http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/autism/ Autism symptoms and new approaches to treatment. Read current research on autism including early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders based on analysis of the placenta, genetic factors and more. en-us Tue, 13 May 2008 01:05:01 EDT Tue, 13 May 2008 01:05:01 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/autism/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080512094451.htm A mutated gene has been discovered as the key behind epilepsy and mental retardation specific to women. The new discovery, published in Nature Genetics, shows that although men carry the 'bad' gene, only women are affected. Mon, 12 May 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080512094451.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080505072829.htm Parents of children with autism were roughly twice as likely to have been hospitalized for a mental disorder, such as schizophrenia, than parents of other children, according to a new analysis. The association was present regardless of the timing of the parent's diagnosis relative to the child's diagnosis. Mon, 05 May 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080505072829.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080425102403.htm Children with autistic spectrum disorders who underwent sensory integration therapy exhibited fewer autistic mannerisms compared to children who received standard treatments. Such mannerisms, including repetitive hand movements or actions, making noises, jumping or having highly restricted interests, often interfere with paying attention and learning. Sun, 27 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080425102403.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080425144319.htm What began as an informal presentation by a clinical linguist to a group of philosophers, has led to some surprising discoveries about the communicative language abilities of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. While they may not make appropriate use of context or common sayings, psychologists discovered speakers with ASD have a rich array of pragmatic abilities. Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080425144319.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080424120953.htm How do mercury emissions affect pregnant mothers, the unborn and toddlers? Do the level of emissions impact autism rates? Does it matter whether a mercury-emitting source is 10 miles away from families versus 20 miles? Is the risk of autism greater for children who live closer to the pollution source? A newly published study of Texas school district data and industrial mercury-release data indeed shows a statistically significant link between pounds of industrial release of mercury and increased autism rates. Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080424120953.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080423175535.htm Playing a video game called 'Space Race' that requires nothing more than brainpower to make rockets on a computer screen move forward is more than just fun and games. A researcher is using video games to see if the brainwaves of children with autism can be 'retrained' to improve focus and concentration. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080423175535.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080413161104.htm Some kids with autism may have a genetic defect that affects the muscles, according to new research. The study looked at 37 children with autism spectrum disorders who were evaluated for mitochondrial disease, which causes muscle weakness and prevents a child from being able to participate in physical activities and sports. Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080413161104.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080408112107.htm New research suggests that many children diagnosed with severe language disorders in the 1980s and 1990s would today be diagnosed as having autism. The research supports the theory that the rise in the number of cases of autism may be related to changes in how it is diagnosed. Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080408112107.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080404174806.htm Most brain functions, such as memory, require a sophisticated network of molecular interactions. However, experimental methods can only analyze a limited number of these interactions at a time. Now, researchers have pioneered a novel approach, which enables them to analyze hundreds of network molecules simultaneously. They were able to compare the relative amount and, importantly, the phosphorylation status of proteins in the synapses of four different brain regions. Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080404174806.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080407074538.htm News stories about an allegedly harmful link between the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine and the onset of autism had little effect on whether US parents immunized their children, according to a review of immunization records and news stories. Parents' decisions were more likely influenced by recommendations from their child's pediatrician, the researchers said. Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080407074538.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402071533.htm New research suggests that the average household with children with autism not only spends thousands of dollars toward educational, behavioral and health care expenses each year, but also suffers from a lesser-known cost that hits them up front -- a sizeable chunk of missed household income, perhaps as much as $6,200 annually. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402071533.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080328124554.htm Parents should not worry when their pre-schoolers talk to themselves; in fact, they should encourage it, says a new study. The study shows that children do better on motor tasks when they talk to themselves out loud than when they are silent. Researchers also looked for the first time at the ways that autistic children talk to themselves and the effectiveness it has on the way they do things. Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080328124554.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080319150615.htm Scientists have found that a disruption of the Contactin 4 gene on chromosome 3 may be linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). What causes ASD, a developmental disorder of the central nervous system, is largely unknown. New finding suggests that mutations affecting Contactin 4 may be relevant to ASD pathogenesis, and thus a potential biomarker for some individuals with the disorder. Thu, 20 Mar 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080319150615.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080317151933.htm Scientists have developed a new mouse model to help illuminate the vagaries of autism, according to a study from a Stanford University School of Medicine researcher and other colleagues. The study focused on mice missing the gabrb3 gene, which codes for a protein important in brain development and normal adult brain function Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080317151933.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306193230.htm A brain network linked to introspective tasks -- such as forming the self-image or understanding the motivations of others -- is less intricate and well-connected in children, scientists have learned. They also showed that the network establishes firmer connections between various brain regions as an individual matures. The scientists are working to establish a picture of how these connections and other brain networks normally develop and interact. They want to use that picture to conduct more detailed assessments of the effects of aging, brain injuries and conditions such as autism on brain function. Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306193230.