Researchers studying more than 100 families linked to autism from the Middle East, Turkey and Pakistan said they had identified at least six new genes that may provide families new hope for future treatment.

The finding, published in the July 11 issue of Science, shows that autism is not only caused by the deletion of some genes but also by turning off other genes. These genes cause disruptions in the brain's ability to form new connections in response to experience

Babies conceived through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or test tubes might be just as healthy as those conceived naturally, a new study says. Researchers from the University of Groningen, The Netherlands, said that contrary to popular belief, the IVF treatment does not increase the risk of developmental problems during early infancy.

Lead researcher Dr. Karin Middelburg said the study assessed spontaneous movements, known as general movements, in 125 infants conceived following IVF at three months of age and compared then with a control group of 90 babies born naturally to sub-fertile couples. Sub-fertile couples are those who were referred to the fertility clinic for fertility evaluation or treatment

Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at a greater risk for putting on weight if the condition is left untreated, a new study has found. ADHD is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder affecting about 3-5 percent of the world's population under the age of 19.

Though it is considered to be a persistent and chronic condition for which no medical cure is available, although medication can be prescribed. However, the study also found that the youngsters who were medicated for ADHD had a raised risk of being underweight

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will seek to include its most serious warning, black box warning on 11 anti-seizure drugs cautioning about the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

The announcement comes days ahead of an FDA advisory panel meeting to discuss concerns about the drugs. According to documents posted on the agency's Web site Monday, a committee of outside medical experts will discuss suicidal behavior associated with epilepsy drugs at an FDA-sponsored meeting on Thursday

Defective signalling of a chemical called serotonin in the brain may be at the root cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), Italian researchers have found.

Scientists from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Monterotondo, Italy, genetically modified lab mice to produce low levels of the brain-signalling protein serotonin. After being exposed to slight external temperature changes, the rodents suddenly died because their bodies could not adjust, researchers said