New Princeton Study Reveals 4 Distinct Autism Subtypes

A revolutionary study from Princeton University has identified four biological subtypes of autism using data from over 5,000 children. This research could change how we understand, diagnose, and support autistic people.

I spent a few days breaking down this complex study to understand what it really means. The findings are fascinating: genetic programs become active at different times during development, which corresponds to when autism symptoms appear clinically.

The 4 subtypes:

• Social & Behavioral Challenges (37%)
• Mixed ASD with Developmental Delay (19%)
• Moderate Challenges (34%)
• Broadly Affected (10%)

This isn't about "fixing" autism - it's about understanding biological diversity to provide better support. The study suggests some autistic people have genetic effects that emerge after birth, which explains later diagnosis patterns.

I also address why this research strengthens genetic explanations for autism and doesn't support vaccine misinformation.

What are your thoughts? Do these subtypes resonate with your experience? I'd love to hear your perspectives - this affects all of us.

Be on the podcast! - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMUppJ0hHK4zNpRBuT5KXZUvLUOJGuy2GEC6kzEp1HyC4O2w/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=104076735903086824388

BUY MY BOOK - What If They're Wrong About You?: Discovering Hope When You've Always Felt Different - https://a.co/d/0c8wdD1

www.aurtisticexpressions.com

Email: gal@aurtisticexpressions.com

Study published July 9th in Nature Genetics.

Link to original study: https://www.princeton.edu/news/2025/07/09/major-autism-study-uncovers-biologically-distinct-subtypes-paving-way-precision AND https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-025-02224-z

Infographics: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_JZlULHK4__iR9qPU-5Dbvd9zZug9_eW/view?usp=sharing

How exhausted are you from trying to be someone else?

In this episode, Leigh Marlar explores why our culture's obsession with self-improvement is harmful and how shifting from "What's wrong with me?" to "What if nothing is wrong with me?" can transform your life.

Topics covered:

• The exhaustion of trying to fit into the wrong mold
• Escaping toxic workplace environments
• Breaking free from generational trauma patterns
• The difference between healing and "fixing" yourself
• Why sensitivity and differences might be strengths
• Practical ways to ask better questions

Perfect for anyone who's felt different, struggled in systems designed for others, or wondered if something is fundamentally wrong with them.

Leigh shares personal stories of burnout, workplace toxicity, and complicated family relationships while offering hope and practical wisdom for embracing authenticity.

Book: "What If They're Wrong About You: Discovering Hope When You've Always Felt Different" - Available on Amazon.

Host: Leigh Marlar - Author, speaker, and advocate for neurodivergent experiences.

Connect with Leigh:
gal@aurtisticexpressions.com
www.aurtisticexpressions.com
Instagram: @aurtisticexpressions
TikTok: @aurtistic.expressions

Be on the podcast: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMUppJ0hHK4zNpRBuT5KXZUvLUOJGuy2GEC6kzEp1HyC4O2w/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=104076735903086824388

Be a featured artist: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvCeYLBo9_9iQuDQdWSzLzmrPBM8nxmW04WXpVH-3e77QW5A/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=104076735903086824388

Finally settled in the new house and ready to talk about something crucial - autistic burnout. This isn't your typical workplace burnout, and a weekend vacation won't fix it. I break down the real differences, share personal examples of sensory overwhelm, and explain why masking is so exhausting. If you've ever wondered why everyday tasks feel overwhelming while others seem fine, this episode is for you.

My book "What If They're Wrong About You" launches July 1st! 📚 - https://a.co/d/3tvKSzQ

Be on the podcast? Fill out the form and let's chat! - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMUppJ0hHK4zNpRBuT5KXZUvLUOJGuy2GEC6kzEp1HyC4O2w/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=104076735903086824388

Email: gal@aurtisticexpressions.com
www.aurtisticexpressions.com
What is Autistic Burnout: www.aurtisticexpressions.com/blog/what-is-neurodivergent-burnout
The Hidden Cost of Masking: How It Leads to Burnout: www.aurtisticexpressions.com/blog/the-hidden-cost-of-masking-how-it-leads-to-burnout
Sensory Overload: The Silent Burnout Trigger: www.aurtisticexpressions.com/blog/sensory-overload-and-burnout

Three women. One messy, validating, and deeply hilarious conversation. Gal is joined by the hosts of the Neurodivergent Report podcast—Hind (medical graduate & future psychiatrist), JQ (writer, researcher, voice actor), and Sarah (ADHD coach & mom)—to explore neurodivergence, late diagnosis, workplace trauma, lived experience, and the radical magic of being truly seen.

