Autism Information - Natural Treatments

New Approach To Autism

2009-02-05T00:03:00.000-08:00

According to Dr. Martha Herbert, assistant professor in neurology at Harvard Medical School, told CBC News that the study opens up a new way of thinking about the disorder.

"Now we're learning that the brain and body can influence each other," she said.

Autistic children are increasingly being seen as "oversensitized," meaning "things may bother them that don't bother other people," she said. "We need to pay attention to this."

Treating a child's health should be the first step in addressing autism, Herbert said, rather than solely focusing on behavioural therapy, currently a mainline approach.

"Behaviour therapy is certainly important. But the child's health controls the bandwidth that the child has for being able to benefit from behavioural therapy. If a child is sick, they won't be able to focus."

Parents should watch their children closely to determine what foods trigger reactions and to consider removing those triggers, she said.

Herbert strongly advocates a balanced diet, consisting of all food groups, not just "bread and cheese."

"If you have foods that child is sensitive to in their immune system, that can set up processes that can impact brain function, and it can do so in a negative way. And if you remove those foods, that negative impact can stop."

Genetic Variation Cues Social Anxiety In Monkeys And Humans

2009-02-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

A genetic variation involving the brain chemical serotonin has been found to shape the social behavior of rhesus macaque monkeys, which could provide researchers with a new model for studying autism, social anxiety and schizophrenia. Humans and macaques are the only members of the primate family to have this particular genetic trait.

The authors conducted three experiments with male monkeys that had been genotyped for the S/L or L/L variants to learn how genetic variation might influence their responses to social rewards and punishments. They found that monkeys with one copy of the short gene spent less time gazing at images of the face and eyes of other monkeys, were less likely to engage in risk-taking behavior, and less likely to want to view a picture of a high-status male.

"For both human and non-human primates, faces and eyes are a rich source of social information, and it's well established that both humans and macaques tend to direct visual attention to faces, especially the eye region," Platt said. "Rhesus monkeys live in highly despotic societies, and convey social rank information by making threats and showing dominant and submissive behaviors."

In the eye imaging experiment, the monkeys were observed while being shown images of the faces or scrambled faces of familiar monkeys. In addition to spending less time looking at faces and eyes, the S/L monkeys also had larger pupil diameters when gazing at photos of high-status male macaques, indicating higher arousal.

"Their brains set off alarms," Platt said. "In human studies, people with the short version of the gene often show hyperactive amygdalas, a part of the brain involved in detecting threats in the environment. In autism, too, people often don't look people directly in the eye, which may point to a new avenue of research."

In a second experiment, the S/L monkeys were less willing to take risks after they were primed with the faces of high-status males. They more often chose a "safe" option of a fixed volume of juice, rather than the chance for a greater or lesser amount, the "risky" choice. Previous studies have found that inducing fear in human subjects makes them more risk-averse. "Our findings showed that faces of high-status males cause greater fear in the S/L monkey," Platt said.

The final experiment was a pay-per-view set-up. The monkeys could have a juice reward paired with an image or a juice reward without any image. The images were of high-status male faces, low-status male faces, female genitals or a gray square. The S/L monkeys actually had to be paid juice to view the dominant males, while the L/L monkeys gave up juice for a look at these faces.

"Heightened sensitivity to social threats may prove to be helpful in many ways, because success in a social group depends on seizing opportunities while avoiding any potential harmful, antagonistic interactions," Watson said.

"Altogether, our data show that genetic variation in serotonin function does contribute to social reward and punishment in macaques, and thus shapes social behavior in both humans and rhesus macaques," Watson said. "This study confirms rhesus monkeys can serve as a model of what goes on in our brains, even in the case of social behavior."

Glyconutrients and Autism

2009-02-02T22:57:00.000-08:00

Though there has yet to be a cure found for autism, there are studies ongoing in hopes of finding the root of the problem. There are many theories about why this happens to some children, and also why the numbers of those being diagnosed are so high. At the moment they are just theories. One such theory looks utilizing a glyconutrients autism treatment.

There is a body of thought that purports that when a child is not getting enough glyconutrients autism might be one of the possible results.

If you don't know what glyconutrients are, you can think of them as the same things as what others refer to as the sugars in your body.

You get these from foods that you eat. Glyconutrients keep the body moving, and they also aid in keeping the immune system running in tip-top form to protect the body. Because autism is considered to be an autoimmune condition, this leads some to believe that a lack of these glyconutrients might contribute to a child developing autism.

The Hug Machine For Autism

2009-02-02T00:04:00.000-08:00

Temple Grandin is an adult with autism who has written two books about her life. In her books, she described her severe anxiety and how her discovery of deep pressure ultimately helped her reduce the anxiety's debilitating effects. During her childhood years, Temple would crave deep pressure and would crawl under sofa cushions or wrap herself in blankets to provide pressure. She said she could not obtain the 'right' amount of pressure from people because they either gave her too much deep pressure or too little. As a teenager, Temple observed cattle being branded in a squeeze chute at a relative's farm and noticed that they immediately calmed down after pressure was administered. Temple reasoned that the deep pressure from the chute led to an overall calming effect and thought it might be able to settle her "over-stimulated nerves," so she invented a device known as the hug machine. A series of clinical trials were conducted at a day school at the Michael Reese Hospital & Medical Center in Chicago to evaluate students' use of the hug machine. Researchers wanted to know if students would actually make use of this equipment on a consistent basis. Students who used the lateral pressure equipment showed a significant improvement in behavior and the ability to perform school-related activities.

Optional Therapy For Children With Autism

2009-01-29T22:40:00.000-08:00

Autism is a brain disorder that begins in early childhood and affects communication, social interaction and creative skills. Although no treatment has been found to help all people with autism, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. But the agency suggests options that may benefit many autistic people:

Take your child to see a speech pathologist, who can evaluate the child's ability to communicate.

Start therapy as early as possible, preferably during the preschool years, which are an intense period of speech and language development.

Music and sensory therapy may help children better respond to information they sense.

In the short-term, medication may help improve attention span and cut down on unusual behaviors. But long-term medication use is often difficult and not beneficial due to side effects.

Key Developmental Mechanisms Of The Amygdala Identified

2009-01-28T18:58:00.000-08:00

For the first time, scientists at Children's National Medical Center have successfully identified a key developmental program for the amygdala—the part of the limbic system that impacts how the brain creates emotional memories and responses.

This knowledge could help scientists to better understand autism and similar disorders in which altered function of this region is known to occur.
The findings, published in the February edition of Nature Neuroscience, identify a group (otherwise known as a pool) of precursor cells of neurons that are earmarked specifically for the amygdala and comprise part of a unique system of growth and development for this portion of the brain.

"Despite its central role in normal brain function and behavior, little has been known about how neuronal cell diversity is generated during development of the amygdala," said senior author Joshua Corbin, PhD, of the Center for Neuroscience Research at Children's National. "It was thought that development of this region occurred similarly to other brain structures like the cerebral cortex, but our findings indicate that a specific precursor pool exists that is pre-assigned exclusively to the limbic system. It is a breakthrough to our understanding of this little studied region of the brain."

Using studies of embryonic mice, Corbin and his team located two specific pools of precursor cells marked by the transcription factor Dbx1 that migrate from both the ventral pallium and the preoptic area—a previously undiscovered pool of migratory cells—to create the requisite mix of excitatory and inhibitory neurons that ultimately comprise the amygdala. Remarkably, the preoptic area precursor cells are exclusive contributors to the development of the limbic system, and no other portion of the brain.

"Altered function of the amygdala is a hallmark characteristic of disorders such as autism," said Dr. Corbin. "A more clear understanding of the normal development of this important brain structure provides a roadmap to understand the consequences of altered brain development in neurodevelopmental disorders."

Autism-friendly showings at cinemas

2009-01-28T00:14:00.000-08:00

The Picturehouse Cinema chain is putting on 14 showings aimed at people with autism, their families and carers.

The National Autistic Society (NAS) said going to the cinema can be a difficult experience for people with the condition.

Some find loud noises in films disturbing, and some find it difficult simply to sit in their seat for the duration of a movie.

Low lights will be left on during the Picturehouse series, cinemagoers will be free to move around and the volume will be turned down to make the experience more enjoyable.

The series begins with free launch events in Aberdeen, Cambridge, Edinburgh and Exeter next month, and includes such films as Cars, Igor and Madagascar 2: Escape To Africa.

"It's fantastic that Picturehouse Cinemas have recognised their specific needs and are giving them the opportunity to enjoy a fun family day out."

The nationwide programme follows a number of pilot autism-friendly screenings in London.

Alice Warren, community and education manager for Picturehouse Cinemas said she was delighted the scheme was being extended around the country.

Autism Videos Shown On Website

2009-01-26T22:57:00.000-08:00

What's so unusual about a baby fascinated with spinning a cup, or a toddler flapping his hands, or a preschooler walking on her toes? Parents and even doctors sometimes miss these red flags for autism, but a new online video "glossary" makes them startlingly clear.

A new Web site offers dozens of video clips of autistic kids contrasted with unaffected children's behavior. Some of the side-by-side differences can make you gasp. Others are more subtle.

The free site also defines and depicts "stimming," "echolalia" and other confusing-sounding terms that describe autistic behavior. Stimming refers to repetitive, self-stimulating or soothing behavior including hand-flapping and rocking that autistic children sometimes do in reaction to light, sounds or excitement. Echolalia is echoing or repeating someone else's words or phrases, sometimes out of context.

The new site is sponsored by two nonprofit advocacy groups: Autism Speaks and First Signs. They hope the site will promote early diagnosis and treatment, which can help young children with autism lead more normal lives.

Pediatrician Dr. Michael Wasserman cautioned that the site might lead some parents to needlessly fret about normal behavior variations, and said they shouldn't use it to try to diagnose their own kids.

"Just as there's a spectrum in autism... there's a spectrum in normal development," said Wasserman, with Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. "Children don't necessarily develop in a straight line."

But Amy Wetherby, a Florida State University professor of communications disorders who helped create the site, noted that sometimes "parents are the first to be concerned and the doctors aren't necessarily worried. This will help give them terms to take to the doctor and say, 'I'm worried about it."

And while the children shown in the "Red Flags" video clips on the site have been diagnosed with some form of autism, the sponsors note that not all children who behave this way have something wrong. In fact, the behaviors in some of the short video clips — when viewed individually — look fairly normal.

The important thing is to seek medical help if a child does exhibit persistent unusual behavior, to either rule out autism or get an early diagnosis, said Alison Singer of Autism Speaks.

Added Wetherby, "We now know that one out of 150 children has autism, or one out of 94 boys. It's not a rare disability. We also know that early intervention is critical."

Many Children With Autistic Traits or Symptoms Go Unnoticed

2009-01-26T00:34:00.000-08:00

UK researchers studying a large population of children concluded that many children have a measurable lack of social and communication skills that is not severe enough to meet the clinical criteria for autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), but can nevertheless affect their adjustment and behaviour at school. They also found that unlike boys, girls with above average verbal IQ were less likely to be hampered by such deficits.

The study was the work of Dr David Skuse, professor and head of the Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit at the Institute of Child Health, University College, London, and colleagues, and is published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

Research has already established there are a lot more school age children with mild but measurable autistic traits or "social communicative deficits" than there are children clinically diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). But what was not yet clear was how many such children there might be and how possessing such deficits might hamper their development and adjustment.

For the study, Skuse and colleagues asked the parents of over 8,000 children to fill in a Social and Communication Disorders Checklist about their child. The parents and children were already taking part in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. The researchers then compared results from this parent-report checklist with independently diagnosed cases of ASD in the cohort, plus assessments of cognitive ability and teacher ratings of adaptation in the classroom.

The results showed that:

* Social and Communication Disorders Checklist scores were evenly spread throughout the population: boys had mean scores that were 30 per cent higher than girls (the higher the score, the higher the degree of social communication impairment).

* Impairment measured on this Checklist was linked with functional impairment at school, and particularly with hyperactivity and conduct disorders.

* Girls with higher verbal IQ appeared to be protected against such impairment, across the range of abilities, but not boys.

The authors concluded that that measurable deficits in social and communication skills in boys and girls social communicative deficits are significantly linked to behavioural adjustment at school, perhaps to the point of being predictive.

Diagnosing Autism

2009-01-22T22:46:00.000-08:00

Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child. In many cases, their baby seemed "different" from birth-being unresponsive to people and toys, or focusing intently on one item for long periods of time. The first signs of autism may also appear in children who had been developing normally. When an affectionate, babbling toddler suddenly becomes silent, withdrawn, violent, or self-abusive, something is wrong.

Even so, years may go by before the family seeks a diagnosis. Well-meaning friends and relatives sometimes help parents ignore the problems with reassurances that "Every child is different," or "Janie can talk, she just doesn't want to!" Unfortunately, this only delays getting appropriate assessment and treatment for the child.

Diagnostic Procedures for Autism

To date, there are no medical tests like x-rays or blood tests that detect autism. And no two children with the disorder behave the same way. In addition, several conditions can cause symptoms that resemble those of autism. So parents and the child's pediatrician need to rule out other disorders, including hearing loss, speech problems, mental retardation, and neurological problems. But once these possibilities have been eliminated, a visit to a professional who specializes in autism is necessary. Such specialists include people with the professional titles of child psychiatrist, child psychologist, developmental pediatrician, or pediatric neurologist.

Autism specialists use a variety of methods to identify the disorder. Using a standardized rating scale, the specialist closely observes and evaluates the child's language and social behavior. A structured interview is also used to elicit information from parents about the child's behavior and early development. Reviewing family videotapes, photos, and baby albums may help parents recall when each behavior first occurred and when the child reached certain developmental milestones. The specialists may also test for certain genetic and neurological problems.

Specialists may also consider other conditions that produce many of the same behaviors and symptoms as autism, such as Rett's Disorder or Asperger's Disorder. Rett's Disorder is a progressive brain disease that only affects girls but, like autism, produces repetitive hand movements and leads to loss of language and social skills. Children with Asperger's Disorder are very like high-functioning children with autism. Although they have repetitive behaviors, severe social problems, and clumsy movements, their language and intelligence are usually intact. Unlike autism, the symptoms of Asperger's Disorder typically appear later in childhood.

Diagnostic Criteria for Autism

After assessing observations and test results, the specialist makes a diagnosis of autism only if there is clear evidence of:

poor or limited social relationships
underdeveloped communication skills
repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities.

People with autism generally have some impairment within each category, although the severity of each symptom may vary. The diagnostic criteria also require that these symptoms appear by age 3.

However, some specialists are reluctant to give a diagnosis of autism. They fear that it will cause parents to lose hope. As a result, they may apply a more general term that simply describes the child's behaviors or sensory deficits. "Severe communication disorder with autism-like behaviors," "multi-sensory system disorder," and "sensory integration dysfunction" are some of the terms that are used. Children with milder or fewer symptoms are often diagnosed as having Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD).

