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Research by Topic: Screening
Yeah, another study about autistic poop
Published July 2, 2019 in ASF PodcastThis week’s podcast includes a summary of the new study, this time in an animal model, looking at microbiome transplantation. Because this was more of an experimental model, the researchers could be more rigorous in their design and look at things like behavior, brain activity, and specific biological pathways. While a mouse does not have […]
https://asfpodcast.org/archives/764
Filed under: adaptive behavior, animal model, Autism Research, Autism Science, AutismBrainNet, brain, BSRC, complementary and alternative medicines, Day of Learning, Genetics, micro biome, neurotypical, podcast, prevention, Repetitive Behavior, Screening, social behavior, Toddlers
How do parents choose different interventions?
Published July 2, 2019 in ASF PodcastParents have choices of dozens of different autism interventions, available in private and public settings. A new study explores factors which influence parents decisions on different interventions, how they are similar to each other and different. They include cognitive ability of their kids with ASD and economic resources. Parents in the US may have similarities […]
https://asfpodcast.org/archives/746
Filed under: Autism Research, Autism Science, Diagnosis, DSM, intervention, medicine, Parents, podcast, Screening
This study is s**t
Published July 2, 2019 in ASF PodcastYou may have heard on the internet that a new “radical” treatment leads to a “50% reduction” in autism symptoms. This radical treatment is fecal transplants, which is taking the bacteria from the feces from one person and putting them in another person. This is a still experimental treatment, and while the microbiome should be […]
https://asfpodcast.org/archives/737
Filed under: Autism Research, Autism Science, epidemiology, intervention, micro biome, podcast, Screening, Toddlers, Treatment
Podcast: The sticky subject of cost-effectiveness
Published May 21, 2018On this week’s podcast, Dr. Tracy Yuen of University of Toronto and the Hospital for Sick Children explains two different analyses of cost-effectiveness which looked at 1) universal screening for ASD and 2) use of genomic sequencing to identify novel variants in people with ASD.
Filed under: ASD, asf, cost-effectiveness, featured, podcast, research, Screening, Sick Kids, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto
ASF co-hosts the 2nd environmental epigenetic of autism research webinar
Published March 7, 2016On Thursday, ASF, the Escher Fund for Autism and Autism Speaks co-organized the second in a series of webinars on environmental epigenetics. These webinars are open to the public and provide discussions on the role of gene/environment interactions in autism led by leading researchers in the field. This month, the presentations were given by Dr. […]
Filed under: Environment, epidemiology, Epigenetics, featured, germ cells, multigeneration, podcast, Screening, TENDR, USPSTF
ASF responds to the USPSTF final recommendations on universal screening
Published February 16, 2016Universal early screening for autism is highly effective in identifying children who have autism, and early intervention is critical to ensure optimal outcomes for children with autism. Earlier today, we were disappointed to hear that the USPSTF released a final recommendation of “insufficient evidence” with regards to the benefits of universal screening in producing better […]
Filed under: featured, Screening, USPSTF
Deadline for comments on US Preventative Services Task Force screening of autism in young children
Published August 9, 2015The US Preventative Services Task Force announces comment period for their draft recommendation. Submit your comments by August 31, 2015 at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/UpdateSummaryDraft/autism-spectrum-disorder-in-young-children-screening
Deadline for comments on US Preventative Services Task Force screening of autism in young children
Filed under: Autism, comment period, featured, recommendations, Screening, USPSTF
ASF, Autism Speaks and the American Academy of Pediatrics respond to U.S. Preventive Services Task Force draft recommendations on screening for ASD.
Published August 3, 2015At a time when 1 in 68 children is diagnosed with autism, early identification, diagnosis and treatment is crucial to give children the best opportunity to reach their full potential. The ambiguity of the statement offered by the US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) on autism screening is troubling and unfortunately, may be easily misinterpreted. While the task force does not explicitly recommend against screening for autism, they state there is insufficient evidence to support autism-specific screening in clinical settings. Instead, they have called for more research in this area.As a result, the task force has failed to fully endorse screening despite an abundance of research that demonstrates it is effective in a variety of settings1-3, leads to earlier identification of autism4, and that this earlier identification provides opportunities for early intervention which improves the lives of children with autism5. Research has demonstrated that formal screening is more effective than relying on clinician judgement alone1,6. This is especially important in reducing racial and ethnic disparities in access to care7,8 Moreover, screening is quick, affordable and has no substantial risk. We intend to review the USPSTF report and its methodology to understand why it differs from other evidence-based recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and from experts in the field of autism spectrum disorders. Every child deserves an early, accurate diagnosis and we are hopeful that after the review period the USPSTF reconsider their conclusions. You can read more about the recommendations and response here.There are a number of world renowned autism researchers who agree with this position. They include:Bryan King, Seattle Childrens HospitalAmi Klin, Emory UniversityDiana Robins, Drexel UniversityCeline Saulnier, Emory UniversityRobins DL. Screening for autism spectrum disorders in primary care settings. Autism : the international journal of research and practice. 2008;12(5):537-556.Miller JS, Gabrielsen T, Villalobos M, et al. The each child study: systematic screening for autism spectrum disorders in a pediatric setting. Pediatrics. 2011;127(5):866-871.Robins DL, Casagrande K, Barton M, Chen CM, Dumont-Mathieu T, Fein D. Validation of the modified checklist for Autism in toddlers, revised with follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F). Pediatrics. 2014;133(1):37-45.Herlihy LE, Brooks B, Dumont-Mathieu T, et al. Standardized screening facilitates timely diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders in a diverse sample of low-risk toddlers. Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP. 2014;35(2):85-92.Pierce K, Carter C, Weinfeld M, et al. Detecting, studying, and treating autism early: the one-year well-baby check-up approach. The Journal of pediatrics. 2011;159(3):458-465 e451-456.Wetherby AM, Brosnan-Maddox S, Peace V, Newton L. Validation of the Infant-Toddler Checklist as a broadband screener for autism spectrum disorders from 9 to 24 months of age. Autism : the international journal of research and practice. 2008;12(5):487-511.Khowaja MK, Hazzard AP, Robins DL. Sociodemographic Barriers to Early Detection of Autism: Screening and Evaluation Using the M-CHAT, M-CHAT-R, and Follow-Up. Journal of autism and developmental disorders. 2015;45(6):1797-1808.Daniels AM, Halladay AK, Shih A, Elder LM, Dawson G. Approaches to enhancing the early detection of autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review of the literature. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2014;53(2):141-152.
