The readers’ editor on … autism and the MMR vaccination controversy

Stephen Pritchard: The Observer reported last week on a 'big surge' in the number of children in Britain with autism and included the claim that the rise might be linked to the use of the MMR vaccine. This caused an immediate outcry within the scientific and medical community.

Watching television harms toddlers, says psychologist

Allowing children under three to watch TV can impair their development and puts their health at risk, MPs have been told. By Sarah Hall.

Global study of 1,200 families links new genes to autism

· Amount of faulty DNA may affect severity of case· Doctors hope to diagnose and treat condition earlier

About a boy

Born with a rare syndrome that left him profoundly autistic, seven-year-old Luke was trapped in his own body. But then his dad took him surfing. By Paul Solotaroff.

Study links autism to bacteria in the gut

A study linking autism with bacteria in the gut has raised hopes that the condition could be treated with probiotics.

All the colours of the spectrum

Adam Feinstein assesses five very different views of autism, a condition that affects many people today.

OurChemist

Our Chemist – Health