ABA4Autism.com and the Psychology department at the University of Tennessee
at Martin are conducting a second survey on the causes of Autism Spectrum
Disorders
(ASD). This survey is for mothers of children with ASD as well as
mothers of normally developing children who are ten years of age or
younger. Mothers who participate in the survey will receive a free ABA
program to teach their children to follow directions as well as free ABA
mini programs for common problems like sharing. To take the surveys please
go to
http://www.aba4autism.com
'Singing' mice surprise, aid scientists
- Songbirds may be the Sinatras of the animal world, but male mice can
carry a tune too, say Washington University researchers who were
surprised by what they heard. Scientists have known for decades that
male lab mice produce high-frequency sounds - undetectable by human ears
- when they pick up the scent of a female mouse. But it turns out those
sounds are more complex and interesting than previously thought. By the
AP
Laughter research a first - A UNIVERSITY of Ballarat Doctor of Psychology student is conducting a research project
hailed as an Australian first. Errin Jones, 24, is focussing on the social
behaviour of humour and laughter in children with autism and Asperger's
Disorder. She is searching for 60 participants and welcomes typically
developing children and children with Downs Syndrome for comparison. She
hopes her study will improve knowledge and understanding of the subject and
be used as a building block for further research. "One of the major deficits
with children with autism and Asperger's is that they have trouble
interacting with people," Ms Jones said.
Fish oil helps hyperactive kids
- Parents across the country have been fascinated by
an intriguing experiment on the BBC's Child Of Our Time
documentary. Professor Robert Winston has been giving daily
doses of fish oil supplements containing Omega 3 fatty acids
to two children, each with different behavioural problems.
Three months later, the changes have been significant. One
boy's aggressive behaviour almost vanished and the other,
once withdrawn and uncommunicative, has become popular and
outgoing. / UK
Computing How a Brain “Sees”
/
“How is it that the
visual system can recognize certain objects, such as a friend in the crowd,
or words on a page, despite the changing environment in which these objects
are seen?. Despite the apparent ease in which we see, visual recognition is
a very difficult computational problem.” -
By Georgetown
University Medical Center,
For his efforts
to establish a quantitative framework aimed at describing the complex
workings of the human brain, Georgetown University Medical Center
neuroscientist Maximilian Riesenhuber, Ph.D., has received a five-year
CAREER award from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The award, one of
five given this year by the Behavioral and Cognitive Science Divison of NSF,
and the only one in the Cognitive Neuroscience Initiative, is for $742,000.
The prestigious NSF CAREER awards are designed to help innovative
scientists, early in their profession, develop promising research programs.
Neurofeedback Therapy Shows Promising Results in the Treatment of of ADHD
and Other High Incidence Medical Disorders
- Neurofeedback Therapy Shows Promising Results in the Treatment
of ADHD and Other High Incidence Medical Disorders - Southwest Naturopathic
Medical Center has introduced a Neurofeedback Therapy Program as part of a
cutting-edge, integrative medical approach for the treatment of ADHD, and
other common brain/mood disorders, including depression, autism, addiction,
head injury, migraine, epilepsy and insomnia. - Southwest Naturopathic
Medical Center has introduced a Neurofeedback Therapy Program as part of a
cutting-edge, integrative medical approach for the treatment of attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other common brain/mood
disorders, including depression, autism, addiction, head injury, migraine,
epilepsy and insomnia. / Release
French psychiatrists don’t take Freud criticism lying down
- A war of words has erupted among French psychiatrists after the
publication of a “black book” that lambasts the teaching of Sigmund Freud
and blames his followers for setting back mental health care in France by
decades. In a country that is one of the last redoubts of pure Freudian
psychoanalysis, the book has been like shock treatment for many in the
white-coat establishment who accuse the authors of grovelling to the
“Anglo-Saxon” trend towards behaviour-based mental therapy. The news
magazine Le Nouvel Observateur, which published extracts of the 800-page
work last month, was bombarded with letters charging it with “fascist
rhetoric” and leading a “communist-style” propaganda campaign.
Two new treatments to undergo chinical trials -
Clinical trials on two new autism treatments will be undertaken in
Arizona. A clinical trial is already underway testing the effects of
potent vitamin and mineral supplements on children with autism. A second
trial will soon begin to measure the effectiveness of a treatment designed
to remove heavy metals like mercury from children's bodies. Mercury is
suspected of being a potential cause for autism, which causes social
withdrawal and inability to interact with others. The studies are being
done under the supervision of Arizona State University chemistry professor
Jim Adams and pediatrician Dr. Sanford Newmark of Tucson.