Filed under: AAP, Autism, Autism Speaks, featured, Screening, USPSTF
New Diagnostic Tool for Adults with Autism
Published December 9, 2013Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have developed a new screening tool to facilitate the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in adults. The test is presented in the scientific journal Molecular Autism and is unique in that researchers have, as part of their evaluation, compared the group diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder with psychiatric patients. In adults, distinguishing Autism Spectrum Disorder from other psychiatric conditions can be a problem, as their symptoms often overlap or are similar to those in schizophrenia, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or severe personality disorders.
http://www.molecularautism.com/content/4/1/49/abstract
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Diagnosis, featured, Screening
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
Evaluating Changes in the Prevalence of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)
Published March 14, 2013 in Public Health ReviewsIn effort to stimulate more research to better understand ASD trends, ASF President Alison Singer and other stakeholders discuss the increase in ASD prevalence and share their knowledge and opinions.
http://www.publichealthreviews.eu/upload/pdf_files/12/00_Rice.pdf
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, featured, Prevalence, Screening
Beyond Autism: A Baby Siblings Research Consortium Study of High-risk Children at Three Years of Age
Published February 8, 2013 in Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryThis study is the first large-scale examination of ASD behavioral characteristics and developmental functioning in high-risk (HR), non-autistic 3-year-olds with siblings on the spectrum. 79% of HR children were either no different from low-risk children (LR; no known ASD family history) with respect to ASD behavioral severity and developmental functioning, or were developmentally on target with high levels of ASD-related behaviors. 21% of HR children with no ASD diagnosis had an “early manifestation” of a broad autism phenotype: high levels of ASD-related behaviors and/or low levels of verbal and nonverbal functioning. The authors highlight the importance of developmental surveillance and intervention for this HR subset.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23452686
Filed under: Autism Research, Autism Science, Baby Sibs, Behavior, Early Intervention, featured, Infants, Screening, Toddlers
Decreased Spontaneous Attention to Social Scenes in 6-Month-Old Infants Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Published January 14, 2013 in Biological PsychiatryYale researchers used eye-tracking technology to examine social monitoring skills of infants at high and low risk for autism. Compared to infants who developed typically, six-month olds later diagnosed with ASD looked less at the social scene, which involved a woman engaged in various activities. When they did attend to the social scene, they spent less time viewing the womans face.
http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(12)01030-X/abstract
Filed under: Early Intervention, Eye Tracking, featured, Infants, Screening, Social Skills
Autism Genetic Testing: A Qualitative Study of Awareness, Attitudes, and Experiences among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Published January 3, 2013 in Genetics in MedicineThis study provides insight into awareness, perspectives and experiences of ASD genetic testing among parents of autistic children.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=23288207
Filed under: Autism Research, Autism Science, featured, Genetics, Genomics, Parents, Screening
Effectiveness of developmental screening in an urban setting
Published January 1, 2013 in PediatricsThe goal of this study was to determine whether developmental screening could aid identification of developmental delays, early intervention referrals, and eligibility for early intervention. The study concluded that children who received developmental screening tests were identified for developmental delays, early intervention referrals, and early intervention eligibility services in a more timely fashion than those […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=23248223
Filed under: Autism Research, Autism Science, Early Intervention, IACC Top Papers, Screening
Prevalence and Correlates of Autism in a State Psychiatric Hospital
Published November 15, 2012 in AutismThis study estimated the ASD prevalence in a psychiatric hospital and evaluated the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) combined with other information for differential diagnosis. Undiagnosed ASD may be common in psychiatric hospitals. The SRS, combined with other information, may discriminate well between ASD and other disorders.
http://aut.sagepub.com/content/16/6/557.abstract
Filed under: Adults, Diagnosis, featured, Screening
Diagnosing Autism in Neurobiological Research Studies
Published November 12, 2012 in Behavioural Brain ResearchThis review by Catherine Lord and Rebecca Jones looks at common tools and best practices for ASD diagnosis in research settings.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23153932
Filed under: Diagnosis, featured, Screening
New Rules Allow Joint Diagnosis of Autism, Attention Deficit
Published October 25, 2012 in SFARIAutism and ADHD diagnoses will no longer be mutually exclusive under proposed DSM-5 guidelines. Clinicians will be permitted to make official dual diagnoses when necessary.
Filed under: Diagnosis, featured, Screening
The Development of Referential Communication and Autism Symptomatology in High-Risk Infants
Published October 1, 2012 in InfancyThis study suggests that non-verbal communication delays in infants with autistic siblings can predict later ASD symptoms.For a Science Daily article on this paper, click here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121001124802.htm
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1532-7078.2012.00142.x/abstract
Filed under: Baby Sibs, Early Intervention, featured, Screening, Siblings, Social Interaction, Toddlers
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
Gauging seizures severity
Published April 30, 2012 in MITnewsSimple wrist sensors let neurologists collect better data about patients with epilepsy and could alert patients that they need to seek medical care.
