Research
A young child with a notebook with shapes scribbled in crayon.

Toddlers diagnosed with autism should be reevaluated over time

Parents whose child has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may feel it’s a lifelong label. But a new study offers hope: It found that 37 percent of children diagnosed as toddlers no longer met criteria for autism when they reached early school age. Findings were published October 2 in JAMA Pediatrics. Study leader ... Read More about Toddlers diagnosed with autism should be reevaluated over time
Research
Brielle Ferguson, PhD

Unraveling the secret to attention, one brain cell at a time: Brielle Ferguson, PhD

In college, Dr. Brielle Ferguson was initially drawn to psychology. Witnessing the impact of schizophrenia on a family member, she was surprised how little was known about the condition. She majored in cognitive science, but she wanted to go deeper and understand what happens in the brain. Taking a required course in neuroscience, she thought, ... Read More about Unraveling the secret to attention, one brain cell at a time: Brielle Ferguson, PhD
Patient Stories
Reagan is smiling at the camera. She's wearing a green shirt, has blonde hair, and is standing in front of green plants.

From Florida to Boston and back again: Reagan’s liver transplant journey

Reagan, 18, is gearing up for her freshman year of college this fall, and she has a solid idea about her future career. “I hope to become a transplant nurse or a child life specialist,” she shares with a smile. Her inspiration to enter this field of medicine comes from her experiences with the care ... Read More about From Florida to Boston and back again: Reagan’s liver transplant journey
Research
A Venn diagram shows interlocking circles of the heart, on left, and brain, with genetic code in background.

Research aims to pinpoint genetic connection between autism and heart disease

Cardiology and neurodevelopmental researchers have more questions than answers about the possible genetic links between congenital heart disease (CHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A study that’s underway at Boston Children’s aims to pin down those elusive answers by taking a close look at the genetics of children with neurodevelopment and cardiovascular conditions. The researchers want to see ... Read More about Research aims to pinpoint genetic connection between autism and heart disease
Health and Parenting
A mom helps her little girl color

October 2023 coloring pages

Celebrate the joys of the fall season with this month’s coloring pages, brought to you by Boston Children’s. CONS_29229_ColoringSheetDownload MAC_29210_ColoringPages_Bullying_October_HorizDownload MAC_29210_ColoringPages_Bullying_October_Vert-1Download MAC_29210_ColoringPages_Bullying_October_Vert-2Download MAC_29210_ColoringPages_Bullying_October_Vert-3Download Images: Adobe Stock/Illustration: David Chrisom Get more coloring pages, news, and tips for your family from our weekly newsletter. Sign up now! Share this:
Research
A Black mother and her newborn, with a DNA pattern to illustrate the BabySeq concept.

Bringing equity to genomic sequencing in newborns: BabySeq 2.0

Today, nearly 900 disorders caused by a single gene are known to be treatable. Yet the recommended “heel stick” testing for newborns only covers about 60 inherited, treatable disorders, and many individual states screen for fewer. What if newborns could instead have their entire genome sequenced at birth, with the results shared and acted on ... Read More about Bringing equity to genomic sequencing in newborns: BabySeq 2.0

Here’s how genetic vision testing can help your family

At least 600 of the roughly 20,000 genes in the human body are needed for normal eyesight. Changes in those genes can lead to many eye conditions, including glaucoma, cataracts, and inherited retinal disorders. If your child has an inherited retinal disorder, they might benefit from genetic testing. It can help determine a diagnosis and how their ... Read More about Here’s how genetic vision testing can help your family
Patient Stories
Dianna stands in front of a brick wall smiling. She is wearing sunglasses.

‘It’s worth it’: Dianna finds support in managing her chronic pain

For Dianna Aguiar, 18, playing tennis, practicing yoga, and going for walks with her dog aren’t just fun ways to stay active. They’re powerful proof of how far she’s come in her journey with chronic pain. Although Dianna has had juvenile arthritis since she was a child, she began experiencing new back and hip pain ... Read More about ‘It’s worth it’: Dianna finds support in managing her chronic pain
Patient Stories
A young man smiling in front of a fire engine holding a firefighter's helmet.

From pain to purpose: An update on Dylan’s traumatic brain injury

We first introduced you to Dylan four years ago, when a traumatic brain injury led him to the Department of Neurosurgery for care and instilled in him a love of medicine. We caught up with the college senior this summer to see where life has taken him since he started an internship with the team ... Read More about From pain to purpose: An update on Dylan’s traumatic brain injury
Research
The working end of the neurosurgical robot with its two arms.

This two-handed robot goes deep into the brain

Robots have become common partners in the OR, enabling surgeons to operate through small incisions and manipulate tools endoscopically, avoiding invasive open surgery. But in neurosurgery, robots’ capabilities have been more limited. While they can assist with relatively simple procedures like inserting an electrode, more invasive and complex operations like removing a tumor still require ... Read More about This two-handed robot goes deep into the brain