2025: the year of plural autisms, folate chemistry and when curiosity about autism returned

Spectrum 2025: Year in review https://www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/spectrum-2025-year-in-review/

A 'what happened in 2025' feature that covers the main elements of autism in 2025 including: (1) we're heading back to asking the questions of 'how and why?' about autism rather than falling back on some pseudo-religious neurobabble, (2) US policy on autism has been driving lots of focus particularly on folate chemistry - cerebral folate deficiency (CFD), folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAAs) and leucovorin (folinic acid) - and some autisms, and (3) the year that the plural autisms finally emerged into the mainstream. That last one is particularly close to my research heart: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/abs/from-autism-to-the-plural-autisms-evidence-from-differing-aetiologies-developmental-trajectories-and-symptom-intensity-combinations/4D9B0B35DCF03FDBA4E001F7DC9B02D6

2025 has been a pivotal year for autism as the 'lack of curiosity' of the past few years (in some quarters) has given way to more people asking important questions. It's no longer about whether 'identity first language' trumps 'person first language' (indeed, whole swaithes of identity related stuff has been shown for what it really is) or whether other such meaningless word policing is important to many people's lives, but what can actually help people with autism and their parents/carers, particularly those with severe and/or profound autism. Indeed, mention of those words 'severe' or 'profound autism' is only going to accelerate as the old 'autism is autism' mantra dwindled further in 2025 and as 'people' or 'person' become primary, rather than their diagnostic label.

There's lots of hope for 2026 that things will continue at a similar pace.

Maternal autoantibody related (MAR) autism goes mainstream

"MARAbio Launches First-Ever Blood Test For Maternal Autoantibody Related Autism" https://www.marabio.com/test-launch

Woah. 

Just when you thought 2025 couldn't bring anything else to the world of the autisms (plural), a press release which was kinda expected but is now an actuality.

MAR autism - maternal autoantibody related autism - has been on the research menu for a while. Quite a few scientific papers have found it and indeed, found the specific autoantibodies (to foetal tissue) that seem to be pathogenic for risk of this type of autism. And it's not just testing either, as some science has talked about the ways-and-means to 'avert' the effects of those antibodies too and impact on offspring autism risk. This has been years in the making. 

"Commenting on the potential impact of this launch for providers and families, noted clinician and autism researcher Richard E. Frye, MD, PhD, said, "With MARAbio's test now available, particularly for those families already touched by autism, we now have access to meaningful insights into this particular and prevalent cause of autism, including the likelihood of MARA in future children. It's an exciting advancement that brings science and compassionate healthcare together in a truly impactful way."

It should perhaps be noted that the research into other types of autoantibodies - folate receptor autoantibodies - by Dr Frye and others has also been an achievement unlocked in 2025. Indeed, both these streams of research and now clinical practice, whilst so far distinct, point to a pivotal role for immune functions and their effects across quite a few autisms. And that should provide some important clues for future work on 'how and 'why' and what to do about it.

And yet more evidence for those plural autisms which is music to my research ears...

"It will recommend practical, evidence-based approaches to prevention and early intervention..."

Review launched into mental health, autism and ADHD services https://www.gov.uk/government/news/review-launched-into-mental-health-autism-and-adhd-services 

The offical government announcement on the review into mental health, autism and ADHD services launched by the UK Government today. It looks like the important issues to "look at rising demand for mental health, ADHD, and autism services and what is driving it" are actually being taken seriously. That sentence on action as well, around intervention and, dare I say it, prevention, is also quite the change of tack from previous administrations. 

Of course it all boils down the how much the various diagnoses are costing in terms of education, healthcare and social care and benefits given the massive rises in those diagnoses and what they mean for lots of different outcomes. For example, a childhood autism rate for 2024/2025 approaching 6% in Northern Ireland combined with the recent APMS data telling us that the adult autism rate in England has been static at 1% for nearly two decades is a case in point. It would be naive to think lack of money and lack of resources isn't the primary driving factors behind such a review given what this government has already tried to do when it comes to cutting costs. 

But an opportunity is an opportunity.

"My aim is to test assumptions rigorously and listen closely to those most affected, so that our recommendations are both honest and genuinely useful. We owe it to children and families, young people and adults to provide government with advice that is proportionate, evidence-based, and capable of improving people’s lives." 

I don't think anyone can really ask for more than that sentence from the head of this new review. Indeed it seemingly follows the changes to US policy particularly around autism, where people are actually starting to ask questions about 'how and why' rather than sticking with the usual babble (neuro) and other fluff that has contributed to some people not wanting to ask questions about important conditions which affect many peoples' lives.