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Research by Topic: Mothers
Is Maternal Influenza or Fever During Pregnancy Associated with Autism or Developmental Delays?
Published January 8, 2015 in Journal of Autism and Developmental DisordersThough neither ASD nor DD was associated with influenza, both were associated with maternal fever during pregnancy. However, the fever-associated ASD risk was attenuated among mothers who reported taking antipyretic medications but remained elevated for those who did not.
Is maternal influenza or fever during pregnancy associated with autism or developmental delays?
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Environment, featured, Mothers, Risk Factors
Maternal Intake of Supplemental Iron and Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders
Published September 22, 2014 in University of California - DavisMothers of children with autism are significantly less likely to report taking iron supplements before and during their pregnancies than the mothers of children who are developing normally, a study by researchers with the UC Davis MIND Institute has found. Low iron intake was associated with a five-fold greater risk of autism in the child if the mother was 35 or older at the time of the child’s birth or if she suffered from metabolic conditions such as obesity hypertension or diabetes. The research is the first to examine the relationship between maternal iron intake and having a child with autism spectrum disorder.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-09/uoc--moc090914.php
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, featured, Mothers
ASF President Alison Singer on The Leonard Lopate Show
Published September 9, 2014 in The Leonard Lopate ShowAcross the country and around the world, children are getting sick and dying from preventable diseasesin part because some parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children. Alison Singer, President of the Autism Science Foundation, and Dr. Amy Middleman, Adolescent Medicine Specialist at the University of Oklahoma’s Health Sciences Center, examine the science behind vaccinations, the return of preventable diseases, and the risks of opting out. Theyre both featured in the PBS NOVA documentary VaccinesCalling The Shots, which airs September 10, at 9 pm, on PBS.
http://www.wnyc.org/story/vaccines/
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, featured, Mothers, Thimerosal, Vaccines
Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Prenatal Residential Proximity to Agricultural Pesticides
Published June 23, 2014 in University of California-DavisA study out of the University of California Davis found that women who live near farmland where pesticides are applied are 60 percent more likely to give birth to a child with autism or other developmental delays. In the study, the association was stronger for women exposed during their second or third trimester. The study looked at three categories of pesticides: organophosphates, pyrethroids and carbamates; all three were found to have associations with ASD or other developmental delays.
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1307044/
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Environment, featured, Mothers, Risk Factors
Use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors during Pregnancy and Risk of Autism
Published December 19, 2013 in New England Journal of MedicineIn the past, studies have raised concern about an association between the use of a certain type of antidepressant known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders in the child. A new study now shows no significant association between maternal use of SSRIs during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder in the child. However, the children were at a higher than usual risk of being diagnosed with autism if their mother had taken the drugs for depression or anxiety prior to the pregnancy, suggesting a possible link between the mother’s preexisting mental health condition and the child’s development of an ASD.
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1301449
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, featured, Mothers
Maternal Prenatal Weight Gain and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Published October 28, 2013 in PediatricsNew research from the University of Utah and published in the journal Pediatrics has uncovered an association between autism spectrum disorders and a small increase in the amount of weight a mother gains during pregnancy. These findings suggest that weight gain during pregnancy is not the cause of ASD but rather may reflect an underlying process that it shares with autism spectrum disorders, such as abnormal hormone levels or inflammation.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2013/10/23/peds.2013-1188.abstract
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, featured, Hormones, Mothers
Alarm Over Autism Test
Published September 13, 2013 in Science MagazineA research group exploring the hypothesis that certain maternal antibodies can impair fetal brains has partnered with a company to develop a test for predicting whether a woman will have a child with autism. The antibodies, they claim, could account for up to a quarter of all autism cases. But other autism scientists are skeptical that the evidence is strong enough to make such a claim, or to consider an autism test based on the antibodies.