Although terms like Asperger's Disorder and PDD do not significantly change treatment options, they may keep the child from receiving the full range of specialized educational services available to children diagnosed with autism. They may also give parents false hope that their child's problems are only temporary.

Animated Series Helps Autistic Children Recognize Emotions

2009-01-21T18:07:00.000-08:00

A new study indicates that some children with autism showed significant improvements in recognizing and understanding emotion after viewing an animated series created by British autism researchers.

Over four weeks, the children watched at least three episodes of an animated series created for autistic children called The Transporters. The series, developed by the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University in conjunction with the U.K. government, features computer-animated trains, trolleys, ferries and cable cars with the faces of real-life actors expressing emotions.

"The children with autism who'd watched the DVD not only improved on recognizing [emotion on] faces … they'd seen before but even on new faces," said study author Prof. Simon Baron Cohen, director of Cambridge centre.

"So, this suggested they hadn't just mimicked. They'd actually learned the concepts and could apply them in novel ways," added Baron Cohen, who helped to develop the DVD.

Jo-Lynn Fenton of Halifax has been waiting for The Transporters to be released in Canada for the past two years. She hopes the series will help her son, Rhys, who has autism, which makes it difficult for him to recognize and communicate emotion.

"He can identify the emotions, but he can't always put the emotions in the right context," she said.

Each short episode focuses on a specific emotion and the facial cues associated with it. After each episode, there is an interactive quiz.

Children with autism who watched the DVD for 15 minutes a day over a one-month period caught up with other children in their ability to recognize emotions, said Baron Cohen, unlike children who did not watch the series.

More research is needed to look at how long the effects may last and whether the benefits apply to all children in the autism spectrum.

The DVD will be ideal for young children with good language skills, but there is a drawback, said Dr. Susan Bryson, an autism expert at IWK Health Centre in Halifax.

"For a lot of children, what's particularly difficult is picking up emotion in faces when it’s a little more subtle, not so exaggerated," said Bryson. "But this is probably a good starting point."

The British research team isn’t making a profit from the DVD — 25 per cent of the proceeds will go to autism charities, and the rest will be used to make more episodes.

The Transporters series sells online for about $60 and is available in North America as of this week.

Saliva Test For Autism

2009-01-20T22:49:00.000-08:00

Researchers in Italy are reporting discovery of abnormal proteins in the saliva of autism patients that could eventually provide a clue for the molecular basis of this severe developmental disorder and could be used as a biomarker for a subgroup of patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Autism involves social withdrawal, impaired emotional responses and communication skills, and other symptoms. With no laboratory test available, scientists are searching for biomarkers such as abnormal proteins that appear in the body fluids of individuals with autism that may provide a way to accurately diagnose autism and track its response to potential treatments.

Massimo Castagnola, Irene Messana, Maria Giulia Torrioli and Fiorella Gurrieri, compared proteins in the saliva of 27 children with ASD to those in a control group without ASD. They discovered that at least one of four proteins in 19 children in the ASD group had significantly lower levels of phosphorylation. That key body process activates proteins so that they can work normally.

The results suggest that these abnormal proteins might be the clue for anomalies in the phosphorylation of proteins involved in development of central nervous system in early infancy that are involved in ASD.

Rare Autism Spectrum Disorders

2009-01-19T22:57:00.001-08:00

RETT SYNDROME

Rett syndrome is relatively rare, affecting almost exclusively females, one out of 10,000 to 15,000. After a period of normal development, sometime between 6 and 18 months, autism-like symptoms begin to appear. The little girl's mental and social development regresses - she no longer responds to her parents and pulls away from any social contact. If she has been talking, she stops; she cannot control her feet; she wrings her hands. Some of the problems associated with Rett syndrome can be treated. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy can help with problems of coordination, movement, and speech.

Scientists sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development have discovered that a mutation in the sequence of a single gene can cause Rett syndrome. This discovery may help doctors slow or stop the progress of the syndrome. It may also lead to methods of screening for Rett syndrome, thus enabling doctors to start treating these children much sooner, and improving the quality of life these children experience.

CHILDHOOD DISINTEGRATIVE DISORDER

Very few children who have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis meet the criteria for childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD). An estimate based on four surveys of ASD found fewer than two children per 100,000 with ASD could be classified as having CDD. This suggests that CDD is a very rare form of ASD. It has a strong male preponderance. Symptoms may appear by age 2, but the average age of onset is between 3 and 4 years. Until this time, the child has age-appropriate skills in communication and social relationships. The long period of normal development before regression helps differentiate CDD from Rett syndrome.

The loss of such skills as vocabulary are more dramatic in CDD than they are in classical autism. The diagnosis requires extensive and pronounced losses involving motor, language, and social skills. CDD is also accompanied by loss of bowel and bladder control and oftentimes seizures and a very low IQ.

A Gluten-Free Diet

2009-01-18T23:14:00.000-08:00

A gluten-free diet is an eating plan in which gluten (a protein found in some grains) is eliminated from the diet. Foods and drinks containing wheat, barley, rye, oats, or anything made from these grains are avoided. A gluten-free diet is often used for children with autism in combination with a casein-free diet. The casein-free diet calls for the elimination of milk protein (casein). Both diets are called elimination diets because a particular type of food is eliminated from the child's meals and snacks.

Proponents of the gluten-free diet say that many children with autism have gastrointestinal difficulties that make it hard for them to digest certain grains properly. There are different possibilities for ways in which this could affect children with autism. The most studied theory is that eating gluten leads to high levels of protein by-products, called gluteomorphines, in some children with autism. These by-products may then affect behavior like a drug would. Specifically, in these children, gluteomorphines could reduce their desire for social interaction, block pain messages, and increase confusion. If gluten is taken out of the diet, the idea is that this will reduce the level of gluteomorphines, and behavior will improve as a result.

Parents who choose a gluten-free diet for their child must become aware of the ingredients of everything in their grocery cart. Products containing wheat, barley, rye, or oats in any form should not be purchased. Foods containing modified food starch also contain gluten, but modified corn starch does not. Maintaining a gluten-free diet can be hard to do at first because gluten is present in many prepared foods. However, parents can take a gluten-free cooking class or read a gluten-free cookbook to learn how to cook without gluten and still provide enough nutrition for the child.

Being Born Small, Early Raises Autism Risk

2009-01-15T23:54:00.000-08:00

Children who are born underweight or early have more than double the risk of developing autism, new research shows.

The study, by researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, helps tease out the mysterious underpinnings of this disorder but is unlikely to translate into benefits for patients anytime soon.

"This gives us more clues about autism, which we desperately need, but it's not anything clinicians can use right away," said Dr. Cindy Molloy, an autism researcher and clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the Center for Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

The results do reinforce the importance of monitoring children who are born underweight or early for behavioral problems so they can be treated, said study author Diana Schendel, lead health scientist at the CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.

So-called "autism-spectrum disorders" are a group of developmental disorders characterized by social and communication problems. According to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, some three to six children out of every 1,000 will have autism, while males are four times more likely to develop the disorder than girls.

Previous studies have indicated that low birth weight and being born premature are important risk factors for developmental problems generally in children. But the association between these factors and autism is less clear.

A Canadian study published earlier this year did find that premature infants who were born at a very low birth weight -- about 3.3 pounds -- were more likely to screen positive on tests of autistic behaviors, but the findings were considered preliminary.

The investigators on the current study looked at 565 children with autism born in metropolitan Atlanta between 1986 and 1993, and compared them to a set of children without autism, as well as to children with other developmental disabilities, such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, hearing loss or vision problems.

Overall, low birth weight was associated with a twofold increased risk for autism, but the risk was higher for girls than for boys.

For all low-birth-weight children, the risk for autism accompanied by other developmental problems, such as mental retardation, was higher than the risk of developing autism alone.

There was also double the risk for developing autism in babies born prematurely, although this was primarily due to a more than fivefold increased risk in girls born early.

"This was one of the first studies that had a large enough sample to look at girls," Molloy said. "They really were able to tease out what is different about boys and girls."

Even so, the elevated risk for autism seen in low-birth-weight and preterm babies was much lower than that linked with cerebral palsy, mental retardation, hearing loss or vision impairment.

"It's not yet clear why being small or being born too soon could lead to these problems but, Schendel said, "[these factors] could be a marker for an impaired fetus, one that has a neurological problem which is retarding its growth. On the other hand, being small or being born too soon may be related to factors that could harm the neurological development of the fetus such as infection during pregnancy."

The findings support the idea that there are different kinds of autism and different mechanisms underlying those cases, Molloy said.

Younger Dad, Healthier Child?

2009-01-11T22:04:00.000-08:00

New studies from Tel Aviv University suggest that waiting until a man can give his son “all the advantages” may have a disadvantage, too.

Tel Aviv University researchers found in several consecutive studies that older dads are more likely to have boys with autism and lower IQs. Most recently, they found that the older a father’s age, the greater the chance that his son will display poor social abilities as a teen. Dr. Mark Weiser from TAU’s Sackler School of Medicine and his team of researchers are now studying what causes this phenomenon.

“There is a growing body of data showing that an advanced age of parents puts their kids at risk for various illnesses,” says Dr. Weiser. “Some illnesses, such as schizophrenia, appear to be more common the older parents get. Doctors and psychologists are fascinated by this, but don’t really understand it. We want to know how it works.”

Dr. Weiser, who also works at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer hospital, cautions that the results are far from conclusive. “It could be that men with poorer social skills get married later in life, and therefore transmit this characteristic to their boys. But our studies attempted to control for this variable by looking at brothers from the same father,” he explains.

He also suggests that older men shouldn’t change their minds about having children since the statistical risk is relatively minor. “The effects of a father’s age on the health of his son are quite small, and many of the most dramatic effects in this study are driven by dads in their 50s,” says Dr. Weiser. “The difference in risk between someone who is 35 or 45 is so small that it’s irrelevant.”

Dr. Weiser continues, “But the findings are interesting for clinicians who are looking at the bigger picture of how parental age affects the mental functioning of offspring and what mechanisms are at play in that functioning.” And Dr. Weiser doesn’t rule out the possibility that older fathers may have better resources for getting their boys tested for autism when symptoms arise.

Balancing Autism Diets

2009-01-08T18:09:00.000-08:00

There are many autistic children who are very picky eaters and have odd autism diet foibles. This is not just another problem with behavior, though it might seem like it at first. This is often something that happens for simpler reasons, and some of them are correctable.

A child who is not eating enough of the right foods is not getting the nutritional intake they need to remain healthy, and parents must do what they can to establish a more balanced diet.

There are times when there is a medical reason behind the picky eating, and it might mean talking to a doctor about nutrition and how to make sure the right foods are in a child?s diet.

Some children who won?t eat are simply not hungry. Sometimes this is just the way it is, but more often than not, there may be a medication to blame. Some children with autism also have ADHD and they may be on mediations for that purpose. Some of the medications for this condition will suppress appetite, along with others drugs like antibiotics. If this is the suspected problem, there may be alternative medications that can be given that will not have the same affect on the child?s hunger. Talk to your doctor about this.

There are also some autistic children that have very sensitive digestive systems. They may have problems with acid reflux, and this can make eating hard for them.

They may also have problems in the intestines that lead to constipation, loose stools, or gas and bloating. They learn to associate these feelings with eating, and that makes them not want to eat.

In this case, it might just take something as simple as a course of acid reflux medication to get them feeling better and eating more. As a natural alternative you could try ginger to help soothe the system, ask your doctor for more advice.

Sometimes eating is not something a child looks forward to because they have poor motor skills and can?t get the foods into their mouth with ease, and they may have problems with chewing and swallowing. They may gag or choke and they will avoid eating to avoid those things. When that happens, therapy sessions with a oral-motor therapist might be the answer to the child?s eating problems.

Some children simply cannot stand the textures of foods, and they may be hyper sensitive to almost all sensations associated with eating. Finding a way to desensitize the mouth can help, and quite often liquids can be taken in by the use of a straw.

Keep reading to sign up for the free Autism newsletter that addresses the signs and symptoms of autism and discover natural treatment options available, as well as more information on the link between diet and autism.

When parents have concerns, they need to consult with their physician about what they should do first. New medications might be found that will not affect the appetite, and there may be additional medications that can help with an upset digestive system.

There are supplements that a doctor might suggest to restore balance and give important vitamins and minerals. Sometimes little things can help restore a good autism diet to help a child remain healthy and strong, but before giving supplements, it is important to find out how much they should have and how often they should have it.

Hormone Improves Human Ability To Recognize Faces But Not Places

2009-01-07T22:58:00.000-08:00

Oxytocin, a hormone involved in child-birth and breast-feeding, helps people recognize familiar faces, according to new research in the January 7 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. Study participants who had one dose of an oxytocin nasal spray showed improved recognition memory for faces, but not for inanimate objects.

"This is the first paper showing that a single dose of oxytocin specifically improves recognition memory for social, but not for nonsocial, stimuli," said Ernst Fehr, PhD, an economist at the University of Zurich who has studied oxytocin's effect on trust and is unaffiliated with the new study. "The results suggest an immediate, selective effect of the hormone: strengthening neuronal systems of social memory," Fehr said.

In mice, oxytocin has been shown to be important in social recognition — remembering that another mouse is familiar. Unlike humans, who use visual cues, mice use smell to recognize and distinguish other mice.

In humans, oxytocin increases social behaviors like trust, but its role in social memory has been unclear. "Recognizing a familiar face is a crucial feature of successful social interaction in humans," said Peter Klaver, PhD, at the University of Zurich, the senior author of the new study, which was led by Ulrike Rimmele, PhD, at New York University. "In this study, we investigated for the first time the systematic effect of oxytocin on social memory in humans," Klaver said.

Volunteers who used the oxytocin spray more accurately recognized the faces they had seen before than did those in the placebo group. However, the two groups did not differ in recognizing the other, nonsocial images, suggesting that oxytocin specifically improved social memory and that different mechanisms exist for social and nonsocial memory. Further analysis showed that oxytocin selectively improved the discrimination of new and familiar faces — participants with oxytocin were less likely to mistakenly characterize unfamiliar faces as familiar. "Together, our data indicate that oxytocin in humans immediately strengthens the capability to correctly recognize and discriminate faces," Klaver said.

Autism test 'could hit maths skills'

2009-01-07T00:37:00.000-08:00

The prospect of a prenatal test for autism, allowing couples to choose whether to have a baby with the condition, is coming closer. And with it also comes the possibility of a prenatal drug treatment being developed.

But in this week's Scrubbing Up, leading autism expert Professor Simon Baron-Cohen warns caution is needed to ensure associated talents, like numerical abilities, are not lost if the test or a "cure" become available.

Males, maths and autism. On the face of it, these three things don't appear to be linked. And yet they are.

Males are much more likely to apply to university to study maths, for example.

In 2007, three quarters of applicants to read maths at Cambridge were male, as were 90% of applicants for the computer sciences degree.