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/seizure-wrist-sensor-0427.html#.T53hCS6KdVA.gmail
Filed under: Epilepsy, featured, Screening, Service Delivery
New Clinical Study Evaluates First Drug to Show Improvement in Subtype of Autism
Published April 26, 2012 in EurekAlertIn an important test of one of the first drugs to target core symptoms of autism, researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine are undertaking a pilot clinical trial to evaluate insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) in children who have SHANK3 deficiency (also known as 22q13 Deletion Syndrome or Phelan-McDermid Syndrome), a known cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
New clinical study evaluates first drug to show improvement in subtype of autism
Filed under: Animal Models, Copy Number Variations, featured, Psychopharmacology, Screening, Synapse, Treatments
Autism science is moving ‘stunningly fast’
Published April 10, 2012 in USA TodayResearchers today also say they’re beginning to make progress, perhaps for the first time, in understanding the autistic brain.
Autism science is moving 'stunningly fast'
Filed under: Diagnosis, Early Intervention, featured, Genetics, Screening, Treatments
What to Make of the New Autism Numbers
Published April 9, 2012 in Time MagazineEvidence shows an increased number of autism diagnoses. There is the possibility that the increase in cases is entirely the result of better detection. Scientists must work to uncover the truth.
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Early Intervention, featured, Screening
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
IACC Releases Its 2011 Summary of Advances in Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Published April 2, 2012 in IACCOn April 2, in honor of the fifth annual World Autism Awareness Day and HHS Autism Awareness Month the IACC has released its annual list of scientific advances that represent significant progress in the field.
IACC Releases Its 2011 Summary of Advances in Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Filed under: Adults, Baby Sibs, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, featured, Genetics, Screening, Service Delivery, Siblings, Treatments
Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 14 Sites, United States, 2008
Published March 29, 2012 in MMWR (CDC)Full text of today’s CDC report indicating 1 in 88 children is now diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6103a1.htm?s_cid=ss6103a1_e
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Early Intervention, featured, Screening, Service Delivery
Newly Published Genetics/Brain Tissue Study Will Help Refine the Search for Specific Early Genetic Markers of Risk of Autism in Babies and Toddlers
Published March 22, 2012 in PLoS GeneticsA new study of autism published today in PLoS Genetics has discovered abnormal gene activity and gene deletions in the same brain region that also has a 67% overabundance of brain cells. This region the prefrontal cortexis involved in social, emotional, communication and language skills. The finding brings new understanding of what early genetic abnormalities lead to excess brain cells and to the abnormal brain wiring that cause core symptoms in autism. Importantly, the study also shows that gene activity abnormalities in autism change across the lifespan.
Filed under: Biomarkers, Brain Development, Early Intervention, featured, Genetics, Screening, Toddlers
New Autism Research Reveals Brain Differences at 6 Months in Infants Who Develop Autism
Published February 17, 2012 in Center for Autism Research at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)A new study from the Infant Brain Imaging Network, which includes researchers at the Center for Autism Research at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), found significant differences in brain development starting at age 6 months in high-risk infants who later develop autism, compared to high-risk infants who did not develop autism.
Filed under: Biomarkers, Brain Development, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, featured, Genetics, Screening
Toward Brief Red Flags for Autism Screening: The Short Autism Spectrum Quotient and the Short Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers in 1,000 Cases and 3,000 Controls
Published February 1, 2012 in Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryTen items were taken from the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) to develop brief screening tools for ASD. Researchers hope these new measures will help doctors decide whether to refer families for full diagnostic assessments.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22265366
Filed under: Autism Research, Diagnosis, featured, Screening, Toddlers
In the Brain, Signs of Autism as Early as 6 Months Old
Published January 30, 2012 in Science DailyMeasuring brain activity in infants as young as six months may help to predict the future development of autism symptoms.
In the Brain, Signs of Autism as Early as 6 Months Old
Filed under: Behavior, Brain Imaging, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, featured, Screening, Social Skills
Automated Imaging Inroduced To Greatly Speed Whole-Brain Mapping Efforts
Published January 17, 2012 in Medical News TodayA new technology developed by neuroscientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) transforms the way highly detailed anatomical images can be made of whole brains.
Automated Imaging Inroduced To Greatly Speed Whole-Brain Mapping Efforts
Filed under: Brain Imaging, Diagnosis, featured, Mice Study, Screening
67% More Prefrontal Brain Neurons In Children With Autism
Published November 8, 2011 in Medical News TodayA small study found that male children with autism had larger brain weights and 67% more prefrontal brain neurons than children without autism.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/237224.php
Filed under: Biomarkers, Brain Development, featured, Gender, Motor Planning, Screening
Association Between Behavioral Features and Gastrointestinal Problems Among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published October 25, 2011 in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - Maenner, M.J. et al.Recent reports suggest certain behaviors among children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may indicate underlying gastro-intestinal (GI) problems, and that the presence of these behaviors may help alert primary care providers to the need to evaluate a child with ASD for GI problems. The purpose of this population-based study of 487 children with ASD, including […]
http://www.springerlink.com/content/b23217521067w850/
Filed under: Behavior, featured, Gastroenterology, Irritability, Screening, Sleep
University of Missouri researchers have found distinct differences between the facial characteristics of children with autism compared to those of typically developing children.