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Diagnosis, featured, Mothers
Autism Four Times Likelier When Mother’s Thyroid is Weakened
Published August 13, 2013 in Annals of NeurologyA study from the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute and Erasmus Medical Centre discovered that mothers who do not produce enough of a thyroid hormone, thyroxine, are nearly four times more likely to have a child with autism. In the past, this hormone has been shown to be important in the migration of fetal brain cells during embryo development.
http://www.methodisthealth.com/methodist.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=495&action=detail&ref=1078
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, featured, Hormones, Mothers
Problematic Antibodies Affecting Brain Development During Pregnancy Could Help Explain 1/4 of Cases of Autism
Published July 9, 2013 in Translational PsychiatryAntibodies found almost exclusively in mothers with children who have autism have a certain anitbody that may be affecting brain development during pregnancy. The same study says that these antibodies could account for nearly 1/4 of all cases of autism.
http://www.nature.com/tp/journal/v3/n7/abs/tp201350a.html
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Autoimmune, Brain Development, featured, Mothers, Risk Factors
Mothers Who Have Children with ASD Show Significantly Higher Levels of Fatigue
Published July 1, 2013 in AutismThis study shows that parents who have children with ASD show significantly higher levels of fatigue when compared to mothers of typically developing children. The study argues the need for interventions that specifically target maternal fatigue.
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, featured, Mothers, Parents
Early Signs Of Autism: Does My Toddler Have It?
Published May 24, 2013 in The Huffington Posthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/24/early-signs-of-autism_n_3332215.html
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Science, Diagnosis, Family, featured, Mothers, Toddlers
How Can Immigrant Families Get Help For Their Autistic Child
Published May 24, 2013 in ASF BlogGuest blogger Marcela De Vivo shares insight on some of the difficulties immigrant families face when getting help for their child with autism in this week’s ASF blog post.
Filed under: Family, featured, Mothers, Service Delivery, Treatment, Treatments
Ad Campaign Uses New Approach to Promote Early Autism Recognition in African-American and Hispanic Families
Published May 20, 2013 in The New York TimesFiled under: Autism News, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Family, featured, Mothers, Screening
Parents Turn Their Skills to Furthering Autism Research
Published May 9, 2013 in SFARIASF President Alison Singer is featured in this article on how parent advocates help advance autism research.
http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/news/2013/parents-turn-their-skills-to-furthering-autism-research
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Family, featured, Mothers, Parents
Trophoblast Inclusions Are Significantly Increased in the Placentas of Children in Families at Risk for Autism
Published April 25, 2013 in Biological PsychiatryResearchers at the Yale School of Medicine have figured out how to measure an infant’s risk of developing autism by looking for abnormalities in his/her placenta at birth, allowing for earlier diagnosis and treatment for the developmental disorder.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130425091604.htm
Filed under: Autism Research, Autism Science, Diagnosis, featured, Infants, Mothers
Association of Maternal Exposure to Childhood Abuse With Elevated Risk for Autism in Offspring
Published March 20, 2013 in JAMA PsychiatryThis study examined the relationship between maternal childhood abuse and autism in children in a large population-based sample. Maternal abuse was significantly associated with increased autism risk even after researchers controlled for perinatal risk factors, including gestational diabetes, smoking during pregnancy, preeclampsia, exposure to intimate partner violence and premature birth.
http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1666655
Filed under: Autism Research, Autism Science, Family, featured, Mothers, Prevalence, Risk Factors
Mother’s Drive Helps Research on Rare Autism-linked Mutation
Published March 14, 2013 in SFARIA mother with two sons with autism helps advance research on neuroligin-4 mutations.
Filed under: Autism Research, Autism Science, Family, featured, Genetics, Genomics, Mothers, Mutations, Parents
Changes to Children’s Study Threaten its Value, Experts Say
Published March 7, 2013 in SFARIAutism researchers and advocates are concerned about changes to the recruitment strategy of the National Childrens Study, which aims to enroll 100,000 pregnant women, monitor environmental exposures, and examine gene-environment interactions in the women and their children. The changes, which include forgoing door-to-door recruitment, may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Filed under: Family, featured, Genetics, Infants, Mothers
Prenatal Folic Acid Linked to Lower Risk of Autism
Published February 19, 2013 in ASF BlogRead this new guest post from Theresa Waldron, author of www.healthsnark.com, on the possible link between prenatal folic acid and autism.