Cambridge is not unique in this way. So why are males so attracted to studying maths?

And why, in over 100 years of the existence of the Fields Medal, maths' Nobel Prize, have none of the winners have ever been a woman?

Similarly, people with autism are much more likely to be male. Among those with classic autism, which includes a developmental delay in language and a risk of learning difficulties, males outnumber females by four to one.

And among those with Asperger Syndrome, males outnumber females by nine to one.

People with the condition talk at a normal age and have at least an average IQ, but share the social and communication difficulties of those with classic autism, as well as the narrow - even obsessive - interests and love of repetition.

Decreased Levels Of Binding Gene Affect Memory And Behavior

2009-01-05T21:39:00.000-08:00

Reducing the activity of a gene called FKBP12 in the brains of mice affected neuron-to-neuron communication (synapse) and increased both fearful memory and obsessive behavior, indicating the gene could provide a target for drugs to treat diseases such as autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive disease and others, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

The protein FKBP12 regulates several important cell signaling pathways, and decreasing its activity enhances long-term potentiation in the hippocampus, said Dr. Susan Hamilton, chair of molecular physiology and biophysics at BCM and a senior author of the report. (Long-term potentiation means the enhancement of the synapse or communication between neurons.)

It accomplishes this by fine-tuning a particular pathway called mTOR signaling (mammalian target of rapamycin). The mice in whose brains the activity of the gene was reduced had longer memories and were more likely to exhibit repetitive behaviors than normal mice.

"These studies may offer insight into the molecular underpinnings of repetitive behaviors such as those seen in autism spectrum disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia and other neurodegenerative disorders," said Hamilton. "Because these studies involved interrupting the mTOR signaling after birth, they challenge the idea that some aspects of these conditions are developmentally predetermined."

A Father's Age Is Associated With Decreased Social Abilities In Boys

2008-12-28T21:58:00.000-08:00

New studies from Tel Aviv University suggest that waiting until a man can give his son "all the advantages" may have a disadvantage, too.

Tel Aviv University researchers found in several consecutive studies that older dads are more likely to have boys with autism and lower IQs. Most recently, they found that the older a father's age, the greater the chance that his son will display poor social abilities as a teen. Dr. Mark Weiser from TAU's Sackler School of Medicine and his team of researchers are now studying what causes this phenomenon.

"There is a growing body of data showing that an advanced age of parents puts their kids at risk for various illnesses," says Dr. Weiser. "Some illnesses, such as schizophrenia, appear to be more common the older parents get. Doctors and psychologists are fascinated by this, but don't really understand it. We want to know how it works."

Autism And Schizophrenia Share Common Origin

2008-12-25T23:39:00.000-08:00

Schizophrenia and autism probably share a common origin, hypothesises Dutch researcher Annemie Ploeger following an extensive literature study. The developmental psychologist demonstrated that both mental diseases have similar physical abnormalities which are formed during the first month of pregnancy.

Peculiar toes

Developmental psychologist Annemie Ploeger has investigated whether there is a connection between disorders in the first month of pregnancy and the development of schizophrenia and autism. Interestingly, many physical abnormalities of autistics are also prevalent in schizophrenics. For example, both autistics and schizophrenics sometimes have protruding ears and peculiar toes. There are also differences: a large head and intestinal problems, for example, are typical traits occurring in autistics. From this, Ploeger concluded that the two disorders share a common origin. The same error that occurs very early in pregnancy develops into autism in one individual and schizophrenia in another.

Early vulnerability

Ploeger's research reveals that in the period between 20 and 40 days after fertilisation, the embryo is highly susceptible to disruptions. In this period, early organogenesis, there is a lot of interaction between the different parts of the body. If something goes wrong with a given part of the body, it greatly influences the development of other parts of the body. As people with schizophrenia and autism frequently have physical abnormalities to body parts formed during early organogenesis, Ploeger concluded that the foundation for these psychiatric disorders is laid very early during pregnancy.

The existence of a relationship between unhealthy behaviour during pregnancy and the subsequent development of schizophrenia and autism in the child was already known. However, Ploeger's hypothesis that the early organogenesis stage is the most critical, is new. Ploeger bases her hypothesis on an extensive study of scientific literature in this area. She often had to make use of related studies; although a lot of research has been done into prenatal influences on the development of schizophrenia and autism, little is known about the influence that the period between 20 to 40 days after fertilisation has.

Toxic pregnancy medicine

For example, she acquired information about autism from a study into softenon use. Softenon is a drug against morning sickness that was administered to women in the 1960s and 1970s. Later it was discovered that severely disabled children were born as a result of this medicine. Autistic children were born in four percent of pregnancies in which softenon was used, whereas normally this figure is 0.1 percent. Women could state exactly when they started to take softenon. The women who had taken softenon between the 20th and 24th day of the pregnancy had the greatest chance of giving birth to an autistic child.

Ploeger advises women to stop risky behaviour such as smoking, medicine use and stressful activities before they even become pregnant. If you only start to live healthily once you know that you are pregnant, the basis for a disrupted development of your child could already have been laid.

Decreased Levels Of Binding Gene Affect Memory And Behavior

2008-12-22T22:51:00.000-08:00

Reducing the activity of a gene called FKBP12 in the brains of mice affected neuron-to-neuron communication (synapse) and increased both fearful memory and obsessive behavior, indicating the gene could provide a target for drugs to treat diseases such as autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive disease and others.

The protein FKBP12 regulates several important cell signaling pathways, and decreasing its activity enhances long-term potentiation in the hippocampus, said Dr. Susan Hamilton, chair of molecular physiology and biophysics at BCM and a senior author of the report. (Long-term potentiation means the enhancement of the synapse or communication between neurons.)

It accomplishes this by fine-tuning a particular pathway called mTOR signaling (mammalian target of rapamycin). The mice in whose brains the activity of the gene was reduced had longer memories and were more likely to exhibit repetitive behaviors than normal mice.

"These studies may offer insight into the molecular underpinnings of repetitive behaviors such as those seen in autism spectrum disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia and other neurodegenerative disorders," said Hamilton. "Because these studies involved interrupting the mTOR signaling after birth, they challenge the idea that some aspects of these conditions are developmentally predetermined."

Autistic spectrum

2008-12-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

The autistic spectrum (sometimes referred to as the autism spectrum) is a developmental and behavioral syndrome that results from certain combinations of characteristically autistic traits.

Although these traits may be normally distributed in the population, some individuals inherit or otherwise manifest more autistic traits.

At the severe end of the spectrum is low-functioning autism which has profound impairments in many areas, to Asperger's syndrome and high-functioning autism, to "normal" behaviour and perhaps hypersocialization on the high end of the spectrum..

Autism and Schizophrenia Share Origin

2008-12-18T23:06:00.000-08:00

A Dutch researcher said that the same error that occurs very early in pregnancy develops into autism in one individual and schizophrenia in another.

Developmental psychologist Annemie Ploeger, a doctoral student at the University of Amsterdam, said she demonstrated that both mental diseases have similar physical abnormalities which are formed during the first month of pregnancy.

Ploeger's review of research reveals that in the period between 20 and 40 days after fertilization, the embryo is highly susceptible to disruptions. During this period, there is a lot of interaction between the different parts of the body. If something goes wrong with a given part of the body, it greatly influences the development of other parts of the body.

People with schizophrenia and autism frequently have physical abnormalities to body parts formed during early organogenesis -- development of internal organs. Both autistics and schizophrenics sometimes have protruding ears and peculiar toes.

Ploeger also found autistic children were born in 4 percent of pregnancies in which softenon was ingested by mothers in the 1960s and 1970s to prevent morning sickness, whereas normally this figure is 0.1 percent. The women who had taken softenon between the 20th and 24th day of the pregnancy had the greatest chance of giving birth to an autistic child.

Ploeger advises women to stop risky behavior such as smoking, medicine use and stressful activities before they become pregnant.

Epilepsy Drug May Increase Risk Of Autism In Children

2008-12-05T00:11:00.000-08:00

A new study shows that women who take the epilepsy drug valproate while pregnant may significantly increase their child's risk of developing autism.

The ongoing study involves 632 children, nearly half of whom were exposed to epilepsy drugs during gestation. Of the children whose mothers took epilepsy drugs while pregnant, 64 were exposed to valproate, 44 to lamotrigine, 76 to carbamazepine and 65 to other epilepsy drugs. Of the 632 children in the study, nine have been diagnosed with autism and one has shown symptoms of the disorder. The children were tested at one, three and six years old. Two-thirds of the children were six years old by the end of the study.

The study found seven of the children with autism had mothers who took an epilepsy drug while pregnant, four of those children were exposed to valproate while a fifth child's mother took a combination of valproate and lamotrigine. The children whose mothers were given valproate during pregnancy were seven times more likely to develop autism compared to children whose mothers did not take an epilepsy drug while pregnant. This risk was not seen with the other epilepsy drugs. None of the children in the study had any known family history of autism.

"The potential risk for autism in this study was substantial for children whose mothers took valproate while pregnant, but more research needs to be done since these are early findings," says study author Gus Baker, PhD, FBPsS, of the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom."However, women who take valproate while pregnant should be informed of the possible risks of autism and are encouraged to discuss them with their doctor. Those who are taking valproate should not stop their treatment without speaking to their doctor first."

Other studies have shown that valproate is more likely to cause birth defects than other epilepsy drugs.

Symptoms of autism include difficulty in language development, a lack of attention, social problems and the inability to understand other people's feelings.

Epilepsy Drug May Raise Autism Risk in Offspring

2008-12-03T22:22:00.000-08:00

Women taking the epilepsy drug valproate while pregnant are at increased risk of delivering a child who develops autism.
The British findings add to previous research showing that valproate and other anti-epilepsy drugs can contribute to birth defects.

"There's a fair amount of early data that indicates, for instance, that valproate may cause neural tube closure problems. That's an indication that valproate affects brain development," said Dr. Michel Berg, medical director of the Strong Epilepsy Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center. "That's an indication that valproate affects brain development. It's not surprising that it might affect other aspects of brain development."
Physicians are already cautious about prescribing valproate and other drugs to pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant, however.

Drugs for this condition have encountered other problems. Previous studies have also found that pregnant women who use the epilepsy drug topiramate (brand name Topamax) alone or in combination with other epilepsy drugs may be increasing their risk of birth defects. And the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently considered, but eventually rejected, adding a black-box warning that anti-seizure drugs can increase suicidal tendencies in patients.

There is a possibility that more children in the study could be diagnosed with autism or related disorders as time progresses, given that most are still young.

Children conceived with help of infertility treatments more likely to suffer from autism

2008-12-02T23:27:00.000-08:00

A University of California study suggests that children of couples with fertility problems have an increased risk of serious birth defects, and while the researchers found that fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) might also increase the risk, they maintain the increase is low.

The study followed 4,000 women -- half with fertility problems and half without -- and their children up to the age of 6. Scientists found that the risk of mental retardation, cerebral palsy, seizures and cancer was increased 2.7 times among the children of the 2,000 women with fertility problems, and the risk of autism was four times higher. The study also found that the children of the couples with fertility problems were 40 percent more likely to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities and serious sight or hearing disorders.

"What has caused them to be unable to conceive goes on to cause problems," said lead study author professor Mary Croughan. "It is as if a brick wall has stopped you becoming pregnant. Treatment allows you to climb over the wall, but it is still there and it goes on to cause problems."

However, British Fertility Society spokesperson Stuart Lavery questioned the study due to the wide variety of fertility problems and treatments available to the women.

"There is no doubt that people who have difficulties with their fertility have difficulties conceiving and carrying pregnancies, although it has not been shown that it is the infertility that is causing the problems," he said.

"With the enormous toxic load carried by typical consumers today, most women are simply not biochemically ready to conceive and produce a healthy child," said Mike Adams, a consumer health advocate and proponent of prenatal nutrition. "Artificial fertility processes can hijack the reproductive organs and force a conception, but they do nothing to address the underlying toxicities that likely contributed to the fertility problems in the first place."

Seeking autism's "signature"

2008-12-01T22:40:00.000-08:00

Unique brain-wave patterns, spotted for the first time in autistic children, may help explain why they have so much trouble communicating.

Using an imaging helmet, researchers discovered what they believe are "signatures of autism" that show a delay in processing individual sounds.

That delay is only a fraction of a second, but when it's for every sound, the lag time can cascade into a major obstacle in speaking and understanding people, the researchers said.

Imagine if it took a tiny bit longer than normal to understand each syllable. By the end of a sentence, you'd be pretty confused.

The study authors believe that's what happens with autistic children, based on the brain-wave patterns detected in school-age children in their study.

The preliminary results need to be confirmed in younger children, but the researchers hope this technique could be used to help diagnose autism in children as young as age 1. That's at least a year earlier than usual, and it could mean behavior treatment much sooner.

Andrew Papanicolaou, director of the clinical neurosciences center at University of Texas' Houston campus, said the study makes a major contribution to autism research.

"It gives us a window through which we get a picture of some of the neurological conditions responsible for the peculiar behaviors in autism," said Papanicolaou, who was not involved in the research.

Study results were prepared for release today at the Radiological Society of North America meeting in Chicago.

The brain-wave study used noninvasive technology called magnetoencephalography, which measures magnetic fields generated in the brain.

Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia had 64 autistic children ages 6 to 15 listen through headphones to a series of rapid beeps while under the helmetlike device, which recorded the brain's response. Those brain waves were compared with responses in nonautistic children.

In autistic children, response to each sound was delayed by one-fiftieth of a second.

"We tend to speak at four syllables per second," said Timothy Roberts, the study's lead author and the hospital's vice chairman of research. If an autistic brain "is slow in processing a change in a syllable ... it could easily get to the point of being overloaded."

Experts say one in 150 U.S. children has autism, a disorder involving poor verbal communication, repetitive behaviors such as head-banging, and avoidance of physical or eye contact.

Among those in the study was Parker Leiby, a 9-year-old Mount Laurel, N.J., boy with mild autism and speech difficulties. He said he felt like an astronaut wearing that big helmet and called the whole experience "cool." Parker was diagnosed at age 2. Since then, he has had extensive treatment, including speech therapy. He's in a regular third-grade class, loves cross-country running and hopes to become an engineer.

Before the study last year, "we didn't have an answer" about his language difficulties, said Parker's mother, Kim. "It helped shed a lot of light."

UNC expands brain imaging study of infants at risk for autism

2008-11-26T21:47:00.000-08:00

A study led by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers using brain imaging of infants to examine changes in their brains and behavior that may mark the onset of autistic symptoms is being substantially expanded after receiving an additional $3.25 million in funding.

The Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS), which involves a network of universities, was originally awarded $10 million in 2007 by the National Institutes of Health as an Autism Center of Excellence under the project title "A Longitudinal MRI Study of Infants at Risk for Autism."

The NIH recently awarded the project supplemental funding of $500,000 per year for five years and the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative provided $150,000 a year for five years.