US Medical Research Spending Rises, Results Lag
- Annual U.S. spending on medical research doubled in the past decade to
more than $94 billion in 2003, but the additional dollars have yielded
only disappointing results, a study said on Tuesday. "There aren't a lot
of diseases where we can point to and say we have an answer today that
we didn't have a decade ago," said Dr. Hamilton Moses of The Alerion
Institute, a North Garden, Virginia, think tank that evaluates research
policy. Doctors were frustrated at not having cures to offer patients
suffering from Alzheimer's disease or childhood diseases, such as autism
and juvenile diabetes, he said. - Reuters
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Devotes Little Time to Autism
Epidemic at October Convention Says National Autism
Association -
Why is the national convention of one of the most
important medical organizations for children giving minimal focus to the
largest developmental disorder in America? - If you look at the
AAP's schedule for their national convention in Washington DC, you have to
look hard for any time set aside for the biomedical aspects of Autism
Spectrum Disorders. Autism now affects 1 in 166 children, making it a
national epidemic that is growing beyond financial control. In fact, this
unexpected rise has created problems throughout the country, making it
impossible for every child with autism to get the services they need. /
Release
Study looks at new treatments
- Hamilton Moses, M.D. said, "Many of the diseases for which we really
need better ways of curing or preventing or treating, we have no
answers. Areas like Alzheimer's disease or in the very young, autism,
juvenile diabetes." That's why Dr. Moses, of the Alerion Institute, a
Virginia think tank, and colleagues studied all the U.S. funding for
biomedical research between 1994 and 2003. Their findings appear in a
theme issue of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The issue is called, "Medical Research -- The State of the Science."
They found that the amount of research dollars increased from about $37
billion to $94 billion. After adjusting for inflation, that increase is
double the money. By Julie Chapman
Imaginative play doesn't compromise masculinity
- Q.
My husband is concerned that our 8-year-old son prefers imaginative play
over playing games such as catch or shooting hoops. He is an excellent
student and is reasonably well-behaved. While his friends at school are
boys, at home he plays with two neighbor girls, ages 8 and 10. Together,
they pretend they are acting in "Star Wars" movies or are detectives
trying to solve a mystery - that sort of thing. Also, should I be
concerned of hand-flapping when he gets excited about something or sees
someone he is happy to see? Those are, by the way, the only times I've
seen the hand-flapping. Thank you for any comments...
ocial communication disorders and the brain -
Through the sea of helmets and jerseys, the quarterback spots his
receiver downfield and lets loose with a pass. The receiver didn't run
where he was supposed to, but the quarterback's pass landed right in his
hands for a touchdown. How does the quarterback know where the receiver
is going to be when he throws the ball? A percussionist in the back row
of a symphony orchestra watches her conductor through a forest of bows,
bobbing heads, and instruments. She can see the baton and only the
conductor's arm, how does she recognize her cue to come in? At a party,
a man sees a woman across a crowded room, and decides that she is also
interested in getting to know him better. What social signals does he
pick up that will make him go over to her and begin a conversation?
Liars' brains really are made of different stuff
- Fibbing ability linked to the leetle white cells - Pathological liars'
brains are different from normal people's. The fibbers had up to 26 per
cent more white matter than the honest folk, a study has found,
suggesting that it is the white matter that allows people to deceive,
and that pathological liars may not always be in complete control of
their porkies. The findings, published in the British Journal of
Psychiatry, are in line with similar research into autism. Autistic
people have more grey matter than non-autistic people, and generally
find it much harder to lie. By Lucy Sherriff
6 States Chosen for Youth and Environment Study
- Pregnant women and others of childbearing age in six states will be
the first participants in the largest-ever U.S. study of children that
will track 100,000 kids from the womb to age 21 to learn how the
environment affects their health, the Associated Press reported.
Participating communities and the institutions leading the research will
include:
The researchers plan to enroll
1,500 women in each county over five years. They will record
environmental exposures during pregnancy and assess how each one may
have contributed to the subsequent onset of pediatric diseases,
including asthma, learning disabilities, and
autism, the AP reported.
100,000 US children will be tracked from birth through adulthood
- "We're looking to find the root causes of many common diseases and
disorders. When we do, we'll be in a position to prevent them from ever
occurring," said U.S. Surgeon-General Dr. Richard Carmona. Researchers
hoping to determine the causes of many common diseases like autism and
diabetes will follow 100,000 U.S. children from birth through adulthood
in the largest ever study of its kind. "We're looking to find the
root causes of many common diseases and disorders. When we do, we'll be
in a position to prevent them from ever occurring," said U.S.
Surgeon-General Dr. Richard Carmona. In particular, scientists will try
to find out whether there is a link between environment and diseases.
Most studies used now to link environment and disease are retrospective,
meaning they rely on a patient's or a parent's recall of events, food
eaten, and behaviours. Scientists place much greater faith in studies
that look at actual behaviours in real time to more accurately link them
to consequences.
Regional round table on autism held in Casablanca
/ The Association Casablancaise des Pédiatres Privés (ACPP) has
organized recently in Casablanca a round table on autism, in
collaboration with the Secretary of State in charge of family, childhood
and disabled persons, Yasmina Baddou. - The meeting, presided by
Baddou, gave the participants the opportunity to debate on the
definition of autism, its diagnosis and symptoms and the role of
paediatricians in the treatment of the disease. The round table was held
within the framework of “2005 activities: the year of autism in
Morocco”. It aimed at discussing the relation between autism and other
neurological diseases and, and determine and educational approach to the
results of the national colloquium on the premature diagnosis of autism.