Published October 22, 2011 in Medical News TodayThe face and brain develop in coordination, with each influencing the other, beginning in the embryo and continuing through adolescence. Now, University of Missouri researchers have found distinct differences between the facial characteristics of children with autism compared to those of typically developing children…
Filed under: Biomarkers, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, featured, Screening
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
Diagnosing Autism At A Younger Age Could Lead To Earlier Interventions
Published October 16, 2011 in Medical News TodayAutism is normally diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 3, but new research is finding symptoms of autism spectrum disorders in babies as young as 12 months.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/236003.php
Filed under: Diagnosis, Early Intervention, featured, Screening, Service Delivery, Toddlers
Boys With Autism May Grow Faster as Babies
Published October 7, 2011 in US News HealthDayBoys with autism tend to grow faster as babies, with differences from typically developing infants seen in their head size, height and weight, a new study says. Researchers said the findings may offer new clues about the underlying mechanisms of autism. A larger head size probably means the children also have a larger brain.
Filed under: Brain Development, featured, Gender, Screening
US researchers’ discovery promises answers on autism
Published September 8, 2011 in The AustralianResearchers have for the first time identified two biologically different strains of autism in a major breakthrough being compared with the discovery of different forms of cancer in the 1960s. The findings, to be announced at an international autism conference in Perth today, are seen as a key step towards understanding the causes of autism and developing effective treatments as well as a cure. The findings bring hope that the communication, socialization and other difficulties that autistic children experience can be tackled more easily and earlier.
Filed under: Brain Development, Genetics, Screening, Service Delivery, Treatments
Distinct features of autistic brain revealed in novel Stanford/Packard analysis of MRI scans
Published September 2, 2011 in Stanford UniversityResearchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital have used a novel method for analyzing brain-scan data to distinguish children with autism from typically developing children. Their discovery reveals that the gray matter in a network of brain regions known to affect social communication and self-related thoughts has a distinct organization in people with autism.
http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2011/september/menon.html
Filed under: Biomarkers, Brain Development, Brain Imaging, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Screening, Toddlers
Prevalence and Correlates of Autism in a State Psychiatric Hospital
Published August 24, 2011 in Left Brain - Right BrianThis study estimated the ASD prevalence in a psychiatric hospital and evaluated the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) combined with other information for differential diagnosis. Chart review, SRS and clinical interviews were collected for 141 patients at one hospital. Diagnosis was determined at case conference. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the SRS as a screening instrument. Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) analysis estimated the role of other variables, in combination with the SRS, in separating cases and non-cases. Ten percent of the sample had ASD. More than other patients, their onset was prior to 12 years of age, they had gait problems and intellectual disability, and were less likely to have a history of criminal involvement or substance abuse. Sensitivity (0.86) and specificity (0.60) of the SRS were maximized at a score of 84. Adding age of onset
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Screening, Service Delivery, Social Skills
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
Children Conceived in Winter have a Greater Risk of Autism, Study Finds
Published May 5, 2011 in Medical News TodayAn examination of the birth records of the more than 7 million children born in the state of California during the 1990s and early 2000s has found a clear link between the month in which a child is conceived and the risk of that child later receiving a diagnosis of autism. Among the children included in the study, those conceived during winter had a significantly greater risk of autism, the study found.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/224314.php
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Screening
Most Adults with Autism Go Undiagnosed – New Findings, UK
Published May 4, 2011 in Medical News TodayDr Brugha, who is also a consultant psychiatrist working in the NHS with the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said none of the cases with autism found in the community survey throughout England knew that they were autistic or had received an official diagnosis of autism or asperger syndrome.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/224220.php
Filed under: Adults, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Screening, Service Delivery
Atypical Neural Networks for Social Orienting in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Published May 1, 2011 in Neuroimage, Greene et al.Researchers at UCLA used fMRI to examine the neural mechanisms involved in social interactions in autism spectrum disorders in order to provide insight into the social attention impairments that characterize the disorder. Researchers examined children and adolescents with ASD with social and nonsocial cues. Data revealed that in typically developing individuals, there was greater responsiveness […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21334443
Filed under: Brain Development, Brain Imaging, Screening, Social Skills
Aberrant Striatal Functional Connectivity in Children with Autism
Published May 1, 2011 in Biol Psychiatry, Di Martino et al.BACKGROUND: Models of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) as neural disconnection syndromes have been predominantly supported by examinations of abnormalities in corticocortical networks in adults with autism. A broader body of research implicates subcortical structures, particularly the striatum, in the physiopathology of autism. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging has revealed detailed maps of striatal circuitry […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21195388
Filed under: Brain Development, Brain Imaging, Screening
New checklist could detect autism by age 1
Published April 28, 2011 in USA TodayAn early screening test for autism, designed to detect signs of the condition in babies as young as 1 year old, could revolutionize the care of autistic children, experts say, by getting them diagnosed and treated years earlier than usual. The checklist available online now asks parents or other caregivers about their child’s communication skills, from babbling and first words to eye contact.