"This is the first study that will prospectively measure, in the same group of infants, both the onset of autistic symptoms and brain enlargement that may co-occur at the end of the first year of life in children with autism," said Joseph Piven, M.D., the study's principal investigator and director of the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities. Piven is also Sarah Graham Kenan Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics in the School of Medicine and in the psychology department of the College of Arts and Sciences.

The study builds on two key findings from researchers involved in it. The first, from UNC researchers, is that children with autism have larger brains – from five to 10 percent larger at two years of age than children without autism – and retrospective head circumference data suggests this enlargement or overgrowth starts about the end of a child's first year of life. The second finding, from behavioral researchers led by Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, M.D., from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, is that the onset of the social deficits associated with autism does not occur until the end of the first year.

"Once these brain and behavioral changes are identified, potential benefits might include the development of early screening measures for autism and a better understanding of the underlying brain mechanisms, which we hope will lead to treatments to prevent or reduce the problems that individuals with autism face," Piven said.

For the study, UNC heads a network of four data collection sites across the country: at UNC, the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington University in St. Louis and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The project also includes a data coordinating center at the Montreal Neurological Institute in Canada.

The study will enroll 544 infants, aged 6 and 12 months, whose older siblings are autistic. At the start, they will receive behavioral assessments and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams. The six-month-olds will then be tested again at 12 and 24 months of age, while the 12-month-olds will be retested at 24 months.

Piven said the additional funding will allow researchers to examine all 544 children at all time points, instead of focusing only on those that are most likely to develop autism.

He also said he welcomed the somewhat novel public-private partnership arrangement for the additional funding between the NIH and an outside funding agency.

Bazaar raises RM24,000 for autism centre

2008-11-25T22:56:00.000-08:00

The objective was to raise funds for renovation at the centre.

Items such as food, fruits, clothes, accessories, books, novelty items, handbags, shoes, toys, household goods, home decor, jewellery, paintings and handicraft were on sale at prices as low as RM1.

A few visitors sang songs with coupons bought at RM10.

Visitor Maharuddin Awang, 36, who was accompanied by his wife Siti Aminah Ghazali, also 36, said: “We had finished breakfast at a nearby restaurant and were on our way home when we saw the crowd here.

“We decided to check out the place and were pleasantly surprised by the charity sale,” he said.

Another visitor, A. Selvakumar, 39, who came with his wife P. Sharmila Devi, 29, and their two sons, said he wanted his children to be exposed to such events and learn about autism and those afflicted with it.

He hoped the experience would make them more responsible and caring towards people.

Nasom secretary Zuairiyah Md Noor, who runs the centre, said they raised RM24,000 and thanked the supporters who came by.

Nasom’s autism intervention programme was established in 2005 to promote welfare and educate the public on autism.

12-year-old hopes to raise $300 million to fight autism

2008-11-24T22:11:00.000-08:00

Twelve-year-old Michala Riggle has a big dream -- raising $300 million to build a center to help children like her younger brother Evan beat autism.

And she believes she can realize that dream, because she has already raised $300,000 for autism research, beginning with a simple idea of selling colorful beaded bracelets for $3 each.

"I wanted a research and treatment place where all these kids could go to get better and get cured," said the sixth-grader at Ramsey Middle School.

Her parents and supporters, who are scheduled to officially announce their plans at a news conference this evening, have taken steps toward their goal, but still have much work ahead.

They hope to raise half the money by selling a million bracelets in each state and half through corporate donations and have enlisted the help of entertainer and Kentucky native Ashley Judd to create promotional DVDs to send to corporations.

But they don't yet have committed donors, haven't partnered with a university or other institution and are still working to recruit more people to the board of their nonprofit Michala Riggle Beat Autism Foundation Inc.

Tim Seiler, director of The Fund Raising School at Indiana University's Center on Philanthropy, said the family's grass-roots effort represents a huge challenge, especially in this economy. "I wouldn't say it's impossible," he said, "but they're swimming upstream doing it this way."

The Riggles said they know it will be difficult, but are committed to attack a disorder that now affects an estimated one in 150 children.

"The rise in autism is epidemic," said Michala's mother, Emlyn. "We've got to do something."

Link Between Nicotine Addiction And Autism (part 2)

2008-11-23T22:29:00.000-08:00

"Now that these associations have been made, we believe that nicotine in smokers' brains possibly increases the level of neurexin-1 and, as a consequence, helps bring more receptors to the synapses and makes those circuits highly efficient, reinforcing the addiction. In autism, we have the opposite problem. We have a lack of these receptors, and we speculate that neurexin levels are lower," he said.

"Our research reveals how changes in the functions of neurexin could affect the guidance of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors to their functional destinations in nerve cells, perhaps increasing receptors in tobacco addicts while decreasing them in autistic individuals, thus increasing susceptibility to these devastating neurological disorders."

Autism symptoms include impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive or severely limited activities and interests. An estimated three to six of every 1,000 children are diagnosed with autism, and boys are four times more likely than girls to have the disorder, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Anand and colleagues were studying drug abuse and addiction when they discovered the neurexin-1 beta protein's relationship to a certain type of nicotinic receptor. The timing of the discovery was key, as it built upon two other research groups' previous observations: The brains of people with autism and other neurological disorders that were examined after their death showed a 60-percent to 70-percent decrease in specific nicotinic receptors, and some patients with autism have mutations in the neurexin-1 gene that suggest the gene's improper functions could play a role in the disorder.

"These have all been 'association studies.' None has been able to prove what causes autism," Anand said. "And then we accidentally discovered that neurexin-1 and nicotinic receptors tangle. So we knew that there was a genetic link to the process leading to synapse formation, and we had nicotinic receptors that had disappeared in the brains of autistic patients. Our finding filled a gap by saying there is a physical and functional association between these two things occurring in the brain."

Neurexin has implications for tobacco addicts, as well, Anand said. Yet another group of researchers recently found that people with a mutation in the neurexin-1 gene were more likely to be smokers, meaning changes in the gene's functions that lead to excess levels of the nicotinic receptors might make people more susceptible to nicotine addiction.

"Our research reveals how changes in the functions of neurexin could affect the guidance of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors to their functional destinations in nerve cells, perhaps increasing receptors in tobacco addicts while decreasing them in autistic individuals, thus increasing susceptibility to these devastating neurological disorders," Anand said.

The finding also has implications for nicotine addiction because drugs known to alter neurexin's guidance of nicotinic receptors within nerve cells could be used to suppress tobacco addiction.

Link Between Nicotine Addiction And Autism (part 1)

2008-11-23T22:20:00.000-08:00

Scientists have identified a relationship between two proteins in the brain that has links to both nicotine addiction and autism. The finding has led to speculation that existing drugs used to curb nicotine addiction might serve as the basis for potential therapies to alleviate the symptoms of autism.

The discovery identified a defining role for a protein made by the neurexin-1 gene, which is located in brain cells and assists in connecting neurons as part of the brain's chemical communication system. The neurexin-1 beta protein's job is to lure another protein, a specific type of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, to the synapses, where the receptor then has a role in helping neurons communicate signals among themselves and to the rest of the body.

This function is important in autism because previous research has shown that people with autism have a shortage of these nicotinic receptors in their brains. Meanwhile, scientists also know that people who are addicted to nicotine have too many of these receptors in their brains.

"If we were to use drugs that mimic the actions of nicotine at an early time in human brain development, would we begin to help those and other circuits develop properly and thus significantly mitigate the deficits in autism? This is a novel way of thinking about how we might be able to use drugs to approach autism treatment," said Rene Anand, associate professor of pharmacology in Ohio State University's College of Medicine and principal investigator of the research.

"It would not be a complete cure, but right now we know very little and have no drugs that tackle the primary causes of autism."

The drugs in question are known as cholinergic agents, which interact with the brain to counter nicotine addiction. Anand said the medications could be retailored for use in children in an effort to increase the level of neurexin-1 beta protein in the brains of people with autism.

More neurexin would in turn not only enhance the presence of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, but also a host of other proteins that are important for the proper formation and maturation of synapses. Proper synapse function is critical to the nervous system's ability to connect to and control other systems of the body.

How Our Senses Combine To Give Us A Better View Of The World

2008-11-20T23:44:00.000-08:00

From a young age we are taught about the five senses and how they help us to explore our world. Although each sense seems to be its own entity, recent studies have indicated that there is actually a lot of overlap and blending of the senses occurring in the brain to help us better perceive our environment.

The results reveal that if an electrical stimulation of the leg is not initially detected, this sensation may be perceived by the addition of a visual or auditory signal with a corresponding electrical activation increase. The results described in this study indicate that the brain not only constantly processes information received from the senses, but also acts on that information to change what is happening in the peripheral system, and thus changing what we actually detect.

The results of the last experiment are characteristic of stochastic resonance. This is an interesting phenomenon where as noise is added to a system, the system's performance improves until, at a certain point, the performance begins to deteriorate. This is exactly what the researchers found in this study—as they increased the signal, participants reported more feeling in their leg, but this eventually decreased, even as the signal continued to get louder. They found this resonance signature even if the stimulus they used in this experiment was not noise but a pulse. These results show that a tactile stimulus combined with a specific level of auditory stimulation results in optimal detection of that sensation. However, too much signal energy will limit the response. It also shows that these dynamics represent a fundamental principle of multisensory integration.

This study gives us more insight into multisensory integration, which the authors argue, will result in increased knowledge of how the brain normally interacts with the peripheral system. In addition, learning more about multisensory integration will lead to a better understanding of disorders such as autism, in which altered sensory processing often occurs.

"Colors of a Spectrum" photo workshop for persons with autism set for Nov. 22

2008-11-19T22:25:00.000-08:00

"COLORS OF A SPECTRUM" is the first photography workshop and exhibit for persons with Autism in Davao City.

The objectives of this event are to help children/adults with autism express the way they see their world through the pictures they take; to create a higher level of public awareness and understanding about autism and to give opportunities for companies to carry out their corporate social responsibility.

Around 100 participants composed of children with autism, parents, volunteer photographers and media will be joining this workshop. The photo workshop is on November 22, 2008 while the exhibit will be held on the 3rd week of January 2009 during the celebration of the National Autism Consciousness Week.

First-born Kids of Older Parents More Likely to Be Autistic

2008-11-19T00:02:00.000-08:00

In the study, researchers found that first-born children of older parents were three times more likely to develop autism than later children of younger parents.

The increase in autism risk with both maternal and paternal age has potential implications for public health planning and investigations of autism.

The study revealed that for mothers aged 35 or over, the risk of having an autistic child was 30 per cent higher than for mothers aged 25 to 29.

Mothers under 20 had a 30 per cent lower risk than those aged 35 to 29. Fathers aged 40 or over had a 40 per cent higher risk of having an autistic child than fathers aged 25 to 29.

However, there is no clear explanation for why parental age increases the risk of having an autistic child.

Combined Senses Give Us A Better View Of The World

2008-11-18T00:39:00.000-08:00

Researchers J.E. Lugo, R. Doti and Jocelyn Flaubert from the University of Montreal, along with Walter Wittich from McGill University, wanted to know if a feeling from an electrical stimulation of a body part (such as the leg) which normally would not be perceived, would be felt if it was simultaneously accompanied by a visual or auditory signal. The researchers studied this by applying slight electrical stimulation to the right calf of volunteers - the stimulation was so slight that it was not detected by the participants. The researchers then paired that electrical stimulation simultaneously with a visual signal, a distinct noise or a progressively louder white noise signal. The volunteers reported when they felt anything in their leg and the electrical response of the calf muscle activation was measured.

It reveals that if an electrical stimulation of the leg is not initially detected, this sensation may be perceived by the addition of a visual or auditory signal with a corresponding electrical activation increase. The results described in this study indicate that the brain not only constantly processes information received from the senses, but also acts on that information to change what is happening in the peripheral system, and thus changing what we actually detect.

This study gives us more insight into multisensory integration, which the authors argue, will result in increased knowledge of how the brain normally interacts with the peripheral system. In addition, learning more about multisensory integration will lead to a better understanding of disorders such as autism, in which altered sensory processing often occurs.

4,000 turn out for annual autism walk

2008-11-16T21:04:00.000-08:00

For Autism Speaks, a group concerned with autism awareness, the past few years have been bittersweet. Awareness is up, but so too are the numbers of children diagnosed. As the autism community grows, so do the challenges of raising money for research, passing legislation to protect families, and helping create a culture more sensitive to the challenges autistic children and their families face.

This past Sunday, the community walked. All 4,000 of them, all the way to Angel Stadium in Anaheim, then marched into the stadium and around the playing field. They celebrated their children and cheered for each other.

The walk was definitely successful and made a record setting feat by raising $325,000. It was also a show of love and care for everybody present and the feeling should linger for a while. Next up is to improve on this year's walk for next year.

Anybody up for some walking?

Maternal antibodies may contribute to autism

2008-11-14T00:13:00.000-08:00

A team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore suggest that autism may also be caused or triggered by maternal antibodies that cross over through the placenta and are directed against the brain tissues of the fetus, adversely affecting brain development.

It was noted that children with autism have antibodies in the blood that react against brain tissue. Antibodies are an important part of the immune system in which proteins are produced and mount a defense in response to the presence of a foreign body, such as an invading virus.

Most studies into the origin of autism have focused on autoantibodies as a possible explanation. Autoantibodies are antibodies the body makes that react against the body's own tissues by mistake; this mechanism is involved in allergic reactions and autoimmune diseases.

However, another possible explanation involves the transfer of reactive antibodies from the mother through the placenta to the fetus.

Mothers of children with autism had a stronger reactivity or more areas of reactivity between antibodies and brain proteins compared with mothers without an autistic child. The presence of maternal antibodies also correlated with having a child with developmental regression, a primary feature of autism.

Mental Activity May Affect Autism-Linked Genes

2008-11-12T22:21:00.000-08:00

A new research has suggested that some cases of autism arise from defects in genes that can be turned on or off by mental activity. This might somehow shed some light on the devastating condition and eventually lead to strategies to treat it.

The study, done by a large international team and reported today in the journal Science, adds to the growing evidence that autism may result from problems in the immensely complicated process by which some networks of brain cells expand and many others die in the first few years after birth.

The fact that three of the half-dozen genes identified in the new report are regulated by "neuronal activity" -- feeling, thinking, doing -- suggests in theory that changing the experiences of autistic children could change the course of the disease.

"The genes implicated in our study are ones that interact with the environment and are involved in how the brain converts what it sees from the environment," said Christopher A. Walsh, a neurologist and chief of genetics at Children's Hospital in Boston who headed the team. "If we can activate those genes by other mechanisms, we might be able to help the kids."

The study demonstrates that "environmental experiences and influences that shape postnatal brain development are not irrelevant," said Isabelle Rapin, a pediatric neurologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. She added, however, that "we have but the most primitive ideas about what the proteins coded by identified missing or mutated genes do."