By the Morocco TIMES
MIT Launches Major Autism Initiative -
With the help of a $7.5 million grant
from the New York-based Simons Foundation founded by James and Marilyn
Simons, MIT brain researchers are undertaking an ambitious multi-faceted
approach to understanding the genetic, molecular and behavioral aspects
of autism. Autism, which affects as many as 1.5 million people, is
considered the fastest growing developmental disability in America.
Typically appearing during the first three years of life, autism is
characterized by impairment in social interaction and
communication abilities and by repetitive behaviors. Services for
autistic adults cost $90 billion a year. Early diagnosis and
intervention can cut the cost of lifelong care by two-thirds. By MIT
enetic involvement in psychiatric diseases
-Two New Jersey research teams are reporting discoveries about the
biological nature of psychiatric disorders that may bring them closer to
the ultimate goal of finding cures for complex diseases, such as autism
and schizophrenia. Scientists at Rutgers, The State University of New
Jersey, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Medicine
and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) have unveiled new information
regarding the genetic, cellular and neurological bases of susceptibility
to these diseases.
Autism Research Study in Phoenix and Tucson Areas
- Researchers at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine
(SCNM) are investigating heavy metal toxicity and autism in an upcoming
chelation study called "DMSA Treatment of Children with Autism and Heavy
Metal Toxicity."- With autism spectrum disorders affecting about 1
in 166 children in the United States, researchers are scurrying to
discover causes and treatments. The effects of heavy metals on autism
are currently unknown. Researchers at Southwest College of Naturopathic
Medicine (SCNM) are investigating heavy metal toxicity and autism in an
upcoming chelation study. The study, "DMSA Treatment of Children with
Autism and Heavy Metal Toxicity" will be led by Matthew Baral, N.D.,
Assistant Professor of Pediatric Medicine at SCNM. The team of
researchers, including James B. Adams, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor in the
Division of Basic Medical Sciences at SCNM, Walter Crinnion, N.D.,
Director of the Environmental Medicine Center of Excellence at SCNM, and
Sanford Newmark, M.D., from the Center for Pediatric Integrative
Medicine in Tucson, AZ will begin enrolling participants in this
two-part research study in October 2005.
PUBLIC URGED TO HELP SHAPE RESEARCH
- The Medical
Research Council (MRC) and the National Autistic Society (NAS), today
invited people with autism, along with parents, carers and researchers to
a pioneering forum to help shape MRC-funded research into the condition.
Both organisations have joined forces to host the event, set to take place
on September 8 at Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, central London from 10am
to 3.30pm. Participants will hear about new research funded by the
Department of Health and the MRC and be given a chance to discuss the
latest medical developments with researchers.Top medical professionals in
the field of autism will be present at the event and are looking forward
to hearing the views of people living with the condition. By Dan Webber
Autism linked to parents with high level of education
/ Parents of autistic children tend to be more highly qualified than
parents of children with other mental problems, according to a
controversial study for the Department of Health. - Parents of
autistic children tend to be more highly qualified than parents of
children with other mental problems, according to a controversial study
for the Department of Health. It also links a wide range of "clinically
recognisable" mental health problems in youngsters to divorce and family
breakdown. The study of 7,977 children found that one in 10 children
between the ages of five and 16 had a mental disorder. But unlike children
with more common disorders, autistic children had better educated parents:
46 per cent had parents with qualifications above GCSE compared with 35
per cent of other children. / Europe
Autism Behaviour Types Are Not Genetically Linked
/ Scientists at the MRC (Medical Research Council, UK) 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. - The report by Dr Angelica Ronald in collaboration
with Professor Robert Plomin and Dr Francesca Happé - published in
Developmental Science - could help advance future diagnosis, treatment and
understanding of autism spectrum conditions. / Release
Changes in the brain may explain teenage troubles -
Teenage angst and clashes with authority may be caused by changes in
youngsters' brains during puberty, but luckily for harassed parents the
problems pass. The ability of boys and girls to decode social cues and
recognize emotions, particularly anger and sadness, dips between the ages of
12 and 14, researchers at University College London and the Institute of
Child Health have discovered." It would appear that this is a function of
the development of their brain at that time," Professor David Skuse, of the
group's behavioral science unit, told a conference on Thursday. By
Patricia Reaney
Science throws new light on why teenage Kevin finds life so unfair
- Neuroscientists have solved the great Kevin conundrum. The comedian Harry
Enfield's creation, the petulant teenager Kevin, finds life unfair because
he cannot recognise paternal wrath, maternal sadness or even a tut-tutting
tone of voice. Researchers have found that teenage angst and clashes with
authority may be caused by changes in the brain during puberty, but luckily
for harassed parents the problems pass. The ability of boys and girls to
decode social cues and recognise emotions, particularly anger and sadness,
dips between 12 and 14, according to a study by University College London
and the Institute of Child Health. By Tim Radford, science editor
Blame those tantrums on brain - TEENAGE ANGST and
clashes with authority may be caused by changes in youngsters' brains during
puberty, but luckily for harassed parents the problems pass. The ability of
boys and girls to decode social cues and recognise emotions, particularly
anger and sadness, dips between ages 12 and 14, researchers at University
College London and the Institute of Child Health have discovered. "It would
appear that this is a function of the development of their brain at that
time," Prof David Skuse, of the group's behavioural science unit, said on
Thursday. By Reuters
Rare eye-movement disorder may shed light on brain and and cardiovascular
development / Unexpected findings may lead to
new research directions in developmental biology - Researchers at
Children's Hospital Boston, who specialize in studying the genetics of rare
eye-movement disorders, have found a rare genetic syndrome whose
implications go far beyond the eye, raising intriguing questions about human
cardiovascular and brain development. The syndrome involves a mutation to
HOXA1, a gene that has been extensively studied in mice, but about which
little is known in humans. HOXA1 belongs to a large family of HOX genes that
govern very early embryonic development and the making of the body plan.