Filed under: Autism Research, Diet, featured, Mothers
Association between maternal use of folic acid supplements and risk of autism spectrum disorders in children
Published February 13, 2013 in Journal of the American Medical AssociationThe goal of this study was to determine the relationship between the use of prenatal folic acid supplements and presence of autism spectrum disorders in offspring. The study concluded that the use of prenatal folic acid supplements around the time fo conception was associated with a lower risk of autism spectrum disorders. These findings support […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=23403681
Filed under: Autism Research, Autism Science, IACC Top Papers, Mothers, Risk Factors
Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Children With Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities: Associations With Ethnicity, Child Comorbid Symptoms, and Parental Stress
Published January 30, 2013 in Journal of Child NeurologyFamilies of children with ASD and other comorbid symptoms, including behavioral problems such as irritability and food allergies, were more likely to use complementary and alternative medicine, and they were more likely to use more types of modalities as compared to families of children with other developmental disabilities.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23372032
Filed under: Autism Research, Family, featured, Mothers, Parents, Treatments
Elevated Maternal C-reactive Protein and Autism in a National Birth Cohort
Published January 22, 2013 in Molecular PsychiatryLarge national birth cohort study links elevated maternal C-reactive protein (a marker of systemic inflammation) to increased autism risk.
http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/mp2012197a.html
Filed under: Autism Research, Autism Science, featured, Inflammation, Mothers
Prenatal Versus Postnatal Sex Steroid Hormone Effects on Autistic Traits in Children at 18 to 24 Months of Age
Published December 11, 2012 in Molecular AutismCambridge researchers are investigating the link between pre- and postnatal hormone levels and autistic traits later in life.
http://www.molecularautism.com/content/pdf/2040-2392-3-17.pdf
Filed under: Autism Science, featured, Hormones, Infants, Mothers, Testosterone
Exploratory Study Examines Infections, Pregnancy, Autism Risks
Published November 12, 2012 in USA TodayStudy examines potential links between maternal infections during pregnancy and autism. The chief of the CDC’s Developmental Disabilities Branch says “for now, the standard clinical recommendations for treating pregnant women suffering from fever or flu should not change as a result of [these] new preliminary findings.”
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/12/autism-pregnancy-flu/1693083/
Filed under: featured, Mothers
Placental Regulation of Maternal-fetal Interactions and Brain Development
Published August 23, 2012 in Developmental Neurobiology“A variety prenatal insults are associated with the incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia, autism and cerebral palsy. While the precise mechanisms underlying how transient gestational challenges can lead to later life dysfunctions are largely unknown, the placenta is likely to play a key role. The literal interface between maternal and fetal cells resides in the placenta, and disruptions to the maternal or intrauterine environment are necessarily conveyed to the developing embryo via the placenta. Placental cells bear the responsibility of promoting maternal tolerance of the semiallogeneic fetus and regulating selective permeability of nutrients, gases, and antibodies, while still providing physiological protection of the embryo from adversity. The placenta’s critical role in modulating immune protection and the availability of nutrients and endocrine factors to the offspring implicates its involvement in autoimmunity, growth restriction and hypoxia, all factors associated with the development of neurological complications. In this review, we summarize primary maternal-fetal interactions that occur in the placenta and describe pathways by which maternal insults can impair these processes and disrupt fetal brain development. We also review emerging evidence for placental dysfunction in the prenatal programming of neurodevelopmental disorders.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22753006
Filed under: Autism Research, Autism Science, Brain Development, Mothers
Migration and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Population-based Study
Published August 1, 2012 in The British Journal of PsychiatryResults of this study show that while children of migrant parents are at an increased risk of low-functioning autism, they are at a decreased risk for high-functioning autism. Researchers call for further research to determine if environmental factors associated with migration influence the development of autism.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22361019
Filed under: Autism Research, Family, featured, Mothers, Prevalence
Modeling an Autism Risk Factor in Mice Leads to Permanent Immune Dysregulation
Published July 31, 2012 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences“Increasing evidence highlights a role for the immune system in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as immune dysregulation is observed in the brain, periphery, and gastrointestinal tract of ASD individuals. Furthermore, maternal infection (maternal immune activation, MIA) is a risk factor for ASD. Modeling this risk factor in mice yields offspring with the cardinal behavioral and neuropathological symptoms of human ASD.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22802640
Filed under: Animal Models, Autism Research, Autism Science, Gastroenterology, Mice Study, Mothers
Cognition and behavior: Fragile X Carriers Show Autism Signs
Published July 27, 2012 in Simons Foundation Austism Research InitiativeAccording to a study published in the American Journal of Medical Genetics, Women who have a milder version of the fragile X mutation, which can lead to the full mutation in their children, have some features of autism.
