain disorders like autism and schizophrenia. Jill George / NIH hide caption New research probes the relationship between certain genes and brain disorders like autism and schizophrenia. A team of researchers has developed a new way to study how genes may cause autism and other neurodevelopmental…

A recent study uncovers a direct link between the protein p53 and autism-like behavior in mice, revealing its crucial role in managing sociability, repetitive actions, and learning and memory related to the hippocampus. New findings shed light on the link between the TP53 protein-coding gene and neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions such as autism spectrum disorder.…

As I try to ramp up to normal posting again next week, I couldn’t help but note a rather amusing “offer” from tech bro turned rabid antivaxxer and COVID-19 conspiracy theorist, Steve Kirsch. When last we left him, he was spreading one of the less believable and verifiable pieces of “evidence” that vaccines supposedly cause…

In a world that sometimes feels hurried and disconnected, there are moments that remind us of the profound impact simple acts of kindness can have. This story is one such reminder, a testament to the beauty of human connection. Our tale unfolds in a Hampton Inn in Pennsylvania, where Megan Griffin Haas and her son,…

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& AUSTIN (KXAN) – A team of researchers say they have observed a link between autism diagnosis in boys and their mothers drinking at least one diet soda daily or consuming an equivalent amount of the sweetener aspartame during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, according to a new study. In the study, the researchers at the…

Starting this month, I wanted to help fellow homeschool parents navigate the Leveled Daily Curriculum by showing how I run through lessons with my boys. I will be going through every subject to give some examples of how to teach each subject. This month, I will be featuring my favorite subject, math! Here are my…

Pictures are funny. You can look at a seemingly ordinary one and think nothing of it. A mom. Two kids. An older boy. A younger girl. A baby doll. They appear to be at a place with model trains. What you don’t see is the hard work. The years of practice. The relentless journey of…

My daughter, Olivia, is 14 years old. She is autistic, she has Sensory Processing Disorder, and anxiety. These photos were taken in 2009, during my daughter’s first year of life. Look at her amazing joint attention. She is always looking directly at me with a smile as bright as the sun. Such happy, beautiful pictures…

Credit: Unsplash+ The soaring incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a growing concern, with environmental factors and genetic predispositions being suspected contributors. A groundbreaking study by researchers at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine and Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School reveals a potential biochemical link between the inability to…

When my son was two years old his daycare provider told me that he would never speak, make a friend, or ride a bike. She later went on to say he would never hit a baseball. She told me at my car after I had buckled my son into his car seat and closed the…