RxPG News : Autism

Ordinary Words Hardly Recognised in Autism

Fri, 04 May 2007 03:10:01 PST

New research indicates that young children with autism have a difficult time recognizing ordinary words and more of their brains are occupied with this kind of task compared to typically developing youngsters.

Babies who don't respond to their names may be at risk for developmental disorders, including autism

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 03:01:37 PST

Year-old babies who do not respond when their name is called may be more likely to be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or other developmental problem at age 2, making this simple test a potential early indicator for such conditions, according to a report in the April issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a theme issue on autism spectrum disorders.

Autism costs society an estimated $3M per patient

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 02:59:38 PST

Each individual with autism accrues about $3.2 million in costs to society over his or her lifetime, with lost productivity and adult care being the most expensive components, according to a report in the April issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a theme issue on autism spectrum disorders.

Infants with autistic siblings may display early social, communication problems

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 02:57:17 PST

Younger siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders do not perform as well on tests of social and communication development compared with siblings of children without developmental problems at ages as young as 12 months, according to a report in the April issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a theme issue on autism spectrum disorders.

'The eyes have it' -- Autism research yields surprising results

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 02:12:20 PST

Autistic children are able to interpret the mental state of others by looking at their eyes, contrary to previous research, a new University of Nottingham study has found.

New genetic clues to autism revealed

Sun, 18 Feb 2007 14:24:17 PST

The largest search for autism genes to date, funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has implicated components of the brain's glutamate chemical messenger system and a previously overlooked site on chromosome 11. Based on 1,168 families with at least two affected members, the genome scan adds to evidence that tiny, rare variations in genes may heighten risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD)*.

Autism linked to paternal age

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 18:36:00 PST

Children of men age 40 and older have a significantly increased risk of having autism spectrum disorders compared with those whose fathers are younger than 30 years, according to an article in the September issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Autism affects functioning of entire brain

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 15:52:00 PST

A recent study provides evidence that autism affects the functioning of virtually the entire brain, and is not limited to the brain areas involved with social interactions, communication behaviors, and reasoning abilities, as had been previously thought. The study, conducted by scientists in a research network supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), found that autism also affects a broad array of skills and abilities, including those involved with sensory perception, movement, and memory.

Autism - the neuroanatomical basis

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 13:18:00 PST

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, M.I.N.D. Institute have discovered that the brains of males with autism have fewer neurons in the amygdala, a part of the brain involved in emotion and memory. The study, published in the July 19 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, is the first neuroanatomical study to quantify a key difference in the autistic amygdala.

Trophoblast inclusions in placenta may be the earliest marker for autism

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 03:16:00 PST

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have discovered in the placenta what may be the earliest marker for autism, possibly helping physicians diagnose the condition at birth, rather than the standard age of two or older. The findings are reported in the June 26 online issue of Biological Psychiatry. Autism is a developmental disorder that has a profound effect on socialization, communication, learning and other behaviors. In most cases, onset is early in infancy. Information on the earliest development aspects of autism in children has been limited even though approximately one in every 200 children is diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The earlier the diagnosis is made, the greater the treatment impact. Current studies are searching for characteristics in children at risk for ASD so that the diagnosis can be made prior to age one. The ideal time for diagnosis would be at birth, according to senior author on the study Harvey J. Kliman, M.D., research scientist in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at the Yale School of Medicine.

Pediatricians fail to screen for autism

Wed, 10 May 2006 12:59:00 PST

Few Maryland and Delaware primary care pediatricians screen patients regularly for autism and autism-spectrum disorders (ASD) as part of their overall look at possible developmental delays, according to results of a joint study from Johns Hopkins Children's Center and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Why some people lack social skills

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 14:06:00 PST

Poor social skills in some people may be due to their inability to process faces, says a new study. Known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it is characterised by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills, social interaction and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour.

The role of evolutionary genomics in the development of autism

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 01:48:00 PST

Scientists at the London School of Economics, UK and Simon Fraser University, Canada have described the first hypothesis grounded in evolutionary genomics explaining the development of autism.

State-of-the-art eye tracking system to help understand autistic children

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 02:20:00 PST

Using new technology and a unique approach, Binghamton University researchers are hoping to help children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) deal with their most common and problematic areas of deficit - social and life skills

Innovative approach affords clearer view of autism

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 02:16:00 PST

Autism Phenome Project aims to redefine autism by identifying distinct subtypes

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 21:30:00 PST

Multidisciplinary teams of physicians and scientists at the University of California, Davis, M.I.N.D. Institute have launched the nation's most comprehensive assessment of children with autism to detect the biological and behavioral patterns that define subtypes of the disorder.

Brain Enlargement May Be Characteristic Of Autism

Thu, 08 Dec 2005 15:20:00 PST

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has found evidence of brain enlargement in a relatively large sample of children with autism, compared with children who do not have the disorder, according to a study in the December issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder defined by social deficits, abnormalities in communication, and stereotyped, repetitive behaviors. While the neuroanatomical basis of this condition is not yet known, numerous lines of evidence suggest that abnormalities in brain volume may be characteristic of autism, according to background information in the article.