Filed under: Behavior, Biomarkers, featured, Fragile X, Gender, Mothers, Screening
Age at Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Published June 9, 2012 in Journal of Pediatrics“Early identification of autism has become a national priority but, despite efforts, there are children who are being identified at a later age. In this study, children of Hispanic and African American origin, foreign-born children, and children born to foreign mothers were more likely to be diagnosed later.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22683037
Filed under: Autism Research, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Mothers
Fever During Pregnancy May Raise Odds for Autism in Offspring
Published June 1, 2012 in Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and Environment (CHARGE) studyAccording to a new study from the University of California at Davis, moms who had a fever from any cause during pregnancy were more than twice as likely to have a child with autism or another developmental delay, when compared with moms who did not run fever during pregnancy. Moms who had the flu during pregnancy were not at greater risk for having children with autism or another developmental delay.
Filed under: featured, Mothers
The Economic Impact of Autism on Families
Published May 31, 2012 in The AtlanticInteresting article about the financial impacts of autism on American families from The Atlantic.
Filed under: Adults, featured, Mothers, Service Delivery
Study Warns Of Autism Risk For Children Of Obese Mothers
Published April 9, 2012 in NPRA new study in the journal Pediatrics suggests that moms who are obese or have diabetes are more likely to have a child with autism or another developmental problem.
Study Warns Of Autism Risk For Children Of Obese Mothers
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, featured, Mothers
Gene Studies of Autism Point to Mutations and Parents Age
Published April 4, 2012 in New York TimesThree teams of scientists working independently to understand the biology of autism have for the first time homed in on several gene mutations that they agree sharply increase the chances that a child will develop the disorder, and have found further evidence that the risk increases with the age of the parents, particularly the father.
Filed under: Diagnostic Disparities, featured, Genetics, Mothers, Screening
With autism rising, researchers step up hunt for a cause
Published April 3, 2012 in USA TodayFor many families, the quest for the causes of autism has grown more urgent with the news that the estimated prevalence of the condition grew by 23% from 2006 to 2008, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report said last week.
With autism rising, researchers step up hunt for a cause
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, featured, Genetics, Mothers, Vaccines
Mothers of Autistic Children Earn 56% Less Income, Study Says
Published March 19, 2012 in CBS NewsOn average, families with a child who has autism earn 28% less than those of a child without a health limitation; nearly $18,000 less per year.
Mothers of Autistic Children Earn 56% Less Income, Study Says
Filed under: Family, featured, Mothers, Service Delivery, Siblings
Training Parents Is Good Medicine for Children With Autism Behavior Problems, Study Suggests
Published February 24, 2012 in Science DailyChildren with autism spectrum disorders who also have serious behavioral problems responded better to medication combined with training for their parents than to treatment with medication alone, Yale researchers and their colleagues report in the February issue of Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Training Parents Is Good Medicine for Children With Autism Behavior Problems, Study Suggests
Filed under: Behavior, Early Intervention, featured, Irritability, Mothers, Repetitive Behavior, Social Skills, Treatments
Both Maternal and Paternal Age Linked to Autism
Published February 10, 2012 in Science DailyOlder maternal and paternal age are jointly associated with having a child with autism, according to a recently published study led by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
Both Maternal and Paternal Age Linked to Autism
Filed under: Biomarkers, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, featured, Mothers
Dr. Eric London’s Letter to the Editor of the New York Times
Published January 1, 2012 in New York TimesAs a psychiatrist and the parent of an adult son with autism, I found In Treating Disabled, Potent Drugs and Few Rules (front page, Dec. 23) to be unfair and detrimental to the families of the developmentally disabled. Although any medication can be inappropriately administered, the wholesale denigration of psychotropic medication for this population is misplaced.
LETTERS: Care of the Disabled in State-Run Group Homes
Filed under: Behavior, Brain Development, featured, Mothers, Psychopharmacology, Treatments
Warrior parents fare best in securing autism services
Published December 13, 2011 in LA TimesPublic spending on children with autism in California varies greatly by race and class. A major reason: Not all families have the means to battle for coveted assistance.
Warrior parents fare best in securing autism services
Filed under: Behavior, featured, Mothers, Service Delivery
Fetal Exposure to Epilepsy Drug Might Raise Autism Risk: Study
Published December 5, 2011 in US News & World ReportChildren exposed to the epilepsy drug valproate have a nearly three times higher risk of having an autism spectrum disorder, new research finds.