Filed under: Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Screening, Service Delivery
Misreading Faces Tied to Child Social Anxiety
Published April 1, 2011 in Medical News TodayChildren suffering from extreme social anxiety are trapped in a nightmare of misinterpreted facial expressions: They confuse angry faces with sad ones, a new study shows.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/220974.php
Filed under: Early Intervention, Screening, Social Skills
New Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised Algorithms for Toddlers and Young Preschoolers from 12 to 47 Months of Age
Published March 1, 2011 in J Autism Developmental Disorders, Kim et al.The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised is a tool clinician’s use for the diagnosis of a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The diagnostic algorithms of the evaluative tool were altered to improve sensitivity and specificity compared to the previous algorithm.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21384244
Filed under: Diagnosis, Language, Screening, Speech, Toddlers
Serotonin Plays Role in Many Autism Cases, Studies Confirm
Published February 24, 2011 in Science DailyGeorgianna Gould, Ph.D., research assistant professor of physiology in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, is eyeing the role that serotonin plays in autism spectrum disorders. Serotonin is known for giving a sense of well-being and happiness. It is a neurotransmitter, a chemical that acts like a radio tower in the brain conveying signals among cells called neurons. Thirty percent of autism cases may have a serotonin component. In a recent paper in the Journal of Neurochemistry, Dr. Gould and colleagues showed that a medication called buspirone improved the social behaviors of mice. Buspirone is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in adults as an anti-anxiety and antidepressant adjuvant medication.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110224121940.htm
Filed under: Animal Models, Behavior, Genetics, Screening, Social Skills, Treatments
Handwriting Problems Affect Children With Autism Into the Teenage Years
Published February 11, 2011 in Science DailyA new study suggests that the handwriting problems that affect children with autism are likely to continue into their teenage years. The research found that the teenagers with autism earned 167 points out of 204 total possible points on the handwriting assessment, compared to the 183 points scored by teens in the group without autism. These results showed statistical significance in the study. The teenagers with autism also had motor skill impairments.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101115173843.htm
Filed under: Motor Planning, Screening
Movement during brain scans may lead to spurious patterns
Published January 16, 2011 in SFARIHead movements taint the results of many brain imaging studies, particularly those analyzing children or individuals with autism. Thats the sobering message from two independent studies published over the past few months in NeuroImage.
Movement during brain scans may lead to spurious patterns
Filed under: Behavior, Brain Development, Brain Imaging, featured, Screening
How Cortical Nerve Cells Form Synapses With Neighbors
Published December 22, 2010 in Science DailyNewly published research led by Professor Z. Josh Huang, Ph.D., of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) sheds important new light on how neurons in the developing brain make connections with one another. This activity, called synapse validation, is at the heart of the process by which neural circuits self-assemble, and is directly implicated in pathology that gives rise to devastating neurodevelopmental disorders including autism and schizophrenia.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101221141104.htm
Filed under: Brain Development, Brain Imaging, Screening, Synapse
A Set Of Brain Proteins Is Found To Play A Role In Over 100 Brain Diseases And Provides A New Insight Into Evolution Of Behavior
Published December 21, 2010 in Medical News TodayIn research just published, scientists have studied human brain samples to isolate a set of proteins that accounts for over 130 brain diseases. The paper also shows an intriguing link between diseases and the evolution of the human brain.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/212064.php
Filed under: Biomarkers, Brain Development, Brain Imaging, Genetics, Screening, Synapse
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism
Published December 1, 2010 in Journal of the American Medical Association, Giulivi et alChildren with autism are far more likely to have deficits in their ability to produce cellular energy than are typically developing children. While the study is small (10 test subjects) and requires replication, it furthers previous research which has revealed hints of a mitochondrial dysfunction/autism connection. The researchers found that mitochondria from children with autism […]
http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/304/21/2389
Filed under: Biomarkers, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Screening
Neural Signatures of Autism
Published December 1, 2010 in PNAS, Kaiser, Hudack, Schultz, Lee, Cheung, Berken, Deen, Pitskel, Sugrue, Voos, Saulnier, Ventola, Wolf, Klin, Vander Wyk, PelphreyThese findings of this study hold far-reaching implications for our understanding of the neural systems underlying autism. Using FMRI to record the biological motion of children with autism spectrum disorder, unaffected siblings of children with ASD, and typically developing children, the study reveals three types of neural signatures: The study finds distinct brain responses to […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21078973
Filed under: Baby Sibs, Brain Imaging, Screening, Siblings
Describing the Brain in Autism in Five Dimensions-Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assisted Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder Using a Multiparameter Classification Approach
Published December 1, 2010 in Journal of Neuroscience, Ecker et alThe study tested a group of 20 high functioning adults with autism, together with 20 control adults, to determine whether MRI scans can detect autism. Using left hemisphere cortical thickness, the algorithm could achieve 90% accuracy, however the right hemisphere was worse at differentiating between the two groups. The study shows that it is feasible […]
http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/abstract/30/32/10612
Filed under: Adults, Brain Imaging, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Screening
Children With Autism Have Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Study Finds
Published November 30, 2010 in Science DailyChildren with autism are far more likely to have deficits in their ability to produce cellular energy than are typically developing children, a new study by researchers at UC Davis has found. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), found that cumulative damage and oxidative stress in mitochondria, the cell’s energy producer, could influence both the onset and severity of autism, suggesting a strong link between autism and mitochondrial defects.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101130161521.htm
Filed under: Biomarkers, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Genetics, Screening
Do Handwriting Problems with Autistic Children Continue into their Teen Years?