For everyone who's lives have been touched by autism, believe that there is still hope and that eventually, in the words of Obama, "Yes we can!"

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Conference 2008: Taking Action To Tackle Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

2008-11-11T21:46:00.000-08:00

This is sort of like a public announcement for people who's lives have been touched by autism.

On Saturday 22nd November, mental health professionals and members of the public who are affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) will all come together for the 2008 OCD Conference at Imperial College London.

This annual conference has been designed to inspire, invigorate and educate participants and provide an opportunity to share personal experiences of a condition which affects an estimated 1.8 million people in the UK alone. Public awareness of the challenges faced by OCD sufferers has increased in recent years after several well-known public figures, including David Beckham and Justin Timberlake, spoke frankly and openly about the effect OCD has had on their lives.

OCD Conference 2008 is organised by OCD Action, the leading UK national charity for people affected by OCD spectrum disorders.

Keynote speakers at the conference will include Professor Paul Salkovskis (Channel 4's 'The House of Obsessive Compulsives') and Dr. Isobel Heyman (Maudsley Hospital, London), both specialists on the treatment of OCD and health anxiety. The day will also include workshops, presentations and short films designed to help adults, families and children identify, treat and seek advice about OCD spectrum disorders including Tourette's syndrome, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)/'Imagined Ugliness' and skin picking.

Though OCD is listed as one of the top 10 disabling conditions (including physical ailments) in the world by the World Health Organisation, people who suffer from OCD are usually reluctant to request help from others. They worry that people might think them mad and are often unaware that their disorder is a recognised condition with effective treatments. Events such as OCD Conference 2008 are a vital step forwards in developing public awareness not only of this debilitating disorder, but also of the many different treatments and support networks available to OCD sufferers and those around them.

OCD Action Chairman Peter Jennings said: "This day of action will have internationally-respected experts deconstruct this complex disorder to show people that these intrusive thoughts and compulsive rituals are purely symptoms of OCD; symptoms which can be managed through therapy, medication and the determination to say 'No' to OCD.

"You don't have to suffer from OCD to be affected by it, but you need to know about the disorder to fight it. I hope that as many people as possible will join us for OCD Conference 2008 to learn more about OCD spectrum disorders, find out which forms of therapy and medication are most effective, and learn how to manage OCD whilst working, studying and socialising."

OCD Conference 2008
Date: Saturday 22nd November, 2008
Time: 09.30 - 17.00
Venue: Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ
Fees: £75 (health professionals), £30 (public), £20 (members of OCD Action and supporting charities)
To register: visit http://www.ocdconference.org.uk or telephone 0870 360 6232.

New Insights Into Molecular Basis Of Language Development Through Genetic Study

2008-11-10T21:50:00.000-08:00

Scientists have identified the first gene that is associated with a common childhood language disorder, known as specific language impairment (SLI). The gene – CNTNAP2 – has also been recently implicated in autism, and could represent a crucial genetic link between the two disorders.

"It has long been suspected that inherited factors play an important role in childhood language disorders," says Dr Simon Fisher, a Royal Society Research Fellow at the Wellcome Trust Centre, who led the research. "But this is the first time that we have been able to implicate variants of a specific gene in common forms of language impairment."

The trail to this new finding began with studies of another language-related gene, called FOXP2, previously found to be mutated in rare cases of a severe speech and language disorder. Versions of FOXP2 are found in many animals, including primates, birds, bats and mice. In birds, for example, it has been linked to song, in mice to learning of sequences of movement, and in bats it may relate to echo-location.

FOXP2 acts to regulate other genes in the brain, switching them on and off. Dr Fisher and colleagues began analysing human neurons grown in the laboratory in order to search for these target genes. They identified CNTNAP2 as a key part of the network.

Recent studies have also implicated CNTNAP2 in autism, a syndrome characterised by communication deficits, impaired social interaction, and repetitive behaviours. In particular, one investigation uncovered an association between variants of CNTNAP2 and delayed language development in children with autism.

"Our findings suggest that similar changes in the regulation or function of this gene could be involved in language deficits in both SLI and autism," says Dr Fisher. "This supports the emerging view that autism involves the convergence of a number of distinct problems underpinned by different genetic effects."

A Kind Heart

2008-11-09T21:57:00.000-08:00

Lately, the economy's has been on a really bad slide. You would expect people to scramble for every loose change in the house. But not this guy. Dr. Paul Offit, author of the book entitles, "Autism's False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure," has decided to donate his author royalties to the Center for Autism Research at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

"We are very pleased to partner with Dr. Offit, and to accept the royalties of his book for the work done here at the Center for Autism Research (CAR) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia," said Dr. Bob Schultz, director of the Center for Autism Research at Children's Hospital. "CAR is dedicated to helping children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. CAR's mission is to identify the causes of ASD, and from that knowledge devise effective treatments. By donating profits from his book, Dr. Offit is helping to push science forward for the good of all."

This is truly remarkable considering the current economical situation. Dr. Offit truly has a kind heart.

Strange play in infancy may point to autism

2008-11-06T22:54:00.000-08:00

According to U.S. researchers, babies who were later diagnosed with autism played with toys in unusual ways, spinning or rotating them more than other babies.

Babies who went on to develop autism also stared noticeably at objects such as bottles or looked at them out of the corners of their eyes, Sally Ozonoff of the University of California Davis and colleagues found.

"There is an urgent need to develop measures that can pick up early signs of autism, signs present before 24 months," Ozonoff said in a statement."

"The finding that the unusual use of toys is also present early in life means that this behavior could easily be added to a parent check-list or quickly assessed during a visit to a pediatrician's office," Ozonoff said.

"The earlier you treat a child for autism, the more of an impact you can have on that child's future."

They studied around 66 1 year old babies who were considered at high risk only because they had siblings who had autism. The result, nine of them were eventually diagnosed with autism, and seven of these spent significantly more time spinning, rotating and looking sideways at objects than the other children.

Although we are still not certain of where autism really came from or how to cure it, these are still signs of a positive future in terms of finally being able to cure autism. For now, all we can do is pray.

New Gene Screening Method

2008-11-04T22:33:00.000-08:00

A new screening method can be used to detect the chromosomal abnormalities most commonly associated with autism spectrum disorders. By screening for genetic defects associated with various kinds of cognitive impairment, the approach will help clinicians identify the underlying causes of some patients' autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

Joseph Buxbaum from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, led a team of researchers tasked with evaluating the use of 'multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification' (MLPA), a recently developed method of investigating DNA, in genetic counseling. He said, "MLPA is a relatively practical, inexpensive and fast tool for screening chromosome rearrangements in autism spectrum disorders".
ASDs have been increasingly associated with genetic abnormalities. At the same time, many children with ASDs also have some degree of cognitive impairment. In this study, the authors used MLPA on a group of 279 children with ASD, looking for abnormalities that are known to be associated with cognitive impairment. As Buxbaum describes, "By focusing on well-known genetic disorders, rather than assaying an individual's entire genome, MLPA allows for much more efficiency". As additional genetic abnormalities associated with ASDs are identified, additional probes can be used in future screens.
As well as demonstrating the effectiveness of MLPA as a screen for known genetic disorders, the authors also identified some new genetic changes that are likely to contribute to ASD, such as novel duplications (extra copies of genetic material) in chromosomes 15 and 22, which may increase liability and/or exacerbate ASD symptoms.
Although there is no known cure for ASDs, early detection and commencement of special education and behavioral therapy can mitigate some of the negative symptoms.

Autism May Be Associated With Precipitation Levels

2008-11-03T18:14:00.000-08:00

Children living in counties with higher levels of annual precipitation appear more likely to have higher prevalence rates of autism, according to a new report. The results raise the possibility that an environmental trigger for autism may be associated with precipitation and may affect genetically vulnerable children.

Several potential explanations exist for the positive association, the authors note. Precipitation may be associated with more indoor activities, such as television and video viewing, that affect behavioral and cognitive development. The increased amount of time spent indoors also may expose children to more harmful chemicals, such as those in cleaning products, or decrease their exposure to sunshine, which helps the body produce vitamin D. "Finally, there is also the possibility that precipitation itself is more directly involved," the authors write. "For example, there may be a chemical or chemicals in the upper atmosphere that are transported to the surface by precipitation."

Because there is no direct clinical evidence of an environmental trigger for autism that is associated with precipitation, the results are preliminary, the authors note. However, "further research focused on establishing whether such as trigger exists and on identifying it is warranted," they conclude.

Experts To Share Insights On The Potential For Emotional And Social Functioning In Children With Autism And Special Needs

2008-11-02T22:22:00.000-08:00

Leading experts on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and child development will discuss new advances in the identification, treatment, education, and family dynamics of autism and associated disorders, at the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders' (ICDL) 12th Annual Conference on Nov. 7-9 in Tyson's Corner, Virginia, outside Washington, D.C.

Speakers at the 12th Annual Conference will include internationally renowned experts, including child psychiatrist Stanley Greenspan, pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton, bioethicist Glenn McGee, and over 50 other researchers and clinicians in the areas of neuroscience, pediatric medicine, developmental psychology, mental health, communication and language development.

The conference, titled "Redefining the Potential for Emotional and Social Functioning in Children with Autism and Special Needs," will include panel discussions on a wide range of issues presented in 13 plenary sessions and 33 concurrent seminars. Plenary sessions include:

- New Research on Social and Emotional Gains and Changes in Brain Functioning in Children with Autism and Special Needs
- New Insights into identifying and Treating Medical Conditions Associated with ASD
- A Bioethical Approach to Overcoming Problems with Behavior and Aggression in Education of Children with ASD

As in past years, ICDL will offer pre-conference workshops on Thursday, November 6th, on Sensory Organization, Representing Cognition in DIR®, Floortime™ for Novice Players, The Affect-Based Language Curriculum (ABLC), The DIR® and IEP Goal Bank, Communication Through the DIR® Lens: A Toolkit of Ideas and Strategies, Medication in the Treatment of Developmental and Learning Disorders, DIR® Programs for Preschool and Elementary Age Children, and Using the DIR® Approach in Feeding Therapy.

Hundred of professionals and parents are currently registered to attend the conference, and spaces are still available. To view the full brochure or register, visit http://www.icdl.com.

The conference takes place amid growing concern about the increase in autism and related disorders in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now estimates that 1 in 150 children in the United States have autism, a much higher rate than previously reported. Nearly 17 percent of U.S. children are diagnosed with developmental challenges that require early identification and preventive interventions, yet fewer than half are identified as having a problem before starting school. A new framework developed by the CDC and ICDL is aimed at identifying children at risk and facilitating early intervention and treatment, and will be presented at the conference.

Source
Natasha Labbe
Web Master & e-Marketing Associate
Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders

Dogs Work Magic on Kids with Autism

2008-10-28T19:35:00.000-07:00

Dogs have always been considered as man's best friend. Well, just recently, they showed just how indispensable they are. They now help kids with a variety of issues, from mobility problems to seizures.

According to Karen Shirk, owner of the nonprofit 4 Paws for Ability, the dogs work like magic. "I knew [autistic children] connected to animals," she remembers. "I knew that service dogs would be able to help."

"The biggest problem that's faced by families that have children with autism is isolation. They actually quit going out because they can't keep their child safe," says Shirk.

Shirk's service dogs are taught a variety of methods to help keep kids with autism safe. Since many children tend to wander away and get lost, 4 Paws uses a technique called "tethering," where the kids are tethered to their dogs while in public.

As she puts it, "for our children with autism, their dog might be the only friend that they have."

Gene Screen To Identify Causes Of Autism

2008-10-27T19:09:00.000-07:00

Free Online Autism Support Network Launched

2008-10-26T18:49:00.000-07:00

Recently, a free online autism support network was launched. You can find it online at http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com. The online service - rapidly growing already with thousands of members around the world - connects families and individuals touched by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with each other, provides support and insight, and acts as a resource guide for treatments, strategies and therapies.

Key features of the community include matching those members seeking similar support with one another, the ability to create appointments virtually or in actual locations between members, community groups for open sharing of information, user blogs, chat and capabilities for members to host and share personal photos and documents. The Autism Support Network also includes resource listings across the United States, Canada, England and India.

This is a very helpful site for each and everyone whose lives have been touched by Autism. Hopefully, more and more people will join to help others as well as to receive help.

People with Autism Make More Rational Decisions

2008-10-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

Based on a new research, it was revealed that people with autism-related disorders are less likely to make irrational decisions and are less influenced by gut instincts.

Decision-making is a complex process, involving both intuition and analysis: analysis involves computation and more "rational" thought, but is slower; intuition, by contrast, is much faster, but less accurate, relying on heuristics, or "gut instincts".

Previous studies have shown that our response to a problem depends on how the problem is posed - the so called "framing effect".

A surgeon who tells a patient that there is an 80 percent chance of surviving an operation is more likely to gain consent than one who tells the patient there is a 20 percent chance of dying, even though statistically these mean the same thing.

Researchers with Ray Dolan's group at the UCL (University College London) have used the framing effect to study decision-making in people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

According to the National Autistic Society, these disorders affect up to one in a 100 people in Britain. They range from mild conditions, such as Asperger syndrome, through to highly disabling conditions, such as Rett syndrome.

Symptoms - which vary widely in severity - include language problems, poor social interaction and rigid patterns of behaviour and thinking, according to an UCL release. The study was published Wednesday in the journal Neuroscience.

Participants in the study performed a task involving deciding whether or not to gamble with a sum of money. For example, they would be given 50 pounds and be presented with two options: option A was to keep 20 pounds; option B was to gamble, with a 40 percent chance of keeping the full 50 pounds and a 60 percent chance of losing everything. This version was known as the "gain frame".

At other times, the participants would be presented with the "loss frame", the only difference being that option A was phrased in terms of losing money. In other words, when given 50 pounds, option A was to lose 30 pounds of their initial amount; option B was the same in both frames.

Despite option A being essentially the same in both gain and loss frames, the researchers found that the "control" participants - those without ASD - were more likely to gamble if the first option was to "lose" rather than "keep" money.

Dennis Leary Takes Aim At Autistic Children In New Book

2008-10-15T23:39:00.000-07:00

In his new book, Dennis Leary has really sparked a lot of hatred. I really think that he has been very insensitive about certain issues especially when he targeted autistic kids and their parents.

According to Leary, "There is a huge boom in autism right now because inattentive mothers and competitive dads want an explanation for why their dumb-a** kids can't compete academically, so they throw money into the happy laps of shrinks . . . to get back diagnoses that help explain away the deficiencies of their junior morons," Leary reportedly wrote. "I don't give a [bleep] what these crackerjack whack jobs tell you - yer kid is NOT autistic. He's just stupid. Or lazy. Or both."

In response to the "Rescue Me" star's literary assertion, the Autism Society of America issued a statement to AccessHollywood.com.