Fetal Exposure to Epilepsy Drug Might Raise Autism Risk: Study
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Epilepsy, featured, Mothers, Psychopharmacology
Having A Child With Autism Linked To Genetic Variant And Autoantibodies: Finding May Lead To Screening Test
Published October 20, 2011 in Medical News TodayA study by researchers at UC Davis has found that pregnant women with a particular gene variation are more likely to produce autoantibodies to the brains of their developing fetuses and that the children of these mothers are at greater risk of later being diagnosed with autism.
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, featured, Genetics, Mothers, Screening
Researchers find autism more common with low birth weight
Published October 17, 2011 in Philadelphia InquirerAutism is far more common in low-birth-weight babies than the general population, researchers are reporting, a significant finding that nevertheless raises more questions than it answers and illustrates how little is known about a group of disorders that affect nearly 1 percent of American children.
http://www.philly.com/philly/health_and_science/131959518.html
Filed under: Brain Development, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, featured, Mothers
Autism-Related Study Discovers How Drug Interferes with Neuronal Cell Function
Published July 7, 2011 in Science DailyThis study examined mouse neuronal cells during pregnancy to discover how the drug actually interferes at a molecular level with prostaglandins, which are important for development and communication of cells in the brain.
Filed under: Animal Models, Brain Development, Mothers, Psychopharmacology
Residential Proximity to Freeways and Autism in the CHARGE Study
Published June 1, 2011 in Environ Health Perspect, Volke et al.Researchers at the University of Southern California examined the association between autism and proximity of residence to freeways and major roadways during pregnancy and near the time of delivery, as a surrogate for air pollution exposure. Using the mother’s address recorded on the birth certificate and trimester-specific addresses derived from a residential history, measures of […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21156395
Filed under: Diagnostic Disparities, Mothers, Screening
Catching Autism Symptoms Early to Enable Effective Preventative Interventions Through Play
Published March 23, 2011 in Medical News TodayToddlers who played with a limited number of toys showed more improvement in their communication skills following parent-guided treatment than those receiving other community-based treatments.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219815.php
Filed under: Behavior, Early Intervention, Mothers, Social Skills, Toddlers, Treatments
Interactive Program for Dealing with Behavioral Problems is Available as iPhone Application
Published March 18, 2011 in Medical News TodayBehavior Breakthroughs, an interactive program developed by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), uses game-based technology and 3-D imagery to help train people who work with children and adults with behavioral problems.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219447.php
Filed under: Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior, Early Intervention, Mothers, Treatments
The Tragedy Of The Fraudulent MMR Autism Link, A Personal Story
Published February 7, 2011 in Medical News TodayMedical journalist recaps his struggle to determine if vaccinations caused his son to be diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome concluding that it would not have made the slightest bit of difference if we had refused to vaccinate when our son was small, claiming any conspiracy theories are not based on any compelling data.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/215841.php
Filed under: Autoimmune, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Mothers, Vaccines
Autism and Increased Paternal Age Related Changes in Global Levels of Gene Expression Regulation
Published February 1, 2011 in PloS One, Alter et al.This study, performed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, analyzed the level of gene expression in children with autism, compared with a control group. The researchers hypothesized that the variability in the pattern of the overall of gene expression levels would be associated with variability in hippocampal-dependent behaviors, which include short-term memory and spatial […]
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0016715
Filed under: Adults, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Genetics, Mothers
Prevalence of Autism According to Maternal Immigrant Status and Ethnic Origin
Published January 1, 2011 in Acta Psychiatrica Scandanavia, M.-J DealbertoThis study examined the rates of autism according to maternal immigrant status and ethnic origins based on the vitamin D insufficiency hypothesis, which proposes that maternal vitamin D insufficiency during pregnancy could be associated with autism. The study provided further support to the association between maternal immigrant status and an increased risk of autism. In […]
http://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2010.01662.x/full
Filed under: Brain Development, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Early Intervention, Mothers
Smoking during Pregnancy affects Myelin Genes in Offspring
Published November 16, 2010 in Science DailySmoking during pregnancy may interfere with brain development. New animal research shows maternal smoking affects genes important in the formation and action of a fatty brain substance called myelin that insulates brain cell connections. The finding may explain why the children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy are more likely to develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, autism, drug abuse, and other psychiatric disorders.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101115155331.htm
Filed under: Animal Models, Brain Development, Gender, Mothers
Parental Autoimmune Diseases Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Offspring
Published November 1, 2010 in Epidemiology, Keil, Daniels et alStudies have suggested associations between immune response and idiopathic disorders (such as autism). This study explores associations between parental autoimmune disorders and children's diagnosis of autism by linking. The study found associations between parental autoimmune disorders and autism spectrum disorders, suggesting parental autoimmune disorders may represent a pathway that warrants more detailed investigation.