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080309151235.htm Scientists using a new drug screening method in Drosophila (fruit flies), have identified several drugs and small molecules that reverse the features of fragile X syndrome -- a frequent form of mental retardation and one of the leading known causes of autism. The discovery sets the stage for developing new treatments for fragile X syndrome. Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080309151235.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080304170255.htm Many children with autism have elevated blood levels of serotonin -- a chemical with strong links to mood and anxiety. But what relevance this "hyperserotonemia" has for autism has remained a mystery. Investigators provides a physical basis for this phenomenon, which may have profound implications for the origin of some autism-associated deficits. Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080304170255.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080229115314.htm Researchers are developing an intervention using "virtual peers" -- technology driven, animated life-size children -- to help develop communication and social skills in children with autism. Preliminary findings suggest children with autism produce more and more "contingent" (conversationally relevant) sentences when interacting with virtual peers than with real-life children. What's more, virtual peers are endlessly patient, never tire and can be programmed to elicit socially-skilled behavior. Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080229115314.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080229105843.htm The information that a child has been diagnosed with autism often throws parents into an emotional tailspin. Most people don't immediately consider the major financial struggles that follow. She suggests more outreach is needed to help families plan and cope with the profound financial life changes they may face. Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080229105843.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080226185848.htm Research on autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) shows that neurofeedback (EEG biofeedback) can remediate anomalies in brain activation, leading to symptom reduction and functional improvement. This evidence raises the hopes for a behavioral, psychophysiological intervention moderating the severity of ASD. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a lack of appropriate eye contact, facial expression, social interaction, communication, and restricted repetitive behavior. Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080226185848.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080225213444.htm The mothers of some autistic children may have made antibodies against their fetuses' brain tissue during pregnancy that crossed the placenta and caused changes that led to autism, suggests new research in the Journal of Neuroimmunology. Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080225213444.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080219093024.htm Fragile X syndrome is the most common hereditary form of mental retardation. Many children with FXS also suffer from attention deficit and/or hyperactivity disorder, which complicates social relationships at home and at school. Although stimulant medication such as Ritalin is often successfully used to treat children with ADHD, studies have shown that while it is effective in children with mental retardation, it also causes side effects such as increased irritability, decreased verbalization and social withdrawal. Thu, 21 Feb 2008 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080219093024.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080215205229.htm Mice lacking a certain brain protein learn some tasks better but also forget faster, according to new research that may explain the phenomenon of autistic savants in humans. The work could also result in future treatments for autism and other brain development disorders. Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080215205229.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080219203603.htm Do animals have privileged access to lower level sensory information before it is packaged into concepts, as it has been argued for autistic savants? When Temple Grandin argued that animals and autistic savants share cognitive similarities in her best-selling book Animals in Translation (2005), the idea gained steam outside the community of cognitive neuroscientists. Grandin, a professor of animal science whose books have provided an unprecedented look at the autistic mind, says her autism gives her special insight into the inner workings of the animal mind. She based her proposal on the observation that animals, like autistic humans, sense and respond to stimuli that nonautistic humans usually overlook. Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080219203603.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080208172104.htm Gazing into your lover's eyes isn't only romantic; it may also mimic early attachments that forever alter your brain and body. Researchers are studying whether the brain hormone released with touches, hugs, or when a mother and her newborn baby bond might help patients with schizophrenia, social anxiety and a variety of other disorders. Oxytocin is a brain chemical associated with pair bonding, including mother-infant and male-female bonds, increased paternal involvement with children, and monogamy in certain rodents, according to a psychiatry professor involved with the study. Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080208172104.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080211172526.htm New research shows that an interaction between fetal brain cells and maternal antibodies could be linked with the repetitive behavior -- also called stereotypes -- that is characteristic of autism. While additional studies are needed to confirm the outcome, this result leads investigators to suspect that brain-directed antibodies during the prenatal period could be a causal factor for the disorder. Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080211172526.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080211172535.htm Antibodies in the blood of mothers of children with autism bind to fetal brain cells, potentially interrupting healthy brain development. Study authors also found that the reaction was most common in mothers of children with the regressive form of autism, which occurs when a period of typical development is followed by loss of social and/or language skills. Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080211172535.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080205115800.htm Researchers have discovered that introns, or junk DNA to some, associated with RNA are an important molecular guide to making nerve-cell electrical channels. They hope to relate this knowledge to understanding the molecular underpinnings of memory and learning, as well as components of cognitive dysfunction resulting from neurological disease. Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080205115800.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080206121518.htm Contrary to popular notions, people at the high end of the autism spectrum disorder continuum suffer most from an inability to model "self" rather than impaired ability to respond to others, according to a novel research study. This inability to model "self" can disrupt an individual's ability to understand the world as a whole, according to researchers. Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080206121518.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080206204948.htm Results of an early study suggest that dairy-free diets and unconventional food preferences could put boys with autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at higher than normal risk for thinner, less dense bones when compared to a group of boys the same age who do not have autism. The researchers believe that boys with autism and ASD are at risk for poor bone development for a number of reasons. These factors are lack of exercise, a reluctance to eat a varied diet, lack of vitamin D, digestive problems, and diets that exclude casein, a protein found in milk and milk products. Sat, 09 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080206204948.