Findings pinpoint mechanism behind social deficits in autism

Mon, 05 Dec 2005 04:20:00 PST

New imaging research at UCLA detailed Dec. 4 as an advance online publication of the journal Nature Neuroscience shows children with autism have virtually no activity in a key part of the brain's mirror neuron system while imitating and observing emotions.

Methylphenidate Shows Promise In The Treatment Of Hyperactivity Associated With Autism-Spectrum Disorders

Tue, 08 Nov 2005 17:37:00 PST

Medication commonly used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be effective for treatment of hyperactivity symptoms in children with autism and related pervasive developmental disorders, according to a study in the November issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

TEDS - Main autism behaviour types are not genetically linked

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 01:38:00 PST

Scientists at the MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, have discovered that two sets of behaviours that co-occur in autism spectrum conditions appear to be caused by different sets of genes.

Telephone assessments with A-TAC can identify childhood autistic disorders

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 02:28:00 PST

A telephone interview with parents devised by psychiatrists can be used successfully for assessing autistic spectrum disorders in their children.

Protein Snapin as a potential drug target in Autism

Thu, 25 Aug 2005 06:40:00 PST

Rutgers' Bonnie Firestein likens nerve cells to trees -- some are short and bushy with many branches while others are tall with a few branches coming out of one or two main trunks. Different branching patterns correlate with specific disorders and Firestein's quest is to discover how these dissimilar patterns come about and why.

Two chromosomes linked to susceptibility for type of autism

Wed, 08 Jun 2005 13:43:00 PST

A new Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center study links regions of two chromosomes to susceptibility for a type of autism characterized by regression in development. Developmental regression can include the loss of previously acquired language, social skills or both.

Autism Gene Pinpointed on Chromosome 17

Fri, 06 May 2005 16:09:00 PST

Autism is a complex disease caused by the interaction of multiple genes and environmental influences. As a result, scientists' previous attempts to locate a genetic risk factor have proved inconclusive. No researchers have been able to pinpoint a predisposing gene and then duplicate their efforts a key piece of proof required for scientific validity.

Specific Behaviors In Infants Can Predict Autism

Fri, 06 May 2005 16:07:00 PST

Canadian researchers have become the first to pinpoint specific behavioral signs in infants as young as 12 months that can predict, with remarkable accuracy, whether a child will develop autism.

Autism Conference Reports Advances in Early Diagnosis

Fri, 06 May 2005 15:54:00 PST

Some 700 scientists from around the world who gathered in Boston this week shared exciting advances in understanding the causes of and treatments for autism disorders, which affect up to one of every 166 people. Autism is a brain disorder that can severely impair a child's communication and social skills, leaving them in apparent isolation from their families and communities.

Children with Autism have Different Immune System Responses

Fri, 06 May 2005 15:54:00 PST

A new study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, M.I.N.D. Institute and the NIEHS Center for Children's Environmental Health demonstrate that children with autism have different immune system responses than children who do not have the disorder. This is important evidence that autism, currently defined primarily by distinct behaviors, may potentially be defined by distinct biologic changes as well.

Failed Attention to Faces May Lead to Autism Later

Fri, 06 May 2005 15:54:00 PST

A leading scientist trying to understand and treat autism suspects that a failure to engage in such normal social activities as looking at a parent's face or listening to speech sounds early in life may help explain the profound impairments in social and language development shown by most children with the disorder.

PTEN gene of Cowden Syndrome found in Autism

Fri, 08 Apr 2005 01:36:00 PST

A gene that is changed in many forms of cancer has also been found to show similar changes in some forms of autism, according to preliminary research.

Autism linked to increased oxidative stress

Sun, 03 Apr 2005 10:33:00 PST

Chronic biochemical imbalance is often a primary factor in the development of many complex diseases but a possible metabolic basis for autism has not been well explored. Now Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute researchers report for the first time that children with autism have a severely abnormal metabolic profile indicating increased vulnerability to oxidative stress. The scientists also identified a significant increase in the frequency of several genetic polymorphisms that they believe may increase the risk of autism in specific combinations yet to be determined.

Autism linked to MIRROR NEURON Dysfunction

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 03:05:00 PST

According to the new study, currently in press at the journal Cognitive Brain Research, electroencephalograph (EEG) recordings of 10 individuals with autism show a dysfunctional mirror neuron system: Their mirror neurons respond only to what they do and not to the doings of others.

Fragile X syndrome is marked by autism-like symptoms

Thu, 18 Mar 2004 01:44:00 PST

People with fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited developmental disability, have reduced blood levels of a protein vital for brain development and function, researchers at the School of Medicine have found. These lowered levels are linked to abnormal activity patterns in the brain.