This one’s for the misfits, the masked, and the magnificent.
🧠 Topics We Cover:
ADHD and autism in women and girls
Late diagnosis and imposter syndrome
Cultural stigma and medical gaslighting
Friendship as medicine
Research, rage, and real talk

Drop a comment if something hits home—and don’t forget to subscribe for more messy truth.

Website: www.aurtisticexpressions.com
Instagram: @aurtisticexpressions
Email: gal@aurtisticexpressions.com

Want to be on the podcast? Complete the interest form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMUppJ0hHK4zNpRBuT5KXZUvLUOJGuy2GEC6kzEp1HyC4O2w/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=104076735903086824388

Listen to the Neurodivergent Report here: ndreportpod.com
@ndreportpod - our handle everywhere

Sarah: Check out my site or message me directly on your platform of choice!
https://sarruss.my.canva.site/hi
s.a.russell07@gmail.com

Hind: Contact with interest in research and mental health advocacy
hendalenezi@outlook.com

JQ: https://juliaschildwachter.wixsite.com/freelancer
walkervoices.llc@gmail.com

#neurodivergent #ADHD #autism #latenightdiagnosis #neurospicy #ThisMightGetMessy

An impromptu episode recorded during the chaos of moving week. Bud and I share an unfiltered conversation about handling stress, life transitions, and finding humor in the mess. No agenda, no heavy editing - just authentic talk between friends navigating the beautifully imperfect reality of major life changes.

Sometimes you just gotta show up as you are, because showing up is really all that matters.

Join me on the podcast for a chat?https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMUppJ0hHK4zNpRBuT5KXZUvLUOJGuy2GEC6kzEp1HyC4O2w/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=104076735903086824388

Check out the website: www.aurtisticexpressions.com
Email: gal@aurtisticexpressions.com
Insta/TikTok: aurtisticexpressions

Still Here: A Journal for Holding On, Letting Go, and Living Through Loss: https://a.co/d/9bJxmyh

There's a particular kind of grief that comes not from what happened, but from what won't. The future you planned. The dream you nursed. The version of your life that once felt inevitable.

In this deeply personal episode, I share the story of leaving Georgia and walking away from what looked like the "perfect life"—and learning to grieve a future that will never exist. This isn't about failure; it's about the courage to listen when your nervous system is telling you something isn't sustainable.

Drawing from Søren Kierkegaard's insight that "the most painful state of being is remembering the future, particularly the one you'll never have," this conversation explores the unique grief of losing possibilities rather than people, and why your body often knows the truth long before your mind can admit it.

Perfect for anyone who's ever felt broken for walking away from something that looked good on paper but was slowly harming them. For the highly sensitive, the neurodivergent, and anyone who needs their work to align with their values—this is your permission to trust what your body has been telling you.

This episode offers both validation for the pain of unfulfilled dreams and hope for what becomes possible when we finally let ourselves grieve fully before rebuilding.

Two people share identical advice online. One inspires you. The other makes you rage-quit Instagram. What's happening here?

In "Tone It Down," I unpack our visceral reactions to different communication styles, especially in the personal development space. Through the lens of projection theory (and its limits), I examine why certain tones trigger us, when it's actually about us versus them, and what happens when you realize you might sound exactly like the person who annoys you most.

This episode includes practical strategies for self-reflection, a reality check on the "brutal honesty" trend, and one very humbling moment involving my own podcast replay. Because sometimes the most irritating person in your feed is holding up a mirror you didn't ask for.

Perfect for anyone navigating online spaces, working on personal growth, or curious about why that one account makes you inexplicably angry.

Read the Blog: www.aurtisticexpressions.com/blog/tone-it-down-heifer

Email: gal@aurtisticexpressions.com

This episode takes a sharp look at the real stats behind the neurodivergent and disabled experience—burnout, bias, suicide, and the failure of systems that say they care.

We’re not looking for pity. We’re asking for people to actually pay attention.

📖 Full blog & transcript: https://aurtisticexpressions.com/blog/statistically-screwed-the-nd-amp-disabled-reality
🛒 Support the work: aurtisticexpressions.com/shop

Email: gal@aurtisticexpressions.com