HOXA1 is the first HOX gene turned on in mice, and presumably in the human
body, and is involved in patterning of the growth of the head, face, and
brainstem. / Release
One way to unravel the riddle of autism -
Two big scientific debates have attracted a lot of attention over
the past year. One concerns the causes of autism, while the other
addresses differences in scientific aptitude between the sexes. At the
risk of adding fuel to both fires, I submit that these two lines of
inquiry have a great deal in common. By studying the differences between
male and female brains, we can generate significant insights into the
mystery of autism. By Simon Baron-Cohen
Collaborations yield new discoveries in psychiatric genetics
/ Two New Jersey research teams are reporting discoveries about the
biological nature of psychiatric disorders that may bring them closer to
the ultimate goal of finding cures for complex diseases, such as autism
and schizophrenia. - Scientists at Rutgers, The State University of
New Jersey, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of
Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) have unveiled new
information regarding the genetic, cellular and neurological bases of
susceptibility to these diseases. Using data drawn from the Rutgers Cell
and DNA Repository on 518 families, each with multiple autistic
children, James Millonig and Linda Brzustowicz, assisted by Emanuel
DiCicco-Bloom, led a team that further substantiates the link between
autism and Engrailed 2 (EN2), a gene important in central
nervous system development. Their research is presented in the
November issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics (AJHG). /
Release
Autism expert starts MIND speaker series - The
UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute will host Rebecca Landa, professor of
psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, on Wednesday
starting at 4 p.m. The program will be held at the UCD M.I.N.D.
Institute, 2825 50th St., Sacramento, Landa is the first speaker in its
fourth annual Distinguished Lecturer Series. Landa is internationally
recognized for her research on neuropsychological and communication
processes in autism across the lifespan. She will present two lectures.
During her technical presentation at 4 p.m., Landa will review results
from a longitudinal study of the social, cognitive, motor and
communicative development of infants at high risk for developing autism
and their implications for identifying early signs
of autism spectrum disorders.
Eccentricity can cross the line
- Ask anybody what adjective goes best with the word "professor," and
the answer will almost certainly be "absentminded," or possibly "nutty."
Popular culture is full of addlebrained academics, whether they be
villainous madmen like Professor Morbius in Forbidden Planet or Sherlock
Holmes's archenemy Professor Moriarty; crazy cranks like Professor
Emmett Brown in Black to the Future, or well-meaning but harebrained
eccentrics like Professor Brainard in The Absent-Minded Professor,
Professor Branestawm in Norman Hunter's children's television series,
Professor Pat Pending in the Hanna Barbera cartoon Wacky Races, or
Professor Dumbledore of Harry Potter fame. By Mikita
Brottman
Pathological liers found to have less gray matter
- According to the latest research pathological liars may have
structural abnormalities in their brains. In a new study Dr. Adrian
Raine and Yaling Yang of the University of Southern California, and
colleagues found that individuals who habitually lied and cheated had
less gray matter and more white matter in their prefrontal cortex than
normal people. In the past studies have found that the prefrontal cortex
shows heightened activity when normal people lie, and it is believed to
be involved in both learning moral behavior and feeling remorse.
According to Raine, because gray matter consists of brain cells, while
white matter forms the "wiring" or connections between these cells,
pathological liars may have more capacity to lie and fewer moral
restraints.
Newly discovered role of MECP2 gene in Rett Syndrome
/ Huda Zoghbi, of Baylor College of Medicine and the Howard Hughes
Medical Institute and Juan Young, also of Baylor and colleagues report
in the online Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy
of Science, posted the week of October 17, 2005, that the Rett Syndrome
gene, MECP2, regulates RNA splicing. This work was funded in part by the
Rett Syndrome Research Foundation (RSRF). - Rett Syndrome (RTT) is a
severe neurological disorder diagnosed almost exclusively in girls.