Published November 16, 2010 in Medical News TodayA new study suggests that the handwriting problems that affect children with autism are likely to continue into their teenage years. The research found that the teenagers with autism earned 167 points out of 204 total possible points on the handwriting assessment, compared to the 183 points scored by teens in the group without autism. These results showed statistical significance in the study. The teenagers with autism also had motor skill impairments.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/207961.php
Filed under: Motor Planning, Screening
How the Brain is Wired for Attention
Published November 2, 2010 in Science DailyUniversity of Utah (U of U) medical researchers have uncovered a wiring diagram that shows how the brain pays attention to visual, cognitive, sensory, and motor cues. The research provides a critical foundation for the study of abnormalities in attention that can be seen in many brain disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, and attention deficit […]
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101101151724.htm
Filed under: Brain Development, Brain Imaging, Screening
A Model for Neural Development and Treatment of Rett Syndrome Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Published November 1, 2010 in Cell, Marchetto et alAutism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex neurodevelopmental diseases in which different combinations of genetic mutations may contribute to the phenotype. Using Rett syndrome (RTT) as an ASD genetic model, we recapitulate early stages of a human neurodevelopmental disease, using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from RTT patients' fibroblasts, which essentially creates a "disease in a […]
http://www.cell.com/abstract/S0092-8674(10)01186-4
Filed under: Brain Development, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Rett Syndrome, Screening, Stem Cell, Treatments
Neurogenetics Research Sheds Light on the Causes of Neurological Disease
Published October 21, 2010 in Science DailyThe last two decades have seen tremendous progress in understanding the genetic basis of human brain disorders. Research developments in this area have revealed fundamental insights into the genes and molecular pathways that underlie neurological and psychiatric diseases. In a new series of review articles, experts in the field discuss exciting recent advances in neurogenetics research and the potential implications for the treatment of these devastating disorders.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101020121202.htm
Filed under: Animal Models, Brain Imaging, Genetics, Psychopharmacology, Screening, Treatments
New Finding Provides Insight Into The Psychology Of Autism-Spectrum Disorders
Published October 12, 2010 in Medical News TodayResearchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have isolated a very specific difference in how high-functioning people with autism think about other people, finding that – in actuality – they don’t tend to think about what others think of them at all.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/235835.php
Filed under: Behavior, Screening, Social Skills
Infants Gaze May Be an Early, but Subtle, Marker for Autism Risk
Published September 1, 2010 in Science DailyKennedy Krieger Institute have announced new study results showing an early marker for later communication and social delays in infants at a higher-risk for autism may be infrequent gazing at other people when unprompted. The study also found that six-month-old high-risk infants demonstrated the same level of cause and effect learning skills when compared to low-risk infants of the same age.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100901111628.htm
Filed under: Baby Sibs, Behavior, Biomarkers, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Eye Tracking, Screening, Siblings, Social Skills
Researchers Connect APC Protein to Autism and Mental Retardation
Published August 24, 2010 in Medical News TodayA clue to the causes of autism and mental retardation lies in the synapse, the tiny intercellular junction that rapidly transfers information from one neuron to the next. According to neuroscientists at Tufts University School of Medicine, with students from the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts, a protein called APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) plays a key role in synapse maturation, and APC dysfunction prevents the synapse function required for typical learning and memory.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/198610.php
Filed under: Biomarkers, Brain Development, Genetics, Screening, Synapse
Autism Linked to Multisensory Integration
Published August 20, 2010 in Science DailyA new study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University has provided concrete evidence that children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) process sensory information such as sound, touch and vision differently than typically developing children.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100819173840.htm
Filed under: Brain Imaging, Motor Planning, Screening
Study: Autism Can Be Diagnosed with 15 Minute Brain Scan
Published August 10, 2010 in BloombergA 15-minute brain scan identified adults with autism almost as effectively as conventional methods of diagnosis that rely on interviews with patients and their families, U.K. scientists said. The scan detected more than 90 percent of the autistic patients who had been diagnosed using intelligence tests, psychiatric interviews, physical examinations and blood tests, according to a study by Kings College London researchers.
Filed under: Biomarkers, Brain Imaging, Diagnosis, Screening
Researchers Find Predictors of Autism That Can Lead to Infant Diagnosis
Published August 5, 2010 in S.I. LiveCertain behaviors seen in infants as young as 1-month-old may be predictors of autism spectrum disorders, according to new research by scientists at the Institute for Basic Research and Developmental Disabilities, Willowbrook.At 1 month, children with the ASD diagnosis were more likely to have asymmetrical visual tracking and arm tone deficits. By 4 months, they were more attracted to higher levels of visual stimulation, much like younger infants. Between 7 and 10 months, the children with ASD showed major declines in mental and motor performance.
http://www.silive.com/westshore/index.ssf/2010/08/researchers_from_staten_island.html
Filed under: Behavior, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Screening
New Technology Reveals a Unique Vocal Signature in Autism
Published July 20, 2010 in Medical News TodayStudy reports new automated vocal analysis technology could fundamentally change the study of language development as well as the screening for autism spectrum disorders and language delay.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/195268.php
Filed under: Early Intervention, Language, Screening, Speech
New Autism Susceptibilty Genes Identified
Published June 10, 2010 in Medical News TodayMount Sinai researchers and the Autism Genome Project Consortium (AGP) announced that they have identified new autism susceptibility genes that may lead to the development of new treatment approaches. These genes, which include SHANK2, SYNGAP1, DLGAP2 and the X-linked DDX53-PTCHD1 locus, primarily belong to synapse-related pathways, while others are involved in cellular proliferation, projection and motility, and intracellular signaling
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/191404.php
Filed under: Copy Number Variations, Genetics, Genomics, Screening, Synapse
Blinking Could Detect Autism
Published May 21, 2010 in SFARIThe researchers tracked eye movements and blinks in 41 2-year-olds with autism and 52 healthy controls while the children watched a short movie of two toddlers on a playground. Both groups on average blinked about five times per minute. But they differed significantly in how their blinking lined up with the content of the movie.Healthy toddlers refrained from blinking as they watched scenes with high emotional content, such as when the toddler-actors fought about a toy. Toddlers with autism, in contrast, were just as likely to blink during emotional scenes as during dull ones.
