Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

Living near freeway linked to increased risk of autism

Living near a freeway may be associated with increased risk of autism, according to a study published by a team of researchers from Children's Hospital Los Angeles, the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) and the UC Davis MIND Institute.

16 Dec 2010

Early intervention for children with autism improves I.Q., language and social skills

Early intervention for children with autism, as young as 6 months of age, may change the development trajectory for later symptoms of the disorder according to a research project being spearheaded by the MIND Institute at the University of California Davis Medical Center. A recent study published by Pediatrics recorded randomized trials of daily therapy through games and pretend play for children, which demonstrated an improvement in I.Q., language and social skills.

15 Dec 2010

MDMA produces friendliness, playfulness, and loving feelings in laboratory setting

MDMA or 'ecstasy' increases feelings of empathy and social connection. These 'empathogenic' effects suggest that MDMA might be useful to enhance the psychotherapy of people who struggle to feel connected to others, as may occur in association with autism, schizophrenia, or antisocial personality disorder.

15 Dec 2010

New online tools allow parents with autistic children to enjoy holiday season

Rethink Autism, an educational technology company that produces online research-based treatment tools for parents and professionals, offers some suggestions and a free online set of video tips to help families address some of these challenges and enjoy the holidays.

15 Dec 2010

Researchers examine expression of toxic mRNA in patients with Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome

Expression of a toxic RNA that leads to Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome is modifiable by genetic or pharmacologic means, according to new research from U-M Medical School scientists.

15 Dec 2010

Diet linked to onset of mental illness

Changes in diet have been linked to a reduction of abnormal behaviors in mentally ill people or animals, but a Purdue University study shows that diet might also trigger the onset of mental illness in the first place.

14 Dec 2010

Study finds expression of toxic RNA that leads to Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome modifiable

Expression of a toxic RNA that leads to Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome is modifiable by genetic or pharmacologic means, according to new research from U-M Medical School scientists.

14 Dec 2010

Focused intervention on core social deficits of ASD in toddlers improves social, communication skills

Targeting the core social deficits of autism spectrum disorders in early intervention programs yielded sustained improvements in social and communication skills even in very young children who have ASD, according to a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health. The study was published online December 8, 2010, in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

9 Dec 2010

Novel treatment strategy for social impairment of people with ASD

Eastern Virginia Medical School researchers have identified a potential novel treatment strategy for the social impairment of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), an aspect of the condition that has a profound impact on quality of life.

9 Dec 2010

Research findings could lead to new therapies to correct neurological disorders

Yale University researchers have found that a single molecule not only connects brain cells but also changes how we learn. The findings, reported in the December 9 issue of the journal Neuron, may help researchers discover ways to improve memory and could lead to new therapies to correct neurological disorders.

9 Dec 2010

Texas leaders cut spending for Medicaid, Wyo. begins to set up state exchange

"State leaders, trying to dig out of a hole in the current two-year budget before the next one has to be whacked, ordered agencies Tuesday to further curb spending. Agency chiefs were told in a letter that they must reduce expenditures by 2.5% in the remaining nine months of the fiscal year. Managers of the state Medicaid program immediately announced they would cut another 1% from the fees paid to doctors, dentists and hospitals, along with 2% in payments to nursing homes and home health care providers. The decreases take effect Feb. 1, and they come on top of 1% cuts that kicked in just before Labor Day" (Garrett, 12/8).

9 Dec 2010

Mental Health Research Network receives grant to create data resource for mental health researchers

Ask anyone: There must be better ways to treat mental health problems. Treatment hinges on research. But traditional research is slow-and so expensive that it can't even ask many pressing questions in mental health. And findings from academic settings may not apply to patients or clinicians in the real world of health care.

7 Dec 2010

New analysis shows that common diseases are not lined to genetic factors

The case for a substantial role of genes in susceptibility to the major human diseases is now scientifically refuted argues a groundbreaking new analysis published by the public interest science organization, The Bioscience Resource Project.

7 Dec 2010

Bierman ABA opens new clinic for children with autism

Bierman ABA is proud to announce the opening of its new clinic for providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to children with autism. After three years setting up home programs for children with autism, Bierman ABA has expanded to a clinic in Carmel, IN. The new location will serve families in Indianapolis and surrounding areas.

7 Dec 2010

Gene mutation can lead to different mental illnesses when influenced by same environmental factor

Male mice born with a genetic mutation that's believed to make humans more susceptible to schizophrenia develop behaviors that mimic other major psychiatric illnesses when their mothers are exposed to an assault to the immune system while pregnant, according to new Johns Hopkins research.

4 Dec 2010

Early autism diagnostic test on the horizon

Soon scientists may have a test to diagnose autism spectrum disorders using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. As of now this dreaded developmental disorder is typically diagnosed through observations, along with educational and psychological testing.

2 Dec 2010

Researchers develop best biologically based test for autism to date

Researchers at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital and the University of Utah have developed the best biologically based test for autism to date. The test was able to detect the disorder in individuals with high-functioning autism with 94 percent accuracy. The study will be published online the week of November 29th in Autism Research.

2 Dec 2010

Mitochondrial dysfunction observed in children with full syndrome autism

Preliminary research has found that children with autism are more likely to have impaired mitochondrial function (structures within cells responsible for energy production) and mitochondrial DNA abnormalities than typically developing children, according to a study in the December 1 issue of JAMA.

1 Dec 2010

May Institute, Borders partner to raise funds for critical services during Benefit Days

May Institute, an award-winning national nonprofit serving children and adults with autism and other special needs, and Borders, a leading specialty retailer of books as well as other educational and entertainment items, are partnering this holiday season to raise funds for critical services during May Institute's Benefit Days at Borders, December 3-5, 2010. Visit May Institute's website to download a voucher with the promotional code for this special fundraising event.

30 Nov 2010

Children with autism improve creative skills by playing with building blocks

In an attempt to help children with autism learn the building blocks of creativity, researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) tapped a toy box staple for help - legos. By building lego structures in new and unique ways, children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) learned to use creativity, an important skill that they had seen as very challenging prior to the study.

30 Nov 2010

Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

Living near freeway linked to increased risk of autism

Early intervention for children with autism improves I.Q., language and social skills

MDMA produces friendliness, playfulness, and loving feelings in laboratory setting

New online tools allow parents with autistic children to enjoy holiday season

Researchers examine expression of toxic mRNA in patients with Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome

Diet linked to onset of mental illness

Study finds expression of toxic RNA that leads to Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome modifiable

Focused intervention on core social deficits of ASD in toddlers improves social, communication skills

Novel treatment strategy for social impairment of people with ASD

Research findings could lead to new therapies to correct neurological disorders

Texas leaders cut spending for Medicaid, Wyo. begins to set up state exchange

Mental Health Research Network receives grant to create data resource for mental health researchers

New analysis shows that common diseases are not lined to genetic factors

Bierman ABA opens new clinic for children with autism

Gene mutation can lead to different mental illnesses when influenced by same environmental factor

Early autism diagnostic test on the horizon

Researchers develop best biologically based test for autism to date

Mitochondrial dysfunction observed in children with full syndrome autism

May Institute, Borders partner to raise funds for critical services during Benefit Days

Children with autism improve creative skills by playing with building blocks

Evolving spectrophotometry for modern biopharma workflows

Scaling B-cell cloning workflows for antibody development

Fluidics in Modern Healthcare & Medical Device Innovation

Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

Evolving spectrophotometry for modern biopharma workflows

Scaling B-cell cloning workflows for antibody development

Fluidics in Modern Healthcare & Medical Device Innovation

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