Children with RTT appear to develop normally until 6 to 18 months of
age, when they enter a period of regression, losing speech and motor
skills. Most develop repetitive hand movements, irregular breathing
patterns, seizures and extreme motor control problems. RTT leaves its
victims profoundly disabled, requiring maximum assistance with every
aspect of daily living. There is no cure.
NIH joined by advocacy groups to fund research on autism ...
- Five institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
and three private autism organizations have formed a consortium to
pursue their common goal of understanding a devastating disorder. This
public-private partnership has funded five grants representing three
projects to identify genes that may contribute to the development of
autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders. The National Institute of Mental
Health will administer the $10.8 million awards over the next five
years. The participating NIH institutes are The National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), The National Institute on
Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), The National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), The National
Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and The National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and
Stroke (NINDS). The voluntary organizations contributing funds are
Cure Autism Now (CAN), National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR), and
the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC).
Gene discovery may help elderly blindness
- University of Pittsburgh
researchers have found a gene linked to age-related maculopathy, the leading
cause of untreatable blindness in elderly people. The researchers said the
discovery suggests a simple test might be able to identify those at risk for
what is commonly known as macular degeneration and may lead to more
effective preventive strategies.
Letter: Climbing mountains for autism research / To
the Editor - One in 166 kids
born in the U.S. will be diagnosed with autism. Autism encompasses a group
of disorders characterized by deficits in social interaction and
communication and unusual and repetitive behavior. The degree of autism
varies from mild to severe in different individuals. Despite the strikingly
high prevalence, autism remains one of the lowest-funded areas of medical
research. The National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) is an
organization that funds research that seeks to determine the causes,
prevention and treatments of autism.
Special cause: Walk for Autism Research on September 25
- "If you don't know someone with
autism now, you probably will." This is the message being spread by the
National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR), as it tries to help people
understand the urgency of its mission - to raise money for autism research
with the goal of finding treatments and, ultimately, a cure for this complex
brain disorder that often inhibits a person's ability to communicate,
respond to surroundings, or form relationships with others. Autism spectrum
disorders affect people of all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds
and occur in an estimated one in every 250 births. Recent prevalence studies
suggest that more than 1,000,000 Americans are living with an autism
spectrum disorder, making them the second most common developmental
disability after mental retardation.
The Help Group Summit 2005
-
This conference features leading researchers, educators and clinicians in
Autism Spectrum Disorders, Asperger's Disorder, Learning Disabilities and
ADHD. Once a year the organization brings together some of the country’s
leading experts to create a cutting edge conference addressing the most
current facts and latest breakthroughs in research and treatment in autism,
learning disabilities and ADHD. The Help Group Summit 2005 will take
place on Friday, September 30, 2005 and Saturday, October 1, 2005. The
location is - Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Boulevard, Los
Angeles, California CA 90049.
John L. Waters talks about His Independent Research on Integration -
To begin this article, allow me to say that my writings
take an unusual approach, and some of my ideas might seem far-fetched.
Because of the unusual nature of my life and work, I've taken over twenty
years to study both rational and non-rational cognitive styles and in
addition I've been consulting with professional experts in psychology and in
other subjects, and several of these persons have written
letters
recommending my work. By John L. Waters
Scientists begin to trace autism's genetic roots -
Most 11-year-olds don't react to their first trip to the zoo the way Alex
Richie did. "I shouldn't have come. I shouldn't have come." The Ferguson,
Mo., boy's family hears that whenever Alex goes someplace new. A visit to
IHOP would have been all right. Alex had been there. But even Disney World
was traumatic. They don't serve Dr. Pepper there. "Alex wants out of his
room and he wants to enjoy life," said his mother, Jessica Cooper, 32. But
he is imprisoned in a world constricted by autism. By Tina Hesman
Snapin: A protein with therapy potential for autism
- A new paper by Firestein and her colleagues at Rutgers, The State
University of New Jersey, examines the role of the protein snapin in nerve
branch, or dendrite, patterning and its potential as a drug target in
therapies aimed at learning and memory disorders. The article will appear in
the journal Molecular Biology of the Cell but appeared online today at MBC
in Press
www.molbiolcell.org/in_press.shtml
While disorders like autism may arise from a multiplicity of causes,
research at the cellular level, such as that of Firestein and her Rutgers
team, is creating an important point of entry for early intervention with
therapeutic drugs. / Release
Men 'grasping at straws' over intelligence claims -
Claims that men are more intelligent than women were met with scorn today -
as girls once again trounced boys in this year's GCSE results. A paper due
to be published in the British Journal of Psychology claims to have
established a five-point difference in IQ scores between men and women.