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080204212852.htm There is no evidence for a link between the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) jab and autism, finds new research. MMR has been linked to the development of autism, following the publication in 1998 of research on 12 children, which has since been discredited. Tue, 05 Feb 2008 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080204212852.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080130113533.htm Scientists have discovered a new gene involved in fragile X syndrome, a condition that often shares many symptoms of autism. The discovery may lead to new tests or treatments for several neurological disorders. Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080130113533.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080130140127.htm Children with autism have normal-size heads at birth but develop accelerated head growth between six and nine months of age, a period that precedes the onset of many behaviors that enable physicians to diagnose the developmental disorder, according to new research. Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080130140127.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080128113309.htm Recent research found that children with autism improved their road safety skills after practicing with a unique virtual reality system. The independence of children with autism depends on their receiving treatment in natural settings. One of the main problems they face is their inability to learn how to safely cross the street, a necessary skill for independent living. Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080128113309.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080117121518.htm Genome-wide scans of families affected by autism spectrum disorder have revealed new evidence that previously unknown chromosomal abnormalities have a substantial role in the prevalent developmental disorder. Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080117121518.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080117101406.htm A new way of understanding autistic disorders, incorporating both psychological and biological factors, could lead to the conditions being picked up earlier, researchers have found. The work relates to autistic and Asperger's disorders, which are characterized by ritualistic behaviors -- such as counting, tapping, flicking, or repeatedly restating information -- and compulsive behaviors including as a rigid adherence to routine and a marked resistance to change. Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080117101406.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080110144803.htm The American Journal of Human Genetics describes what might be a corner piece of the autism puzzle -- the identification and subsequent validation of a gene linked to the development of autism by three separate groups of scientists. Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080110144803.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080110123933.htm A new study strengthens evidence that a gene, CNTNAP2, is involved in autism, and suggests that the link is strongest when a variation in the gene is inherited from moms, rather than dads. The gene encodes a protein that's known to mediate interactions between brain cells and that appears to enable a crucial aspect of brain-cell development. A gene variant that altered either of these activities could have significant impact. Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080110123933.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080110144835.htm Scientists used language onset -- the age when a child speaks his first word -- as a tool for identifying a new gene linked to autism. The team also discovered that the gene is most active in developing brain regions involved with language and thought. Interestingly, evidence for the genetic link came from the DNA of families with autistic boys, not those with autistic girls. Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080110144835.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080108091119.htm Loss of a small portion of chromosome 16, known as 16p11.2, is significantly associated with autism researchers report in the journal Human Molecular Genetics. Although this genetic microdeletion occurred in only 4 out of 712 subjects with autism (0.6 percent), it is the second most common recurrent genomic disorder associated with autism, which affects about 1 out of 160 children in the United States. Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080108091119.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080109173839.htm A chromosomal abnormality that appears to increase susceptibility to autism has been identified. A segment of chromosome 16 is either missing or duplicated in about 1 percent of individuals with autism or related disorders. Duplication or deletion of the ch16 segment may raise risk 100-fold. Thu, 10 Jan 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080109173839.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080108183029.htm Researchers are uncovering how brain cells are affected in Fragile X syndrome, the most common cause of inherited mental retardation and the most common genetic cause of autism. "I think we've discovered a core mechanism underlying Fragile X syndrome," said the senior author of the study. Wed, 09 Jan 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080108183029.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080107181551.htm Autism cases continued to increase in California after the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal was eliminated from most childhood vaccines, according to a report. This suggests that exposure to thimerosal is not a primary cause of autism. Tue, 08 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080107181551.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080102222813.htm Researchers, using machine learning and brain imaging, have found a way to identify where people's thoughts and perceptions of familiar objects originate in the brain by identifying the patterns of brain activity associated with the objects. Scientists were also able to accurately determine which of the 10 drawings a participant was viewing based on their characteristic whole-brain neural activation patterns. Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080102222813.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071219122855.htm Scientists have corrected key symptoms of mental retardation and autism in mice. They have significantly alleviated a wide range of abnormalities due to fragile X syndrome by altering only a single gene, countering the effects of the fragile X mutation. Fragile X syndrome, affecting 100,000 Americans, is the most common inherited cause of mental retardation and autism. New research points to a potential drug treatment. Thu, 20 Dec 2007 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071219122855.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071208144002.htm The behavior of children with autism may improve during a fever, according to a first-of-kind study. Researchers hypothesize that fever may restore nerve cell communications in regions of the autistic brain. The restoration may help children improve socialization skills during a fever. Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071208144002.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071208092451.htm Brain overgrowth in the latter part of an infant's first year may contribute to the onset of autistic characteristics, according to research. These findings support concurrent research which has found brain overgrowth in autistic children as young as 2 years old. Mon, 10 Dec 2007 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071208092451.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071208092448.htm By introducing a gene mutation in mice, investigators have created what they believe to be the first accurate model of autism not associated with a broader neuropsychiatric syndrome, according to new research. Sun, 09 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071208092448.htm