"Autism is a complex neruodevelopmental medical condition that requires early identification and lifelong treatment. For Mr. Leary to suggest that families or doctors conspire to falsely diagnose autism is ridiculous," the statement read. "Mr. Leary's remarks reflect the same misconceptions of autism being caused by bad or unemotional parenting that were held over 50 years ago, misconceptions that have been completely disproven by the scientific community"

It's possible Leary's comments could draw the ire of more than just the Autism Society of America. Several of his fellow celebrities are parents of autistic children, including Jenny McCarthy, Toni Braxton and Sylvester Stallone.

However, autistic kids weren't the only people Leary slammed in his book - he also took exception with the likes of Paul McCartney, Heather Mills, Hillary Clinton and Dr. Phil, among others, according to The Post.

"[He says] such thick and exasperating things as, 'Everybody has their own personal Ground Zero.' Oh, really?" Leary writes of Dr. Phil. "Does that mean someday two large speeding planes will crash into the side of your insipid hairless head? Let's hope so."

Does Autism in the Family Lead to Divorce?

2008-10-15T01:08:00.000-07:00

Oprah, Jenny McCarthy, and many others cite enormously high divorce rates among parents with autism. Those rates seem to range from 80-90% - an incredible figure, if true.

But so far as I can tell, having researched the topic in all the usual places plus a few more (personal connections to reearchers in the autism community), there is no basis for these claims.

Yes, divorce is high in the United States, fluctuating at about the 50% mark. Having a child with a sickness or disability does raise the divorce rate, and I was able to find one published research study about parents of children with ADHD which suggests that STRESS, but NOT DIVORCE, is higher among that population:

Numerous studies have asserted the prevalence of marital conflict among families of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but evidence is surprisingly less convincing regarding whether parents of youths with ADHD are more at risk for divorce than are parents of children without ADHD.

While autism isn't the same thing as ADHD, there are similarities. Certainly, spouses are likely to react differently to "bad behaviors" linked to diagnosable disabilities. How DO you punish a child with autism or ADHD? Or do you just accept the behaviors as part of a child's personality?

What makes autism particularly tough is that there is no one (or two, or three) accepted treatments for the disorder. And the disorder itself is incredibly broad ranging and difficult to pinpoint. Parents certainly disagree on which of dozens of treatments and approaches is "right" for their child. And parents, of course, disagree on how much money to spend on a particular therapy, school, or biomedical intervention.

In short, while I don't honestly believe that 80% of parents with autistic children divorce (because there's no basis for that figure), I certainly DO believe that 80% (or more) are often under extra stress. In some cases, coming to an agreement on autism-related issues can strengthen a marriage. In other cases, that stress simply splits the marriage apart.

In our case, autism has not only NOT split us apart, it has brought us closer together. We found that we tend to agree, philosophically and financially, on our choice of therapy, schooling, and daily life activities. But what if one of us was a true-blue believer in biomedical interventions while the other was convinced that biomedical interventions are a waste of time and money? Could we find a middle ground?

It would be really unfair to use autism as a reason because it is supposed to pull us together and to help each other, not draw us apart. I think that the couples who have divorced because of autism in the family are unfair. They are also trying to hide the fact that they just don't want to deal with it. If you've noticed early on in the article, it was celebrities who were complaining the most. Go figure!

Device helps parents of autistic children who may wander off

2008-10-13T23:32:00.000-07:00

Care Trak caters to parents with a tracking device for their children who are prone to "bolt and run." Care Trak, which grew from its parent company, Wildlife Materials, that makes animal tracking systems, sells a portable, electronic device so parents can find their children if they run off.

We have thousands of autistic kids running off every year leaving their parents in a panic. Thanks to this tracker, we have have parents assured that they know where the kids are going.

"Care Trak focuses on serving these parents and caregivers of autistic kids," said Mike Chylewski, Care Trak's vice president of operations.
"Because autistic kids have limited or no fear of danger and have a high tolerance for pain, parents are understandably frantic to find their child. Care Trak is a source of action and calm in what is otherwise a frightening and urgent situation."

Autism Linked to Genius?

2008-10-13T00:24:00.000-07:00

Recently, it was announced that autism, math, music and memory appeared to be linked. According to the article:

Some people with autism have amazed experts with their outstanding memories, mathematical skills or musical talent. Now scientists have found that the genes thought to cause autism may also confer mathematical, musical and other skills on people without the condition.

The finding has emerged from a study of autism among 378 Cambridge University students, which found the condition was up to seven times more common among mathematicians than students in other disciplines. It was also five times more common in the siblings of mathematicians.

While this finding doesn't really qualify as "new" in the usual sense of the word, it is a nice confirmation that autism really does have its "up" sides. In fact, according to some, Asperger syndrome may actually account for the extraordinary contributions of such geniuses as Einstein, Mozart, and Galileo!

So far, no one has actually identified the "genius" gene. But if there really is one - what a find it will be! Not only will it help to improve society's perception of autism, but it may also support better educational approaches, higher expectations, and improved self-esteem among people with autism. It may also be one more reason to question the idea that most autism is caused by environmental injury rather than heredity.

In fact, as research into the causes and significance of autism continues, it seems clearer and clearer to me that there are at least several completely different disorders now bunched together under the same "spectrum" umbrella. Inherited traits, such as mathematical genius and social awkwardness seem to describe only one form of "autism." Other forms seem to include a completely separate set of symptoms, ranging from loss of communication skills to physical illness, sensitivities to certain foods, and more.

After everything is said and done, this can only make the topic even more interesting. If autism were in fact linked to being a genius, would you be glad to have an autistic child?

Tough question?

The Connections Between Vision And Movement in Autism

2008-10-09T22:56:00.000-07:00

A hand moves forward, but is it a friendly gesture or one meant to do harm? In an instant, we respond -- either extending our arm forward to shake hands or raising it higher to protect our face. But what are the subtle cues that allow us to interpret such movement so we can properly respond to others?

In research projects designed to assist the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and to provide deeper insight into how autistic individuals perceive others, Maggie Shiffrar, professor of psychology at Rutgers University in Newark, is examining how our visual system helps us to interpret the intent conveyed in subtle body movements.

Almost all people possess some autistic tendencies, explains Shiffrar, but her research shows that those with the fewest autistic tendencies “are best at detecting the weak signals provided by body movement.” Thus, people with very few autistic tendencies are the best at interpreting emotion from body movement.

Working with test participants under a $750,000 grant from the Simons Foundation, Shiffrar has discovered that people with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to view other people and objects alike. It is as if they view the world through a lens devoid of emotion.

People with few autistic tendencies, on the other hand, have visual systems that analyze human movement and the movement of objects differently. As a result, when presented with limited information they find it easier to identify people over objects.

Previous research has revealed that the part of the brain – the amygdala – involved in emotion communicates with that part of the brain involved in the perception of human movement. This connection is impaired in people with autism and could be what makes it difficult for them to perceive other people’s emotional states from their actions. Should that be the case, it may become possible to develop training programs for people with ASD to help them perceive and understand the intentions and emotional states of people from their body movements.

The First Autism Disease Genes

2008-10-09T00:50:00.000-07:00

The autistic disorder, a neurodevelopmental disease first described in 1943, represents a challenge for treatment and a puzzle for research. Alongside Asperger syndrome, a milder form of the disorder, autism is classified in the continuum of various Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), all of which are characterized by deficits in language, social interaction, and a strangely restricted and repetitive behaviour (stereotypy). Disease onset occurs during the first three years of life. The earlier the disorder is diagnosed, the sooner the child can be helped through treatment interventions, but unfortunately detection is often delayed. In a vast majority of cases, no disease causes can be identified.

Recent advances in autism research have been fueled by an increased interest in genetics, and the latest developments point to genetic factors playing a prominent role in the causes of ASD.

Professor Marion Leboyer of the Psychiatry Genetic Team INSERM and director of the specialized French research foundation for psychiatric disorders, Fondation FondaMental, Paris, will present the compelling neurobiological story of discovering the first autism genes. Thereby she will highlight new findings on the role of gene mutations, their association with synapse abnormalities, and - surprisingly - a connection between circadian rhythms and autism risk. These insights will nurture applied projects on the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Article adapted from original press release

Nation's Largest Autism Walk Held Last Sunday at Jones Beach

2008-10-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

The ninth annual Walk Now For Autism, the nation's largest grassroots autism walk program, which on Long Island, features a 3-mile walk at Jones Beach. The event raises money for autism research, advocacy, family services and awareness.

Mark Roithmayr, president of Autism Speaks, said the Long Island walk, sponsored by Toys R Us, raised $2.2 million last year - the most of any local event in the country. Even major cities trailed, with New York City at $1.2 million and Chicago at $1.6 million.

With more than 23,000 people walking yesterday and a goal of $2.3 million, Roithmayr called it the biggest autism walk of all 80 walks in the country.

Michael Giangregorio, executive chairman of the Long Island Walk Committee, noted the event, initially held in Eisenhower Park, was moved to Jones Beach three years ago to accommodate the growing crowds.

"It's bittersweet because it's great to see so many people out here today, but it also means every year more people are diagnosed with autism," said Giangregorio, whose son Nicholas was diagnosed with autism at 19 months.

Sylvia Murdolo, whose autistic son Tom, 21, is enrolled at Suffolk Community College, knows of the possibility that an autistic child can live a normal life.

"Because my son has done so well, I know there's hope," she said. "That's what I offer to the parents of little kids - that there is hope."

Combating Autism Act of 2006 Highlights

2008-10-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

If you're not familiar with this bill, here is a little background on it and what it can do to help. This bill was passed by Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Christopher Dodd (D-CT). The landmark Act, which authorizes $900 million for autism-specific funding, now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives for approval before it can be signed into law. Once signed, the Act will join a short list of "single-disease" legislation -- the most notable being the 1990 Ryan White CARE Act for HIV/AIDS.

If it gets signed into a law, it will benefit a lot of people. Here are the highlights of the said bill to give you a clear insight.

Allocates approximately $900 million in spending on autism over the next five years. This is approximately double what would have been spent with straight-line continuation of existing programs.
Authorizes a 50% increase in spending for biomedical research in autism from the $100 million which the NIH currently claims to be spending.
Creates a legal requirement for Centers of Excellence in Environmental Health and Autism, to research "a broad array of environmental factors that may have a possible role in autism spectrum disorders." These Centers are authorized with funding of $45 million over the five-year life of the bill.
Requires the director of NIH to develop and implement a strategic plan for autism research and a budget to fund this plan, taking into account recommendations of a public/private committee (the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee) which it requires to include at least one-third public members, including a person with autism and a person who is the parent of a child with autism. This new authority and accountability makes the director, in effect, the "autism czar."
Provides grant programs for states to develop autism screening, early diagnosis and intervention programs for children -- perhaps the most important thing that could happen, short of a cure.

National Autistic Society (NAS) Media Response To The Work And Pensions Committee Report: Valuing And Supporting Carers. UK

2008-10-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

Mark Lever, National Autistic Society Chief Executive said:

"Caring for a person with autism can have a profound impact on individuals and families and can be very demanding both emotionally and financially, yet many receive very little help and support. The current benefits system for carers is inadequate and the complexity of the system coupled with a lack of information about entitlements often means that support fails to reach those who are most in need. We are pleased that the Work and Pensions Committee has listened to our concerns and welcome their call for benefits to carers to be overhauled.

Autism is a serious, lifelong and disabling condition and caring for someone with the disability is often a full-time job, but with Carer's Allowance at a woefully inadequate £50.55 per week, we frequently hear from parents and carers who are struggling to cope financially. With the equivalent of just £1.44 per hour to support them - well below the minimum wage - it is not surprising that many families are living in poverty as a result.

Children with autism become adults with autism, so caring for someone with this complex disability is often a lifelong role: 40% of adults with autism live with their parents and many more rely on their family for financial support. It is scandalous, therefore, that over three quarters of parents caring for adults with autism do not receive any support at all. This is simply unacceptable.

It is imperative that the Government gives better recognition to the role carers play in society, with a simplified system of benefits, better access to information, and increased payments which reflect the true costs of caring. We urge the Government to take decisive action to improve the lives of thousands of people affected by autism - the right help and support at the right time could transform lives."

This is very sad but at the same time very real. It really is a full-time job that requires much attention. Hopefully, help for these affected people may come.

Originally from an article from the NAS

Problems of an Autistic Person - Straight from the Horse's Mouth

2008-10-02T19:10:00.000-07:00

We've seen all kinds of studies about autism. They've been around for a while already but one thing is missing. If you haven't noticed, all these studies are from researchers who study patients. What if we asked the patients themselves what was wrong with them? This is exactly what a recent study did. The aim of this study is to highlight their personal experiences, and to compare them to scientific and medical knowledge and representations.

Adopting an anthropological approach, the authors analyzed 16 autobiographical writings and 5 interviews with autistic persons. The most striking observations were that all of them pointed out that unusual perceptions and information processing, as well as impairments in emotional regulation, were the core symptoms of autism, whereas the current classifications do not mention them.

The results of this study suggest that what has been selected as major signs by psychiatric nosography is regarded as manifestations induced by perceptive peculiarities and strong emotional reactions by the autistic persons who expressed themselves.

These considerations deserve to be taken into account by professionals to better understand the behavior and needs of autistic persons. The Authors propose to include this point in the reflection on the next psychiatric classifications.

This is very disturbing considering that a lot of researchers have studied autism and none hit the mark of what really is going on. Hopefully we can learn more in the future from the patients because only they can really tell us what and how they feel. Maybe then we will understand how to deal with autism.

Father's Age is Linked to Autism in Children

2008-10-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

It has always been said that older women have a higher risk of having birth defects. As for men, it was thought that they can have kids at any age with no worries. Well, a new study recently proved that belief wrong.

Researchers in Japan have found that older fathers are twice as likely to have autistic children as younger men while the mother's age has no influence as such on the likelihood of her offspring developing the disorder.

Their findings were based on an analysis of 84 kids with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders, meaning they had social impairments of the condition -- but had normal intelligence, and 208 children without the disorder. Children whose fathers were over 33 years were 1.8 times more likely to have autism than those fathers were under 29. And men who fathered children between the age of 29 and 32 years were 30 per cent more likely to have an autistic child, the study found.

Experts though are not fully convinced, stating that the pattern of behavior from which autism is diagnosed may not result from a single cause.

After hearing this, it makes me glad I had kids at a younger age.

Autism Conference At Florida Tech, Oct. 3-4, 2008

2008-09-29T19:15:00.000-07:00

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of children diagnosed with autism is rising, creating concern and greater interest in the disorder. Addressing this need for information, the Florida Institute of Technology School of Psychology will host the second annual Autism Conference, "The Many Faces of Autism," on Oct. 3 and a series of workshops on Oct. 4. The conference will present comprehensive, evidence-based information and feature noted autism experts speaking on a variety of related topics. Educators, providers and families will find support in developing effective educational and therapeutic programs for all individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

The conference starts Friday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 a.m. in the Gleason Performing Arts Center on the Florida Tech campus. Featured speakers include Brian Iwata, Juli Liske and Robert and Lynn Koegel.