There are more men with very high IQs and this explains why more men than
women win Nobel prizes or become chess grandmasters, argue Richard Lynn, of
Ulster University, and Paul Irwing, of Manchester University. "This is a
last desperate stand by men to show they are superior. They see they are
sinking and are grasping at straws," said Sue Povey, of University College
London. By Donald MacLeod
Gender hormones may lend to social disorder therapies
- Gender politics aside, every biologist knows that men and women truly are
different. Social disorders such as autism constitute one area where those
differences come to the fore: around 80 percent of all autism cases, for
example, occur in men. Social play behaviors also differ greatly between the
sexes - just about everyone agrees that young boys play "rougher" than
girls.
Genes for mathematical genius?- A British research
team from the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge has
recently embarked upon the first-ever rigorous search for a maths gene. The
scientists intend to search the DNA of 200 pairs of siblings for clues as to
what makes a good mathematician. Mathematical ability is commonly thought of
as an innate gift that some people are born with. Moreover, this gift, which
often runs in the family, is coupled in many cases with other peculiar
characteristics such as musical ability, spatial awareness and a lack of
social skills. People with autism are not only challenged in terms of social
skills, but can also show extremely high mathematical ability. The question
remains as to whether this connection is due to genetics or due to nurture
rather than nature. Mathematically minded families are more likely to foster
the attraction of their children to this field by playing maths puzzles and
games. Also, being a solitary business, maths is more likely to attract
introverted individuals when they are still young.
NIH scientists can no longer consult for drug companies
- After accusations that some government scientists used their official
positions for private gain, the National Institutes of Health announced
rules on Thursday that ban scientists from consulting for drug companies.
"Our research should be based on scientific evidence that is not influenced
by any other factors," Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, director of the health
institutes, said at a news conference. The rules were issued after
disclosures that scientists at the institutes had leveraged their positions
to land lucrative consulting contracts that seemed to conflict or at least
overlap with their official duties. Those contracts caused some critics to
worry that research by the agency could be tainted. An investigation by the
agency concluded that 44 of its 1,200 senior scientists appeared to have
violated rules governing consulting and that nine might have violated
criminal laws. By wire services
Research
Project - The University of Texas at Austin
-
Project Title: Understanding the
decision making process that parents use in selecting treatments for their
children with Autism or Down Syndrome IRB# 2002-10-0098
...Read more.
STUDY links brain's genetic 'off switches' to
autism - Providing one more clue for
solving the autism mystery, researchers have
discovered that the brain mechanism that stops
or slows nerve impulses contributes to the
disorder. A team at Duke University Medical
Center in Durham, N.C., found that genes that
serve as "off switches" in the brain's neurons
play a role. Exactly how such genes interact
and what happens in the brains of
autistic children remains unknown. But the
findings are sure to intrigue the many parents
of autistic children who have long suspected
their children suffer from a sensory overload.
The study will be published in the September
issue of the American Journal of Human
Genetics.
Cluster Of Genes Suspected In Autism -
Researchers have uncovered important genetic
clues to the cause of one of the most baffling brain disorders - autism.
Scientists at Duke have found some of the first hard evidence that suggests
that a group effort by genes in the brain's information filter may play a
key role. It's estimated that as many as 10 to 100 genes may be involved in
autism. Now scientists at Duke have uncovered some of the first evidence
that those genes don't act alone.
Le Bonheur Neuroscience Team Expands Excellence with Opening of ...
- The opening of a dedicated neurology clinic and the arrival of three
pediatric neurologists at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center are a result
of the commitment the hospital has made to its Neuroscience Institute.
World-renown neurologist Dr. James W. Wheless began these expansion efforts
when he arrived at Le Bonheur in May 2005 as the new Neuroscience Director.
"Our goal is to raise this program to a Level IV national epilepsy program
for children," said Wheless. "We want to get to the point where any epilepsy
treatment that is available anywhere in the world would be available for
children here also." / Release
Family key to gene study
- An Australian family has played a key role in the breakthrough discovery
of a gene associated with intellectual disability that may also have
implications for people with severe epilepsy and autism. Studies of the
Boltwood family, of Bella Vista, in Sydneys northwest, were crucial in the
identification of a gene which researchers believe will provide insights
into how the brain works.
New Hyperbaric Treatment Center - Children whose
lives have been changed by the simplicity of oxygen gathered for the grand
opening. Patients and their families cut the ribbon this morning outside the
hyperbaric oxygen center in downtown Madison. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers
treat neurological conditions by literally pumping oxygen into the brain.
Study Hopes to Find Cause of Autism -
Autism is a devastating brain disorder with no
cure. On the healthbeat, Dr. Kim Mulvihill looks at efforts to track down
the cause of the mysterious disorder. Nancy Andrieu of San Francisco has two
sons. Both boys are diagnosed with autism. Nancy Andrieu, Mother of Two
Autistic Sons: "We're struggling along, trying to get them services, helping
them overcome their disabilities, and trying to find out why this happened."
To date, no one knows what causes the baffling brain disorder, but Nancy --
and most experts --suspect the answer lies deep within our DNA. Nancy
Andrieu: "It's definitely genetic." By Dr. Kim Mulvihill
Autism study will monitor families' need for timeout - A new
research project is aiming to help families cope with the demands of autism.
