Join our lab’s Dr. Jessica Klusek and fellow researchers for Updates from Ongoing FXTAS Research, part of the National Fragile X Foundation’s 2026 Webinar Series, on November 19th 7:00pm ET. Building on presentations from this summer’s NFXF International Fragile X Conference, the webinar will highlight ongoing research into fragile X–associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), a condition… Read more »
Dr. Jessica Klusek co-authored a new review in Frontiers in Neurology, bringing together clinicians and researchers to provide guidance on caring for people with fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). FXTAS is a condition that can affect some older adults with the fragile X premutation, causing difficulties with movement, balance, memory, and other aspects of health. The… Read more »
A new publication from our team highlights an understudied aspect of health in women with the FMR1 premutation: swallowing difficulties. Published in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, this paper brings together expertise in swallowing from USC’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and our lab’s expertise in the FMR1 premutation. The study was led… Read more »
On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, the South Carolina Statehouse hosted National Fragile X Advocacy Day, bringing together researchers, advocates, families, and community members to raise awareness about Fragile X syndrome. Attendees heard from a great group of speakers, including University of South Carolina researchers Dr. Jessica Klusek and Dr. Jane Roberts, representatives from the Greenwood… Read more »
The SC Family Experiences Lab was thrilled to attend the 20th National Fragile X Foundation (NFXF) Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, last week. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with colleagues and families (old and new!) and share the exciting Fragile X research taking place at the University of South Carolina. Our team was proud… Read more »
On April 24, 2026, undergraduate student Lauren Long presented her research at the University of South Carolina’s annual DiscoverUSC conference. Her poster, “The child has to drive all of the decisions you make: How Mothers of People with Fragile X Syndrome Navigate Parenting in Low Resource Areas” highlighted qualitative findings on how mothers of children with Fragile X syndrome… Read more »
Our lab recently attended the South Carolina Autism and Neurodevelopment Consortium (SCAND) 2026, a conference that brings together researchers from across the state to share and discuss advances in science focused on autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions in South Carolina. This year’s meeting was close to home, hosted at the beautiful Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in Columbia,… Read more »
Our PhD candidate, Thomas Christensen has been selected as one of two Graduate Student Scholars in Aging by the Office for the Study of Aging at the University of South Carolina. As part of this award, he will receive a $1,000 grant to support his research on motor speech in women with the FMR1 premutation and its relationship… Read more »
Dr. Jessica Klusek, along with co-authors Gierman, Fairchild, Benitez, Berry-Kravis, and Mailick, published a new research article in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease titled: “Cognitive dysfunction in women with the FMR1 premutation during midlife: The LASSI-L reveals curvilinear CGG-dependent risk buffered by college education.” Women with the FMR1 premutation are known to have a higher… Read more »
Thanks to funding from the NIH P50 Fragile X Center Award, we are pleased to announce that our study of women with the FMR1 premutation has been extended for an additional three years, and we are also recruiting new participants. We are currently seeking participants from the following groups: What does participation involve?Participants will complete one to two days… Read more »