Your Brain On... Autism: causes, treatments, and myths

Dr. Ami Klin, PhD, Dr. Joseph Buxbaum, PhD, and Dr. Andrea Love join us for ‘Your Brain On... Autism’, a neuroscience podcast.

00:00 Introduction to ‘Your Brain On... Autism’
05:33 Defining Autism: DSM-5 and WHO Perspectives
06:47 Early Detection and Genetic Roots
26:39 The Role of Eye Tracking in Autism Diagnosis
35:55 Genetics and Autism: Insights from Dr. Joseph Buxbaum
47:20 Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder
47:57 Profound Autism, Explained
54:21 Genetic Research and Therapy
58:07 The Role of Vaccines and Public Health
01:04:21 The Importance of Conversations and Misinformation
01:13:54 Autism and Immune System Myths
01:24:15 The Blame and Shame Cycle in Autism
01:24:47 Societal Structure and Autism
01:25:04 The Pandemic's Impact on Autism
01:25:53 Misconceptions and Stigma Around Autism
01:26:18 The Danger of Unproven Autism Treatments
01:28:04 Rising Autism Diagnoses: Understanding the Factors
01:31:34 The Impact of Premature Birth on Autism
01:32:55 Debunking the Tylenol-Autism Link
01:34:28 The Role of Genetics in Autism
01:38:09 The Importance of Evidence-Based Medicine
01:48:24 Concluding Thoughts on Autism

Autism isn’t new, but our understanding of it has changed dramatically.

It’s now recognized as a broad neurodevelopmental spectrum that shapes how millions of people perceive, process, and interact with the world.

In this episode, we explore what autism is AND isn’t, from its earliest signs in infancy to its deep genetic roots, and why misinformation about it continues to spread.

We speak with three remarkable experts leading the field in early detection, genetics, and public education:

DR. AMI KLIN, PhD, Director of the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University and a pioneer in early autism research, whose work shows autism can be identified in babies as young as two months old.

DR. JOSEPH BUXBAUM, PhD, Director of the Seaver Autism Center at Mount Sinai and a global leader in autism genetics, uncovering hundreds of genes linked to the condition.

DR. ANDREA LOVE, immunologist, microbiologist, and founder of ImmunoLogic, known for her clear, evidence-based communication about vaccines, immunity, and autism myths.

Together, we discuss:

• What autism really is, and how the definitions have evolved
• How it develops in infancy (and why early diagnosis can be so critical)
• The powerful genetic evidence behind autism
• The persistence of vaccine myths, and how misinformation spreads
• How technology like eye-tracking can detect autism early
• The rise of “profound autism” and what it means for families
• The future of genetics-based treatments and therapy

Whether you’re autistic yourself, a parent navigating a new diagnosis, or simply seeking understanding, we’re thrilled to share this extensive, in-depth episode with you.

This is... Your Brain On Autism.

SUPPORTED BY: the 2026 NEURO World Retreat. A 5-day journey through science, nature, and community, on the California coastline: https://www.neuroworldretreat.com/

‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists, and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.

‘Your Brain On... Autism’ • SEASON 6 • EPISODE 1

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/yo...

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2bLP...

LINKS:

Dr. Ami Klin at Emory University: https://ctsn.emory.edu/faculty/klin-a...
Dr. Ami Klin at Marcus Autism Center: https://www.marcus.org/about-marcus-a...
Dr. Joseph Buxbaum at Mount Sinai: https://profiles.icahn.mssm.edu/josep...
Dr. Andrea Love’s website: https://www.immunologic.org/
Dr. Andrea Love on Instagram:   / dr.andrealove  

REFERENCES:

Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review. JAMA, 2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama...
Is There a Bias Towards Males in the Diagnosis of Autism? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. https://link.springer.com/article/10....
Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy and Children's Risk of Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disability. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38592...
Eye-Tracking–Based Measurement of Social Visual Engagement Compared With Expert Clinical Diagnosis of Autism. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama...
Rare coding variation provides insight into the genetic architecture and phenotypic context of autism. https://www.nature.com/articles/s4158...
Rare coding variation illuminates the allelic architecture, risk genes, cellular expression patterns, and phenotypic context of autism. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.11...
Andrew Wakefield and the fabricated history of the alleged vaccine-autism link. https://geneticliteracyproject.org/20...