Mt Albert resident Gillian Wright is a research consultant for the project
and has two children with intellectual disabilities, including a 16-year-old
son with autism. The project will study families with 16-25 year old family
members who are affected by autism and explore the need for "respite"
services. Ms Wright describes respite as being positive time that the young
person has away from home and family in a different environment. Respite
usually involves participating in structured activities or programmes with
other young people who have similar needs. "Kids with autism have problems
with social interaction. Respite can be a chance to do different things and
be with different people," she says. Respite can also provide a break for
other family members from the pressures of caring for an autistic young
person. By Nicole Stanley
Consider HCT 1026 for very young autistic infants and toddlers ...
- Consider HCT 1026 (a nitric-oxide donating derivative of flurbiprofen)
for treatment of very young autistic infants and toddlers, in combination
with intensive educational intervention (the latter of which has shown
scientifically to help autistic children function better). I base this
recommendation on the work of Lennart Gustafsson Ph.D. who has suggested
that inadequate expression of Nitric Oxide in critical points of brain
development are predicted to lead to narrow cortical minicolumns (shown to
occur in autistics on autopsy data per the work of Manny Casanova M.D.). How
safe is HCT 1026 in young children? What are the potential side effects? A
researcher who might be interested in this is Mirjana Maletic-Savatic M.D.,
Ph.D. She is a pediatric neurologist and researcher interested in autism,
and has studied neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase knock-out mice relative to
this. She is at the University at Stonybrook in New York in Pediatric
Neurology. By Linda Copeland M.D.
Multiple Genetic 'Flavors' May Explain Autism - While
debate still rages over the 'cause' of autism, mounting evidence suggests
that genetic factors play a major role in the disease. Two recent studies
led by James Sutcliffe, Ph.D., and Randy Blakely, Ph.D., investigators with
the Vanderbilt Center for Molecular Neuroscience and the Vanderbilt Kennedy
Center for Research on Human Development, suggest that multiple rare
mutations within a single gene may increase risk for autism. Their findings
also may point to new therapeutic options for this devastating disorder.
Source: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Scientists Scour DNA For Clues To Autism - Nancy Adrieu of
San Francisco has two sons, both diagnosed with autism. "We're struggling
along, trying to get them services, helping them overcome their disabilities
and trying to find out why this happened," she says. However, to date, no
one knows what causes the baffling brain disorder. But Nancy and most
experts suspect the answer lies deep within our DNA. Now, a high tech tool
invented in the Bay Area may reveal some real answers. The technology is
called a "gene chip DNA array." The chip allows scientists to examine the
DNA found in a blood sample on a much finer level and more rapidly than ever
before. Thanks to the chip, and 1500 families hit hard by autism, a massive
hunt looking for genetic clues is now underway. "In order to find these
genes, we need large sample sizes," says Dr. Joachim Hallmeyer of the
Stanford School of Medicine, who is part of the international effort
involved with the research. "The goal of all this is to treat autism
better." By Kim Mulvihill, M.D.
Multiple rare mutations within a single gene may increase risk for Autism
- While debate still rages over the
'cause' of autism, mounting evidence suggests that genetic factors play a
major role in the disease.
Two
recent studies led by James Sutcliffe, Ph.D., and Randy Blakely, Ph.D.,
investigators with the
Vanderbilt Center for Molecular Neuroscience and
the
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development,
suggest that multiple rare mutations within a single gene may increase risk
for autism. Their findings also may point to new therapeutic options for
this devastating disorder. In this pair of studies, the researchers identify
and characterize a number of mutations in the gene that regulate brain
levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in many biological
processes including breathing, digestion, sleep, appetite, blood vessel
constriction, mood and impulsivity.
'Gene test' for autism in sight - Scientists who
have discovered a gene linked to autism believe they can use the new
knowledge to work out an individual's risk of the condition. The French team
from IntegraGen SA hope to have a working risk assessment test on the market
by the end of 2006. The gene sits on chromosome 16 and holds the DNA code
for a protein that plays a central role in brain function. Experts
said the Molecular Psychiatry study was promising but that it was premature
to talk about an autism test.
Hormone Won't Treat Autism - Despite its
initial promise, the intestinal hormone secretin does not improve
autism
symptoms and should not be used to treat the disorder, say Australian
researchers who reviewed 14 studies involving 618 people with autism.
Scientists led by Dr. Katrina Williams, of the Children's Hospital at
Westmeade, concluded that
intravenous
doses of secretin -- considered by some to be a promising treatment for
autism -- did not improve autism-related social, behavioral or communication
problems.
Larry Young on animals and autism clues, environmental impact on ...