Filed under: Early Intervention, Eye Tracking, Screening, Toddlers
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
IntegraGen Announces Publication of Four Genetic Variants in Autism
Published May 14, 2010 in Medical News TodayIntegraGen SA, a French biotechnology company dedicated to gene discovery, announced today the publication of the results of a collaborative study reporting the use of a combined analysis of multiple genetic variants in a genetic score to help identify individuals at high risk of developing autism.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/188671.php
Filed under: Biomarkers, Copy Number Variations, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Genetics, Screening
Brain’s Master Switch is Verified
Published May 9, 2010 in Science DailyYeon-Kyun Shin, professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology at ISU, has shown that the protein called synaptotagmin1 (Syt1) is the sole trigger for the release of neurotransmitters in the brain. Shin believes his discovery may be useful in understanding brain malfunctions such as autism, epilepsy and others.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100507161421.htm
Filed under: Brain Development, Brain Imaging, Screening
Extremely Preterm Children are Three Times As Likely to Have Psychiatric Disorder
Published April 25, 2010 in Science DailySignificant advances in the neonatal intensive care have resulted in increased survival rates of children who are born at less than 26 weeks of gestation, so termed “extremely preterm children.” Notably, however, improved survival rates have been accompanied by a higher risk for later cognitive, neuromotor, and sensory impairments in these children.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100423113822.htm
Filed under: Biomarkers, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Screening
New Research Raises Hope that Autism Effects May Be Reversible
Published April 22, 2010 in Medical News TodayA new study by researchers at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences’ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology raises hope that autism may be more easily diagnosed and that its effects may be more reversible than previously thought. Researchers have identified potentially removable chemical tags (called “methyl groups”) on specific genes of autistic individuals that led to gene silencing. They also observed these changes in cells derived from blood, opening the way to molecular screening for autism using a blood test.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/186262.php
Filed under: Diagnosis, Genetics, Screening, Siblings, Treatments
First Direct Recording Made of Mirror Neurons in Human Brain
Published April 13, 2010 in Science DailyNeuroscientists believe this “mirroring” is the mechanism by which we can “read” the minds of others and empathize with them. It’s how we “feel” someone’s pain, how we discern a grimace from a grin, a smirk from a smile. Problem was, there was no proof that mirror neurons existed — only suspicion and indirect evidence. Dr. Itzhak Fried, a UCLA professor of neurosurgery and of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, Roy Mukamel, a postdoctoral fellow in Fried’s lab, and their colleagues have for the first time made a direct recording of mirror neurons in the human brain.It’s suspected that dysfunction of these mirror cells might be involved in disorders such as autism, where the clinical signs can include difficulties with verbal and nonverbal communication, imitation and having empathy for others. So gaining a better understanding of the mirror neuron system might help devise strategies for treatment of this disorder.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100412162112.htm
Filed under: Brain Development, Brain Imaging, Epilepsy, Screening, Social Skills
New Study Of Autism Reveals a ‘DNA tag’ Amenable To Treatment
Published April 8, 2010 in EurekAlertA new discovery raises hope that autism may be more easily diagnosed and that its effects may be more reversible than previously thought. In a new study appearing online in The FASEB Journal, scientists have identified a way to detect the disorder using blood and have discovered that drugs which affect the methylation state (“DNA tagging”) of genes could reverse autism’s effects. This type of drug is already being used in some cancer treatments.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-04/foas-nso040810.php
Filed under: Diagnosis, Genetics, Screening, Siblings, Treatments
Children With Autistic Traits Remain Undiagnosed
Published March 22, 2010 in Science DailyThere has been a major increase in the incidence of autism over the last twenty years. While people have differing opinions as to why this is (environment, vaccines, mother’s age, better diagnostic practice, more awareness etc.) there are still many children who have autistic traits that are never diagnosed clinically. Therefore, they do not receive the support they need through educational or health services.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100322131423.htm
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Early Intervention, Screening, Service Delivery
Better Genetic Test for Autism?
Published March 15, 2010 in Science DailyA large study from Children’s Hospital Boston and the Boston-based Autism Consortium finds that a genetic test that samples the entire genome, known as chromosomal microarray analysis, has about three times the detection rate for genetic changes related to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) than standard tests.
Filed under: Copy Number Variations, Genetics, Genomics, Screening
Longitude Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of Cortical Development Through Early Childhood in Autism
Published March 1, 2010 in Journal of Neuroscience, Courchesne et alThe first longitudinal study of brain growth in toddlers at the time symptoms of autism are becoming clinically apparent using structural MRI scans at multiple time points beginning at 1.5 years up to 5 years of age. They collected 193 scans on 41 toddlers who received a confirmed diagnosis of autistic disorder at approximately 48 […]
http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/abstract/30/12/4419
Filed under: Brain Development, Brain Imaging, Gender, Screening, Toddlers
Autism’s Earliest Symptoms Not Evident in Children Under 6 Months
Published February 16, 2010 in Science DailyA study of the development of autism in infants, comparing the behavior of the siblings of children diagnosed with autism to that of babies developing normally, has found that the nascent symptoms of the condition — a lack of shared eye contact, smiling and communicative babbling — are not present at 6 months, but emerge gradually and only become apparent during the latter part of the first year of life.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100216091009.htm
Filed under: Baby Sibs, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Early Intervention, Eye Tracking, Screening, Siblings
Blood Mercury Concentrations in CHARGE Study Children With and Without Autism
Published January 1, 2010 in Environmental Health Perspectives, Hertz-Picciotto, Green, Delwiche, Hansen, Walker, PessahThe Childhood Autism Risk from Genetics and the Environment (CHARGE) Study enrolled children 2-5 years of age. After diagnostic evaluation, they analyzed three groups: AU/ASD, non-AU/ASD with developmental delay (DD), and population-based TD controls. Mothers were interviewed about household, medical, and dietary exposures. Blood Hg was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Multiple linear […]
http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.0900736
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Screening
New CDC Report on Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Published December 18, 2009 in CDC- MMWR Surveillance StudiesIn 2006, on average, approximately 1% or one child in every 110 in the 11 ADDM sites was classified as having an ASD. The average prevalence of ASDs identified among children aged 8 years increased 57% in 10 sites from the 2002 to the 2006 ADDM surveillance year. Although improved ascertainment accounts for some of the prevalence increases documented in the ADDM sites, a true increase in the risk for children to develop ASD symptoms cannot be ruled out. On average, although delays in identification persisted, ASDs were being diagnosed by community professionals at earlier ages in 2006 than in 2002.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5810a1.htm
Filed under: Behavior, Early Intervention, Screening
Behavioral Training Improves Connectivity and Function in the Brain
Published December 9, 2009 in National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)Children with poor reading skills who underwent an intensive, six-month training program to improve their reading ability showed increased connectivity in a particular brain region, in addition to making significant gains in reading, according to a study funded in part by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
http://www.nih.gov/news/health/dec2009/nimh-09.htm
Filed under: Behavior, Brain Development, Brain Imaging, Screening, Treatments
Experts Summarize the State of Research in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published October 14, 2009 in Science DailyScientific understanding and medical treatments for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have advanced significantly over the past several years, but much remains to be done, say experts from the Center for Autism Research at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who recently published a scientific review of the field.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091014122049.htm
Filed under: Brain Development, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Screening, Service Delivery, Treatments
Utah Researchers Discover Another Genetic Link to Autism
Published October 8, 2009 in Salt Lake TribuneAn international consortium of researchers, including three from the University of Utah, has discovered yet another genetic link to autism. Studying the genes of more than 1,000 families — including 150 from Utah — who have more than one person with the disorder, the researchers found a region on chromosome 5 that is strongly associated with autism.