Iwata focuses on the functional or experimental analysis of severe behavior disorders. He is former editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and former president of the Association for Behavioral Analysis, the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and Division 33 of the American Psychological Association.

Liske is author of the book "The Eye of the Hurricane: Finding Peace within the Storm of Autism". She is mother to an eight-year-old son diagnosed with severe autism at the age of two. She works full-time as a family consultant.

Robert Koegel focuses his career in autism on language intervention, family support and school integration and has published more than 200 articles related to autism treatment. Lynn is the clinical director of autism services in the University of California, Santa Barbara, Autism Research Center. Recently, she appeared on the ABC network's hit show "Supernanny," working with a child with autism.

Conference registration fees are $50 for parent or student preregistration and $125 for a professional to preregister; the fees are $75 for a parent or student registering on-site and $150 for a professional who registers on-site.

Saturday Workshops

On Saturday, Oct. 4, workshops will meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Skurla Hall (College of Aeronautics) auditorium on campus. The cost is $125, full day; $100, half day.

Workshops will include "An Overview of Pivotal Response Treatment" by the Koegels and "Regulation of Behavior Analysis as a Profession and Ethical Considerations" by Jose Martinez-Diaz, program chair, Florida Tech Applied Behavior Analysis Program. Patrick McGreevy will conduct two half-day workshops on "Running an ABA-Verbal Behavior Home Program on a Tight Budget" and "Problems Often Encountered in an ABA-Verbal Behavior Program."

For the past 25 years McGreevy has consulted with school districts, residential programs and private schools in North America and Western Europe. He is an assistant professor at Florida Tech's Orlando Extended Studies site, author of Teaching and Learning in Plain English and founder of the Journal of Precision Teaching.

Presentations this day include "An Overview of Pivotal Response Treatment" by the Koegels and "Regulation of Behavior Analysis as a Profession and Ethical Considerations" by Jose Martinez-Diaz, program chair, Florida Tech Applied Behavior Analysis Program.

Article adapted by Autism Information from original press release.

Program Launched to Educate Teachers About Importance of Early Intervention

2008-09-28T19:34:00.000-07:00

A groundbreaking educational tool kit called, Talking to Parents About Autism, designed to promote early intervention and encourage educators to speak to a child's parents if they suspect a developmental delay. This is the first program to provide teachers with tools to prepare to begin this critical dialogue.

This kit includes a training DVD with information and advice about how educators can best broach the topic of a potential developmental delay. Also included in the tool kit is an Early Childhood Milestone Map, which can be printed and distributed to parents so that they can more easily track their child's progress against the typical, age-specific developmental milestones.

Research has shown that early detection and intervention can make a significant difference in the life of a child with autism. In fact, with appropriate early intervention services, from ages 3-5, between 20% and 50% of children diagnosed with autism will be able to attend mainstream kindergarten. Educators, who interact with and observe children on a daily basis, are in the ideal position to know if a child's development seems delayed.

"It is critical that teachers feel comfortable approaching parents and speaking frankly about any concerns they have about their young students," said Alison Singer, Executive Vice President of Autism Speaks. "This important new tool will facilitate those conversations and ensure that kids who may have a developmental delay get the services they need as early as possible."

This is a first of it's kind venture and it looks very promising. If this works, we may see the early or fast recovery of autistic kids.

Brain Overgrowth In One-year-olds Linked To Development Of Autism

2008-09-25T21:49:00.000-07:00

According to a new research, brain overgrowth in the latter part of an infant's first year may contribute to the onset of autistic characteristics. These findings support concurrent research which has found brain overgrowth in autistic children as young as two years old.

Lead researcher Joseph Piven, M.D., Director of the Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research Center at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and an ACNP member, says that behavioral studies of infants at high risk for autism suggest that the onset of most behavioral symptoms which define the disorder, such as problems with and social interaction, also occur at about age one. "One reason these findings are important is because early post-natal onset raises the possibility that there may be a window for early treatment and prevention that could be identified by future studies," Piven says.

In normal brain development, neuronal connections are eliminated through a process called "pruning." This process refines normal brain connections and increases the efficiency of remaining connections in the brain. Piven says one possibility is that there is less pruning in children with autism and therefore, their brains become larger than in children without autism.

The researchers are not yet sure though and are still going to put more time into the study.

Mental Disorders in Parents may be Linked to Autism in Children

2008-09-24T22:48:00.000-07:00

According to a recent study, parents of children with autism were roughly twice as likely to have been hospitalized for a mental disorder, such as schizophrenia, than parents of other children.

"We are trying to determine whether autism is more common among families with other psychiatric disorders. Establishing an association between autism and other psychiatric disorders might enable future investigators to better focus on genetic and environmental factors that might be shared among these disorders," said study author Julie Daniels, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the UNC School of Public Health's epidemiology and maternal and child health departments.

"Earlier studies have shown a higher rate of psychiatric disorders in families of autistic children than in the general population," she said. "We wanted to see if the parents of autistic children were more likely to be diagnosed with mental disorders.

"Our research shows that mothers and fathers diagnosed with schizophrenia were about twice as likely to have a child diagnosed with autism. We also saw higher rates of depression and personality disorders among mothers, but not fathers," Daniels said.

The study examined 1,237 children born between 1977 and 2003 who were diagnosed with autism before age 10, and compared them with 30,925 control subjects matched for gender, year of birth and hospital. The large sample size enabled researchers to distinguish between psychiatric histories of mothers versus fathers in relation to autism. The association was present regardless of the timing of the parent's diagnosis relative to the child's diagnosis.

This is another step closer to finding where the disorder is coming from and why. Maybe someday, scientists will be able to block the disorder even before it comes out.

Fever May Temporarily Alleviate the Symptoms of Autism

2008-09-23T18:55:00.000-07:00

In a first-of-it's-kind study, it has been noted that the behavior of autistic children improve during a fever. It has been hypothesized by researchers that a fever may possibly restore nerve cell communication in regions of an autistic brain. This restoration may help improve the child's socialization skill during a fever.

The study was based on 30 autistic children between ages 2 and 18 who were observed during and after a fever of at least 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. More than 80 percent of the children showed some improvement in behavior during a fever and 30 percent showed significant improvement, researchers said. Behavior changes included longer concentration span, increased amount of talking and improved eye contact.

Although data suggests that behavior changes may not solely be the byproduct of sickness and, consequently, could be the byproduct of a biologic response to fever. More research, however, is needed to prove fever-specific effects, researchers say.

Even if this is not yet a proven case, any leads that suggest new biologic mechanisms that could be acted on through treatment are welcomed and this has been a very positive addition in the quest to cure the autistic mind.

Autistic Kids May Have Gene that Causes Muscle Weakness

2008-09-22T22:47:00.000-07:00

A study has revealed that some autistic kids may have a genetic defect that affects the muscles. The study looked at 37 children with autism spectrum disorders who were evaluated for mitochondrial disease, which causes muscle weakness and prevents a child from being able to participate in physical activities and sports. Mitochondrial disease occurs when genetic mutations affect the mitochondria, or the part of the cell that releases energy.

A total of 24 of the children, or 65 percent, had defects in the process by which cells produce and synthesize energy in the muscles, or oxidative phosphorylation defects in the skeletal muscles.

"Most children with autism spectrum disorders do not have recognizable abnormalities when you look at genetic tests, imaging, and metabolic tests," said study author John Shoffner, MD, owner of Medical Neurogenetics, LLC in Atlanta, GA, and member of the American Academy of Neurology. "But a subset of these children does have significant defects in this area. Identifying this defect is important for understanding how genes that produce autism spectrum disorders impact the function of the mitochondria."

Hopefully these tests will find solutions and cures. For now, all we can do is continue to shower our kids with love, care and attention as well as pray.

Virtual Reality Can Teach Autistic Children Street Crossing

2008-09-21T23:44:00.000-07:00

It has always been hard to teach autistic children a lot of everyday things and there are the dangers of practicing live. Now, with the use of virtual reality, autistic children are able to practice crossing the street away from the street and away from danger.

The independence of children with autism depends on their receiving treatment in natural settings. One of the main problems they face is their inability to learn how to safely cross the street, a necessary skill for independent living. While acquiring this skill could greatly improve these children's independence, most of the methods for teaching street-crossing have been designed for use within the classroom, and they have been shown as insufficiently effective among autistic children until this innovation came out.

This is a very big step in the right direction for autistic children in gaining more independence and adjusting to everyday life as they grow up.

U.S. researchers call off controversial autism study

2008-09-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

This is very refreshing news for natural cure advocates like us. This can be considered a moral victory. This controversial study has been called off because critics have called it an unethical experiment on children.

The National Institute of Mental Health said in a statement Wednesday that the study of the treatment — called chelation — has been abandoned. The agency decided the money would be better used testing other potential therapies for autism and related disorders, the statement said. Hopefully, these so called "other potential therapies" are more on the natural side.

The study had been on hold because of safety concerns after another study published last year linked a drug used in the treatment to lasting brain problems in rats.

Chelation removes heavy metals from the body and is used to treat lead poisoning. Its use as an autism treatment is based on the fringe theory that mercury in vaccines triggers autism. This theory has never been proved and has been rejected by mainstream science.

This is a very wise decision for the sake of our children. I hope that they would spend more time, money and effort in studying the effects of natural treatments in autism. You never know, the cure just might be right under our noses.

Detecting Autism at 9 months of Age

2008-09-15T23:30:00.000-07:00

A new tool currently being developed has the ability to detect autism in children as young as 9 months.

The Early Autism Study, led by Mel Rutherford, associate professor of psychology in the Faculty of Science, has been using eye tracker technology that measures eye direction while the babies look at faces, eyes, and bouncing balls on a computer screen.

"What's important about this study is that now we can distinguish between a group of siblings with autism from a group with no autism -- at nine months and 12 months," says Rutherford. "I can do this in 10 minutes, and it is objective, meaning that the only measure is eye direction; it's not influenced by a clinician's report or by intuition. Nobody's been able to distinguish between these groups at so early an age."

The current technology for autism detection is reliable around the age of two making the recent development very remarkable.

"There is an urgent need for a quick, reliable and objective screening tool to aid in diagnosing autism much earlier than is presently possible," she says. "Developing a tool for the early detection of autism would have profound effects on people with autism, their parents, family members, and future generations of those at risk of developing autism."

This is a wonderful development in helping children with autism. Now, we can start helping them much earlier than we've previously had.

Special Diet May Help Autistic Children

2008-09-11T18:31:00.000-07:00

Good news for parents of autistic children. A simple diet may actually help your child.

The diet restricts gluten, a protein found in wheat, and casein, a protein in milk and milk by-products. The theory is, that because of an intestinal defect, autistic kids can't completely digest the proteins. And what ends up in the blood stream are substances that interfere with brain activity.

This diet is controversial so far but has many parents backing it up with claims of improvements from their children.

One major question: does the diet help because it reduces intestinal symptoms or because brain functioning really improves? For families of autistic children, it's more than just food for thought.

If you do decide to try this diet, make sure to ask your doctor about it and also make sure to get the exact guidelines so you can get the benefits without the dangers.

Therapeutic Healing Vest

2008-09-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

Everybody needs a hug, especially kids with autism, ADHD and sensory processing disorders. That's where a wonderful invention called a "deep-pressure" vest came from. Invented by Brian Mullen, it is able to deliver a "portable hug" called a deep pressure touch stimulation or DPTS.

This vest has been proven to increase attention to tasks and reduce anxiety and harmful behaviors by providing different sensory stimuli as well as providing a discreet treatment for patients to function in mainstream society.

Another nice thing about the vest is that it can be placed inside virtually any jacket with a lining. Other weighted or elastic garments and toys currently used provide limited control over the amount of pressure applied and require some oversight by a caregiver and Their use is also limited because of the lack of literature documenting their safety, and their tendency to make the user stand out in a crowd.

Environmental Agents Contribute to Developing Autism

2008-04-15T08:26:00.000-07:00

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction as well as verbal and non-verbal communication. This condition is commonly referred to as “autism spectrum disorders” (ASD) which include autism, Asperger’s syndrome, pervasive developmental disorders not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and high-functioning autism. According to the statistics data gathered in 2002 there are more than 550,000 children affected by varying degrees of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It has also been reported that autism is the fastest growing developmental disability, increasing at a rate of 10 to 17 percent annually according to the Autism Society of America. It is becoming increasingly apparent that environmental neurotoxins in combination with genetic predispositions could also create adverse gene-environment interactions.

Surveys conducted in California indicates a 210% increase in the number of cases of autism in children over the past 10 years. There is increasing concern that certain chemicals (such as mercury, halogenated aromatics and pesticides) and biotic factors (such as vaccine antigens) may act synergistically to alter certain susceptibility or genetic risk factors to result in ASD. The UC Davis researchers at the Children’s center have suggested an association between thimerosal (ethyl mercury) and immune system dysfunction in mice. A key point highlighted in the study was the fact that even though moderate amounts of chemicals, such as lead and mercury, were needed to cause neurological damage in most adults, only small amounts might be needed to damage the developing brains in babies, infants and young children. Based on the data from the study, it was suggested that living in areas with higher ambient levels of HAPs, especially metals and chlorinated solvents, during pregnancy or early childhood could be associated with a moderately increased risk of autism. This study highlighted the need for more complex etiologic studies combining exposure to multiple compounds by various pathways with genetic information to further understand the contribution of environmental exposures to the development of autism.

For more information, read the full article.

Virtual playmates may help develop social skills in autistic children

2008-03-24T04:25:00.001-07:00

Children with autism now have a new friend to play with. Researchers from the Northwestern University are currently developing a program using ‘virtual peers’ – animated children that simulate the behaviors and conversation of typically developing children – to help autistic children develop communication and social skills necessary in real-world interactions. According to Andrea Tartaro, one of the researchers involved in the program, the “overall goal is for the children with autism to generalize the skills they learn in practice sessions with virtual peers into meaningful interactions with real-world children.”

From the program’s initial reports, it was discovered that highly-functioning autistic children aged 7 to 11 interacted slightly better with virtual peers than with real-life children. Researchers therefore aim to use these virtual playmates as models for real life children to expose autistic children to different kinds of social interaction and elicit socially-skilled behavior. They hope that by exposing them to virtual peers, autistic children can “practice the rules behind joining a game, holding a conversation and maintaining social interaction” and overcome the communication and social challenges they often face.

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Autism linked to disruptions in gene responsible for brain connections

2008-03-23T08:11:00.001-07:00

Scientists may have discovered another piece of the autism genetic puzzle. According to a study on autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), disruptions in the Contactin 4 gene, which is responsible for helping the brain make connections, may be linked to ASD. As the study’s lead researcher Dr. Eli Hatchwell of Stony Brook University Medical Center suggests, disruptions in the gene (where the child has either three copies or just one copy of the gene when two is normal) accounts for 2.5 percent of autism causes – a significant number considering autism is likely to have a multitude of genetic causes.