- Young began studying voles for their monogamous behavior, then
investigated molecular mechanisms in species behavior differences. Now
researchers are gaining insights into human disorders with social
impairments like autism. Keynoting an APS conference on oxytocin/vasopressin
Young points to studies confirming their roles in social cognition and
suggesting a developmental role for oxytocin in shaping normal adult social
behavior. / The full press releases are available on the APS Press Room
conference website:
the-aps.org/press/conference/index.htm The American Physiological
Society
http://www.the-aps.org
Multiple genetic 'flavors' may explain autism /
Two recent studies suggest that multiple rare mutations within a single gene
may increase risk for autism, according to investigators with the Vanderbilt
Center for Molecular Neuroscience and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for
Research on Human Development - While debate still rages over the
'cause' of autism, mounting evidence suggests that genetic factors play a
major role in the disease. Two recent studies led by James Sutcliffe, Ph.D.,
and Randy Blakely, Ph.D., investigators with the Vanderbilt Center for
Molecular Neuroscience and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on
Human Development, suggest that multiple rare mutations within a single gene
may increase risk for autism. Their findings also may point to new
therapeutic options for this devastating disorder. In this pair of studies,
the researchers identify and characterize a number of mutations in the gene
that regulate brain levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in many
biological processes including breathing, digestion, sleep, appetite, blood
vessel constriction, mood and impulsivity.
New
STUDY SHOWS COMPELLING EVIDENCE OF major intestinal immune disease in
children with autism / Thoughtful House scientists and collaborators
confirm link between autism and new inflammatory bowel disease - In a
study that provides further clues to understanding the origins of autism,
scientists and physicians from Thoughtful House Center for Children in
Austin, Texas, supply considerable evidence of a new inflammatory bowel
disease in children with autism. The study will be published this month in
the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Study Confirms High, But Stable, Child Autism Rate
- Concerns over an "epidemic of autism" may ease thanks to research by MUHC
investigators. The study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry
this month, reveals that although pervasive development disorders such as
autism are more common than previously believed they are not increasing.
"Our initial study, conducted between 1992 and 1995, revealed that 0.63% of
children surveyed suffered a pervasive development disorder," says Dr. Eric
Fombonne, one of the study's authors and Director of the Department of
Psychiatry at the Montreal Children's Hospital and Head of the Division of
Child Psychiatry at McGill University. "This result was triple the autism
rate of 30 years ago." The new study aimed to replicate this research, using
subsequent cohorts of children under the same experimental conditions, to
establish whether autism is on the rise. By: MUNC
Hormone won't treat autism - Despite its
initial promise, the intestinal hormone secretin does not improve autism
symptoms and should not be used to treat the disorder, say Australian
researchers who reviewed 14 studies involving 618 people with autism.
Visit our
Autism Centre for more information.
Exercising the brain- How do you brace yourself
when you discover your child has not met the developmental milestones? For
instance, your two-year-old toddler has yet to learn how to walk. At three,
your child has yet to utter a word and appears to have poor eye contact. At
six, your child is inattentive and is unable to grip a pencil.
Attention deficit disorder, autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and
pervasive developmental disorder are just some of the terms used to define
persons with developmental delays. But it is not always so clear cut that a
child has a specific disorder. Which is why some experts are reluctant to
label a child because to them, it is just a way to describe the symptoms of
an injured brain. By
Pang Hin Yue
Secretin should not be used to treat autism, researchers say -
The intestinal hormone secretin, considered by some to be a promising drug
in the treatment of autism, does not improve the symptoms and should not be
used to treat the disorder, according to a new review of studies.
After analyzing data from 14 high-quality studies involving 618 patients
with autism disorders, Dr. Katrina Williams of the Children's Hospital at
Westmeade, Australia, and colleagues found no evidence that doses of
intravenous secretin improve the social, behavioral or communication
problems associated with autism. Secretin "should not currently be
recommended or administered as a treatment for autism," the reviewers
conclude. There were no serious side effects reported in any of the studies,
but "more adverse events are likely to be reported if secretin is made
widely available," Williams says. By Betina
Andersen
Specialists from Brazil and abroad attend symposium on human brain
- of the Federal University of
Pernambuco (UFPE), in Recife, Northeastern Brazil, for an international
symposium on the human brain. The event, which begins today, runs until
Friday (22). According to the coordinator of the event, João Ricardo
Mendes, the purpose of the symposium is to discuss advances in the treatment
of diseases that affect the brain, such as autism, depression, memory
lapses, and Alzheimer's disease, as well as psychiatric disturbances with
clinical, behavioral symptoms. He recalled that, to keep the brain healthy,
one must constantly develop intellectual activities, such as the habit of
reading. By Márcia Wonghon
Research Information Request: AS in the
Miltary Service -
The author
will be working with Department of Defense
decision-makers and others to develop
personnel policies uniform throughout all of
the US armed forces affecting reporting,
evaluation, and administrative protocols for
retention, reassignment, and separation from
the service.
The author
requests those who have been in the active,
reserves, or National Guard military service
to please contact him so that he can complete
a second article on AS and the military. That
article will focus on identifying, evaluating,
reassigning or separating AS individuals from
the service with an emphasis, in all such
steps, on a "soft landing."