http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_13516284
Filed under: Biomarkers, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Genetics, Screening, Treatments
Op-Ed: Fight to Overcome Autism Gets Major Boost, Higher Priority
Published October 5, 2009 in HHS Secretary Kathleen SebeliusThe federal government will provide nearly twice as much funding for autism research in the upcoming fiscal year as we had just three years ago. President Obama has made autism a focus from the first days of his presidency in hopes to counterbalance some of the new challenges Autism has created for for families, schools, and health care providers.
http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_hl939
Filed under: Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Screening, Treatments
For the First Time, A Census of Autistic Adults
Published October 3, 2009 in Time MagazineOn Sept. 22, England’s National Health Service (NHS) released the first study of autism in the general adult population. The findings confirm the intuitive assumption: that ASD is just as common in adults as it is in children. Researchers at the University of Leicester, working with the NHS Information Center found that roughly 1 in 100 adults are on the spectrum the same rate found for children in England, Japan, Canada and, for that matter, New Jersey.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1927415,00.html?xid=rss-health
Filed under: Adults, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Screening, Vaccines
Researchers identify how PCBs may alter in utero, neonatal brain development
Published April 1, 2009 in PLoS-Biology, Pessah, et alIn three new studies — including one appearing in the Public Library of Science – Biology (PLoS – Biology) — UC Davis researchers provide compelling evidence of how low levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) alter the way brain cells develop. The findings could explain at last — some 30 years after the toxic chemicals were […]
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-04/uoc--rih040609.php
Filed under: Brain Development, Diagnosis, Screening, Treatments
Two-year-olds with autism orient to non-social contingencies rather than biological motion
Published March 1, 2009 in Nature, Klin, Lin, Gorrindo, Ramsay, JonesTypically developing human infants preferentially attend to biological motion within the first days of life. This ability is highly conserved across species and is believed to be critical for filial attachment and for detection of predators. The neural underpinnings of biological motion perception are overlapping with brain regions involved in perception of basic social signals […]
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nature07868.html
Filed under: Biomarkers, Eye Tracking, Screening, Social Skills, Toddlers
Screening Strategies for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Pediatric Primary Care
Published October 1, 2008 in Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Pinto-Martin, Young, Mandell, Poghosyan, Giarelli, LevyTwo strategies have been proposed for early identification of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD): (1) using a general screening tool followed by an ASD-specific screening tool for those who screen positive on the former or (2) using an ASD-specific tool for all children. The relative yield of these two strategies has not been examined. […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18852608
Filed under: Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Screening, Service Delivery, Toddlers
Absence of Preferential Looking to the Eyes of Approaching Adults Predicts Level of Social Disability in 2-year old toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published August 31, 2008 in Archives of General Psychiatry, Jones, Carr, et alLooking at the eyes of others is important in early social development and in social adaptation throughout one’s life span. Our results indicate that in 2-year-old children with autism, this behavior is already derailed, suggesting critical consequences for development but also offering a potential biomarker for quantifying syndrome manifestation at this early age.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18678799
Filed under: Biomarkers, Diagnosis, Eye Tracking, Screening, Social Skills, Toddlers
Mortality and Causes of Death in Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Update
Published July 31, 2008 in Autism, Mouridsen, Bronnum-Hansen, et alThis study compared mortality among Danish citizens with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) with that of the general population. A clinical cohort of 341 Danish individuals with variants of ASD, previously followed over the period 1960-93, now on average 43 years of age, were updated with respect to mortality and causes of death. Standardized mortality ratios […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18579647
Filed under: Adults, Epilepsy, Gender, Screening, Service Delivery
Recurrent 16p11.2 Microdeletions in Autism
Published February 15, 2008 in Human Molecular Genetics, Kumar, KaraMohamed, et alAutism is a childhood neurodevelopmental disorder with a strong genetic component, yet the identification of autism susceptibility loci remains elusive. We investigated 180 autism probands and 372 control subjects by array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) using a 19K whole-genome tiling path bacterial artificial chromosome microarray to identify submicroscopic chromosomal rearrangements specific to autism. We discovered […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18156158
Filed under: Biomarkers, Copy Number Variations, Genetics, Genomics, Screening