Filed under: Autoimmune, Diagnostic Disparities, Genetics, Mothers
Study Links Immune Protein to Abnormal Brain Development
Published October 15, 2010 in Medical News TodayInsight into the role that MHC plays in the nervous system and may enhance our understanding of the factors that can contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders like autism and schizophrenia. Increased levels of a protein called major histocompatibility complex, or MHC, in fetal neurons may be a factor development of autism or schizophrenia.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/204693.php
Filed under: Autoimmune, Biomarkers, Brain Development, Genetics, Mothers, Protein
How Immune Response in Pregnancy May Lead to Brain Disfunction in Offspring
Published October 14, 2010 in Science DailyA pregnant woman’s immune response to viral infections may induce subtle neurological changes in the unborn child that can lead to an increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia and autism.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101012141924.htm
Filed under: Animal Models, Autoimmune, Biomarkers, Brain Development, Early Intervention, Genetics, Mothers, Stem Cell
Neonatal Jaundice Linked to Autism
Published October 11, 2010 in MedPage TodayFull-term neonates with jaundice are at greatly increased risk of later being diagnosed with a disorder of psychological development, a Danish study found. Neonatal jaundice typically is caused by increased bilirubin production and inadequate liver excretory function. Recent research has suggested that even moderate bilirubin exposure in very young children can be harmful, possibly leading to impairments in their development. They found that jaundice was more common among boys, infants born preterm, infants with congenital malformations, and low-birthweight infants.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/Autism/22663
Filed under: Biomarkers, Brain Development, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Gender, Genetics, Mothers
Early Life Influences Risk for Psychiatric Disorders
Published August 18, 2010 in Science DailyFor more than a century, clinical investigators have focused on early life as a source of adult psychopathology. Although the hypothesized mechanisms have evolved, a central notion remains: early life is a period of unique sensitivity during which experience confers enduring effects.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100818090012.htm
Filed under: Brain Development, Early Intervention, Mothers
IVF Linked to Autism
Published June 14, 2010 in Science DailyThe first “test tube baby” was born in 1978. With advances in reproductive science, an estimated one percent of all American babies are now born each year through in vitro fertilization (IVF). But IVF and other assisted fertility treatments may be solving one problem by creating another, suggests new evidence from Tel Aviv University.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100614122026.htm
Filed under: Diagnostic Disparities, Genetics, Mothers
Studies Link Infertility to Autism
Published May 20, 2010 in TimeA study, conducted by a team at the Harvard School of Public Health, found that autism was nearly twice as common among the children of women who were treated with the ovulation-inducing drug Clomid and other similar drugs than women who did not suffer from infertility, and the link persisted even after researchers accounted for the women’s age. Moreover, the association between fertility drugs and autism appeared to strengthen with exposure: the longer women reported being treated for infertility, the higher the chances their child had an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1990567,00.html
Filed under: Diagnostic Disparities, Mothers, Screening
Autism Families: High Divorce Rate is a Myth
Published May 19, 2010 in Web MDParents of autistic children often hear that the divorce rate in families with autism is 80%, but a new study debunks that figure as a myth. There really weren’t any significant differences in terms of family structure when you consider children with autism and those without.
http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20100519/autism-famlies-high-divorce-rate-is-a-myth
Filed under: Mothers
Vaccines: The Reality Behind The Debate
Published April 12, 2010 in Parents MagazineWary parents want to protect their child from any possible risk. It’s time to inject a dose of reality into the rumor-driven debate.