The study, which tested 92 patients from 81 families with ASD and 560 without autism, found 3 individuals with disruptions in their Contactin 4 gene. In comparing their DNA with their parents, researchers also discovered that the mutated genes were inherited from the subject’s fathers who had no history of autism, but might have had mild cases of Asperger's syndrome or similar conditions that went undiagnosed. Hatchwell notes, however, that "Autism is a syndrome”, such that “there will be many, many dozens if not hundreds” of different causes for autism.

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2008-03-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Scientists may be one step closer in unraveling the underlying causes of autism with recent studies indicating a link between autism and the mother’s immune system. According to an article in ScienceDaily.org, a research led by Johns Hopkins Children's Center suggests that mothers of autistic children may have produced antibodies that crossed the placenta and reacted against the fetus’ brain proteins during pregnancy, causing changes that led to autism. The research was prompted by past evidence of unusual antibody levels in some autistic children, despite the absence of autoimmune diseases, which initiated researchers to hypothesize that the irregularities may be due to maternal antibodies, and not the child’s.

Researchers involved in the study, however, warn that the findings shouldn’t be a cause of alarm. While initial results suggest that maternal antibodies may cause or trigger autism among already predisposed children, its presence during pregnancy does not necessarily mean that the child will be autistic. Nonetheless, the study reveals valuable insights into the complex nature of the disorder and the role that maternal contributions play in early brain development.

Bone density an issue in those treating Autism naturally

2008-02-07T16:04:00.000-08:00

A recent article in ScienceDaily.com reveals important information to those treating autism or autistic children by avoiding dairy products.
Research indicates that autistic children & teens following diets which limit casein, a dairy protein, have a measurably lower density in their bones than those who do not. This can be attributed to calcium & vitamin D which are present in milk products.

It is prudent for those who are on a dairy-free approach to treating autism to carefully program their diets, or consider nutritional supplements to ensure well rounded nutrient intake to prevent low bone density.

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2007-03-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

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Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids (HUFA) for brain function

2006-07-27T16:30:00.000-07:00

HUFA’s
Highly unsaturated fatty acids have also been researched in regard to eye and brain function. 20% of the dry weight of a normally functioning brain and 30% of the retina in the eye are composed of HUFA’s not EFA’s. A nutritionally complete diet that includes a combination of certain fatty acids can play a vital role in the development of vision, co-ordination, learning ability, memory and concentration. So it is vital to get sufficient essential fatty acids from the diet to meet the body’s requirements.
This is becoming much harder in the modern world with the result that the body often must try to manufacture HUFA’s from essential fatty acids, a process that can be easily blocked by dietary and lifestyle factors including malnutrition which includes a deficient level of omega 3 essential fatty acids, a common condition.

Massage & Reflexology for Autism

2006-07-26T16:09:00.000-07:00

Massage and Reflexology
Some autistics respond well to massage as a method to desensitise them to touch. For this reason it may be that reflexology could provide some benefit in autism.

L-Carnosine for Autism treatment

2006-07-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

L- Carnosine
Carnitine was first isolated in 1900 and is present in both human and animal tissue. Some of its characteristics include protection of various body tissues from free radicals including free radical damage to essential fatty acids found in cell membranes. Research has suggested that he could act as a protected against aldehyde formation created by sugars, yeast and proteins in which case it could be valuable in reducing the effects of acetylaldehydes created as a result of Candida yeast overgrowth.

One 8 week double blind carnosine study which included 31 autistic children conducted at the Autism and Epilepsy Specialty Services in Lake Bluff, Illinois reported that this nutrient may have antioxidant potential and could also act as a neurotransmitter. Using a dosage of 800 mg per day, the control group showed substantial improvement in behavior, vocabulary and picture recognition. 8
It has been theorized that L-carnosine modulates new transmission and affects all ion transfer of zinc and copper in the entorhinal cortex located at the front of the brain. The temporal and frontal lobes of the brain are responsible for control of emotion, instigation of epileptic activity, cognition, abstract thinking and expressive speech.

One anecdotal story from Chicago reported that an 8year old boy and a six year-old girl both had significant changes in behavior and other improvements with the use of L-carnosine.
The lead researcher of this carnitine study Dr. M. Chez reported that of the 1000 autisic children that he has used Carnosine with, he has seen a 90% success rate and improvement with improvements seen within one week to eight weeks of administration.

Vitamin C reduces symptoms of autism

2006-07-24T16:07:00.000-07:00

Vitamin C
One double blind 10 week trial reported excellent results in reduction of symptom severity with the use of 1 gram of vitamin C for every 20 lbs. of body weight. It may be that this positive benefit was a result of the well understood affects vitamin C has on a hormonal pathway typically damaged in autistic children. One side effect to be on the lookout for when using high dosage vitamin C is an increased potential for diarrhea. 7

Dolske MC, Spollen J, McKay S, et al. A preliminary trial of ascorbic acid as supplemental therapy for autism. Prog Neuropsycholpharmacol Biol Psychiatry 1993;17:765–74.

Candia overgrowth treatment - effective Autism treatment

2006-07-23T16:06:00.000-07:00

Candia overgrowth treatment

A common symptom of many autistic children is gastric upset or problems with elimination. In these cases, candida levels are un- commonly high in their digestive tract and it is surmised that potentially the acetylaldehydes released during both the death and birth of candida organisms interferes with brain development and function. The primary reason behind candida infection is use of antibiotics often in response to inner ear infection in the young. It also contributes dramatically to food allergies due to an increased incidence of permeable gut syndrome which is a side effect of Candida infection. This condition affects the integrity of the intestinal gut wall which in turn allows inappropriate molecules such half digested foods and bacteria into the bloodstream eventually setting off an allergic reaction.

A strict candida program including probiotics and strict dietary measures along with the use of fungicides such as oregano oil, caprylic acid, grapefruit seed extract to name but a few can rapidly bring the candida colony down to an acceptable level.

Food intolerances sensitivities receiving their due respect as possible contributors to autism as a direct result of observed improve behaviours at removing certain food items from the diet. Is also been noted by researchers that abnormal peptides in the urine of autistic individuals is a much more common place circumstance than previously thought.
Is this as a direct result of dysbiosis, resulting in permeable gut syndrome due to candida infection?

D M G - can decrease seizures in autistic children

2006-07-22T16:04:00.000-07:00

D M G
Human and animal studies have shown potentially DMG can strengthen the immune system which is commonly malfunctioning in many autistic children, with an added benefit of potential decrease in seizure activity with the use of DMG. 5
While two studies reported no improvement with the use of DMG, one of these studies used only half the recommended dosage.

A more recent human double blind placebo controlled study involving 84 autistic children reported a significant reduction in many autistic symptoms including behaviour problems. 6

A similar product called TMG has been used by parents of autistic children very good results however there has been no published reports are studies on TMG. Essentially TMG is a precursor to DMG which then further breaks down to Sam E which is sometimes used to treat disorders such as depression.

New England Journal of Medicine, 1982, 307, 1081-1082; Epilepsia, 1989, 30, 90-93).
(Unpublished study by Drs. Shin-siung Jung, Bernard Rimland, and Stephen M. Edelson).

Magnesium as a natural treatment for Autism

2006-07-21T20:48:00.000-07:00

Magnesium
There is some evidence that with the addition of magnesium to vitamin B6, a synergistic effect takes place which results in a greater effect in treating autism than if vitamin B6 or magnesium were used alone. 8

MG Chez et al. Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of L-carnosine supplementation in children with autistic spectrum disorders. J Child Neurol 2002 Nov;17(11): 833-7

Vitamin B6 as a treatment for Autism

2006-07-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 has been the subject of several studies and has been reported be helpful for autistic children. While the dosage was typically high for all these studies, between 3.5 mg and almost 100 mg per kilo of body weight, the consensus amongst most researchers is that 30 mg per kilo of body weight is an optimum dosage. Although no toxicity was reported in the studies, there is a potential for nervous system damage theoretically at doses of this level. One prominent researcher has stated that as a result of these studies vitamin B6 is in fact more heavily researched and validated as in autism treatment than are the pharmaceutical drugs that are commonly used. 1- 4

Lelord G, Muh JP, Barthelemy C, et al. Effects of pyridoxine and magnesium on autistic symptoms: Initial observations. J Autism Developmental Disorders 1981;11:219–29.
Martineau J, Garreau B, Barthelemy C, et al. Effects of vitamin B6 on averaged evoked potentials in infantile autism. Biol Psychiatr 1981;16:627–39.
Rimland B, Callaway E, Dreyfus P. The effect of high doses of vitamin B6 on autistic children: a double-blind crossover study. Am J Psychiatr 1978;135:472–5.
Rimland B. Vitamin B6 versus Fenfluramine: a case-study in medical bias. J Nutr Med 1991;2:321–2.

Potential Treatments for Autism - Scientifically validated

2006-07-19T11:25:00.000-07:00

Potential Treatments

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Magnesium
D M G
Candia overgrowth treatment
Vitamin C
L- Carnosine
HUFA’s
Massage and Reflexology

Other potential causes of Autism

2006-07-18T14:05:00.000-07:00

Other potential causes of autism include:

Candida overgrowth,
Lack of glutathione,
Viral Infections,
Foods containing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO),
A hiatus hernia that disrupts protein digestion,
Reaction to type A milk protein.
Environmental toxins.

Researchers have recently uncovered an environmental link to autism. Leomenster, Massachusetts and Brick Township, New Jersey both have a large proportion of autistic children in their communities and interestingly in both communities, the majority of these children are found downwind from factory smokestacks located in these townships. Several government agencies are trying to identify the link.

When all is said and done, it is very possible that more than one and potentially all of these potential causes are responsible for the manifestation of autism.

See our previous post on other theories of the cause of autism.

Gulf War Syndrome related to vaccines

2006-07-17T14:02:00.000-07:00

Similar to Autism, The Gulf War Syndrome has also been linked to vaccinations and drug experimentation done on soldiers. It is interesting to note that, while military personnel from several countries participated in this war, only U.S. soldiers suffer from this syndrome.

The National Childhood Injury Act - over 700 reported Vaccine deaths in 1994

2006-07-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

Incidentally, there is much new research that suggests that vaccination does not work as a method of disease prevention; indeed it may cause more out breaks of disease than it prevents. The DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus) vaccine is perhaps the most controversial childhood vaccine. According to pediatrician Dr. Lendon Smith, nearly all doctors have seen whooping cough (pertussis) in children who have been fully vaccinated with this shot. Side effects for the DPT shot range from high fever, continuous high-pitched screaming, severe rashes, diarrhea, choking, apnea, seizures, mental and physical retardation, and in many cases, death. A study done by Dr. Michel Odent found that children receiving the pertussis vaccine were more than six times more likely to develop asthma than children not receiving the vaccine. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) was virtually unheard of until this vaccine was routinely given. The Japanese noticed this relationship and began delaying DPT vaccination until two years of age at which time SIDS disappeared in Japan. In the U.S., SIDS deaths average 8,000 per year. American babies still receive their first DPT shot at two months of age. Because of the extensive cases of vaccine-induced injury and death, and related lawsuits against the companies who produced the vaccines, The National Childhood Injury Act was created in 1986 to compensate families whose children had been injured or died from vaccines. From July 1990 to March, 1994 more than 34,000 cases of injury were reported, including hundreds of cases of brain damage and over 700 deaths. These numbers represent only 10% of actual cases, since according to the FDA, 90% of doctors do not report vaccine reactions.

Toxic Vaccinations as a cause of Autism

2006-07-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

Toxic Vaccinations as a cause of Autism
Ingredients often found in many vaccines (listed by the Center for Disease Control website) include;

antibiotics (A child could be allergic to antibiotics)
aluminium gels (Aluminium will, when a silicon deficiency is present, cause the brain conditions seen in Alzheimer’s disease)
formaldehyde (Formaldehyde is a highly toxic, carcinogenic chemical)
monosodium glutamate (MSG is a potent excito-toxin which can cause seizures as exhibited by those people who are allergic, brain tumours, and more)
egg protein (Egg protein is a top ten allergen and could cause a life threatening anaphylactic reaction)
sulphites (Sulphites can also cause allergic reactions)

Interestingly, until a relatively short time ago, most vaccines used an ethyl-mercury based preservative called thimerosal until it was banned as being unsafe. This fact was never published on the CDC website. Some vaccines still may contain this deadly toxin. Mercury has a well established track record of toxicity especially to brain tissue. It makes you wonder what governmental health authorities were thinking when approval was given to drug companies that are responsible for the formulation of vaccines laced with this deadly toxin for public use for inoculation of newborns. The only conclusion we can come to is that either they are corrupt or incompetent or both; either way the safety of an uneducated and naive public rests in the hands of these unelected public servants.

Theories on The Cause of Autism

2006-07-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

Theories on The Cause of Autism
Theories of cause vary from group to group and from researcher to researcher. As a consequence there is no true consensus as to treatment options or cause.
Some of the theories of cause include;

Illness during pregnancy for example rubella (German measles)
Lack of oxygen at birth
Genetic damage
Severe cases of childhood illness such as a whopping cough and measles
Vaccination in early childhood (this is a favourite cause for many groups and for good reason)

See our later post for more potential causes of Autism.

Early Detection of Autism

2006-07-12T10:22:00.000-07:00

Early Detection of Autism
These are some of the red flag signs that are helpful in early detection of autism in babies;

No smiling or any other expression by six months of age.
No babbling by the age of 12 months.
No back-and-forth sharing of sounds or facial expressions between the baby and other individuals by nine months.
No attempt to speak by the age of 16 months.
No spontaneous attempts to create 2 word phrases by two years of age.
They attempt to avoid physical contact becoming limp when they are picked up.
They are often described as being either overly agitated or overly passive.

Symptoms of Autism

2006-07-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

Symptoms of Autism
While the symptoms are varied from individual to individual, depending on the severity of autism exhibited, there is a group of symptoms that many autistic individuals have in common;

Super sensitivity to sound and sometimes to touch.
Often there's significant difficulty in relating to people, objects or events and or inappropriate reactions are exhibited. Acceptance of social contact can occur in higher functioning autistic children however they will rarely make the first move and if they do, it is often inappropriately exhibited in a repetitive manner while paying little or no attention to the reaction they have on other individuals.
Often there's a lack of eye contact or failure to respond when their name is called coupled with compulsive behaviour’s such as certain body movements like hand flapping or clapping and head banging.

Autism Information

2006-07-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

Autism Information
Autism is a mysterious condition that inexplicably first manifests in early childhood and dramatically affects the lives of both the parent and child. It affects 4.5 children out of 10,000 live births with research suggesting that it may affect as much as one-quarter of 1% to one-half of 1% of the population. There are several different subgroups of conditions related to autism including Asperger syndrome, PPD (pervasive developmental disorder), Fragile X Syndrome, Landau-Kleffner Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, and Williams Syndrome.