http://www.parents.com/baby/health/vaccinations/vaccines-the-reality-behind-the-debate/
Filed under: Autoimmune, Mothers, Vaccines
Link Between Advanced Maternal Age and Autism Confirmed
Published February 8, 2010 in Science DailyAdvanced maternal age is linked to a significantly elevated risk of having a child with autism, regardless of the father’s age, according to an exhaustive study of all births in California during the 1990s by UC Davis Health System researchers. Advanced paternal age is associated with elevated autism risk only when the father is older and the mother is under 30, the study found.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100208102411.htm
Filed under: Biomarkers, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Mothers
Those Kids
Published December 15, 2009 in Huffington PostDisgruntled mother writes about her frustrations with the use of the phrase “Those Kids” by community members to describe autistic children like her son.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/liane-kupferberg-carter/emthose-kidsem_b_392499.html
Filed under: Mothers, Social Skills
Autism Treatment: Success Stories More Persuasive To Some than Hard Data
Published November 22, 2009 in Chicago TribuneParents often swear their children with autism get better while they are undergoing alternative therapies. Pitches from doctors providing alternative treatments are difficult to resist, he said. But in evaluating a therapy, the challenge is determining how much, if any, of the progress can be credited to the treatment. Some parents are beginning to realize […]
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-11-22/news/0911210345_1_autism-treatment-stories-parents
Filed under: Mothers, Service Delivery, Treatments
California Dept of Health Publishes Study on Autism and Maternal/Paternal Age
Published October 5, 2009 in American Journal of EpidemiologyReviewing a larger population than in any other study of its kind, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has found that as parents age their risk of giving birth to a child with autism increases modestly. Published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the new CDPH study shows that for each 10-year increase in a mothers age, the risk of autism increased by about 38 percent. For each 10-year increase in a fathers age, the risk of autism increased by about 22 percent.
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/NR09-87-CDPHPUBLISHESSTUDYONAUTISMANDMATERNALANDPATERNALAGE.aspx
Filed under: Adults, Biomarkers, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Mothers, Siblings
Antibodies Against Fetal Brain in Sera of Mothers with Autistic Children
Published December 1, 2008 in Journal of Neuroimmunology, Singer, Morris, Gause, Gillin, Crawford, ZimmermanSerum antibodies in 100 mothers of children with autistic disorder (MCAD) were compared to 100 age-matched mothers with unaffected children (MUC) using as antigenic substrates human and rodent fetal and adult brain tissues, GFAP, and MBP. MCAD had significantly more individuals with Western immunoblot bands at 36 kDa in human fetal and rodent embryonic brain […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18093664
Filed under: Animal Models, Biomarkers, Genetics, Mothers
Stereotypes and Hyperactivity in Rhesus Monkeys Exposed to IgG from Mothers of Children with Autism
Published August 31, 2008 in Brain Behavior Immunology, Martin, Ashwood, Braunschweig, Cabanlit, Van de Water, AmaralOne proposed cause of ASD is exposure of the fetal brain to maternal autoantibodies during pregnancy [Dalton, P., Deacon, R., Blamire, A., Pike, M., McKinlay, I., Stein, J., Styles, P., Vincent, A., 2003. Maternal neuronal antibodies associated with autism and a language disorder. Ann. Neurol. 53, 533-537]. To provide evidence for this hypothesis, four rhesus […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18262386
Filed under: Animal Models, Behavior, Genetics, Hyperactivity, Mothers, Social Skills, Treatments
Identifying autism Loci and Genes by Tracing Recent Shared Ancestry
Published July 31, 2008 in Science, Morrow, Yoo, et alTo find inherited causes of autism-spectrum disorders, we studied families in which parents share ancestors, enhancing the role of inherited factors. We mapped several loci, some containing large, inherited, homozygous deletions that are likely mutations. The largest deletions implicated genes, including PCDH10 (protocadherin 10) and DIA1 (deleted in autism1, or c3orf58), whose level of expression […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18621663
Filed under: Biomarkers, Genetics, Mothers, Synapse
Association of Childhood Autism Spectrum Disorders and Loss of Family Income
Published April 30, 2008 in Pediatrics, Montes & HaltermanChildhood autism is associated with a substantial loss of annual household income. This likely places a significant burden on families in the face of additional out-of-pocket expenditures. Both having a child with autism spectrum disorder and having a child with other disabilities were associated with decreased odds of living in a higher income household after […]
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/121/4/e821
Filed under: Mothers
Autism: Maternally derived antibodies specific for fetal brain proteins
Published November 6, 2007 in Neurotoxicology, Braunschweig, Ashwood, et alAutism is a profound disorder of neurodevelopment with poorly understood biological origins. A potential role for maternal autoantibodies in the etiology of some cases of autism has been proposed in previous studies To investigate this hypothesis, maternal plasma antibodies against human fetal and adult brain proteins were analyzed by western blot in 61 mothers of […]
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2305723
Filed under: Brain Development, Genetics, Genomics, Mothers