Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

New findings challenge one of the established views of how nerve cells communicate with one another

Every time we move, feel emotions, think or remember, the nerve cells, or neurons, in our body transmit messages to one another via chemical signals called neurotransmitters. Within neurons are tiny organelles called synaptic vesicles that sequester neurotransmitters and release them when needed into the synapse, or space between nerve cells, where the chemical signal is transmitted to other neurons.

16 Feb 2005

Diary kept by a mother of twins has revealed indicators of autistic behaviour in children

“It appears that children with autism develop normally for six months, and then begin developing atypically,” says Rutherford. “As typical children begin to accelerate in social development, the child with autism makes only minor gains.”

13 Feb 2005

Merck may have known the overuse of mercury in their vaccines posed a dangerous health threat to children

A Los Angeles Times article today reports that Merck, a leading manufacturer of prescription drugs, knew the overuse of mercury in their vaccines posed a dangerous health threat to children.

8 Feb 2005

Research confirms how early-life events shape later physiology

Underscoring the value of good prenatal care, new research suggests that early infection may create a cognitive vulnerability that appears later during stress on the immune system.

8 Feb 2005

Asthma or allergies in an expectant mother may increase the likelihood that her child will exhibit symptoms of autism

This association between a mother's asthma and allergies and a child's autism has not been reported in the medical literature previously, says Dr. Croen, and requires replication in further studies.

7 Feb 2005

Clues to autism's neural basis

In a study that broadens our understanding of the neural basis of social interactions, researchers at Harvard Medical School and the University of Montreal have shown that individuals with autism display abnormal patterns of activity in brain circuits that underlie the understanding of other people's behavior.

7 Feb 2005

People with autism may perform unusually well on some tests of visual processing

The researchers found that autistic people were less likely than others to have false memories about images they had seen earlier. The researchers had previously demonstrated this kind of effect with verbal material, but not with visual material.

7 Feb 2005

Studying monkeys social judgments could provide clues to autism

Researches have found that monkeys will "pay" juice rewards to see images of high-ranking monkeys or female hindquarters. They say their research technique offers a rigorous laboratory approach to studying the "social machinery" of the brain and how this machinery goes tragically awry in autism -- a disease that afflicts more than a million Americans and is the fastest growing developmental disorder.

30 Jan 2005

Beneficial effects of essential fatty acids in children with autism and Asperger's syndrome

Nordic Naturals, a supplier of fish oil and essential fatty acid nutritional supplements, announced today the results of a successful pilot trial that showed beneficial effects of essential fatty acids (EFAs) on language and learning skills in children with autism and Asperger's syndrome.

19 Jan 2005

Scientists reveal how we recognise the look of fear

Whether it's the look of love, happiness, or the look of fear, humans use facial expressions to communicate important information to one another. But which parts of the brain read these cues, and how do they do it?

10 Jan 2005

No link between immunizations and autism

Over the past 20 years, there has been speculation about a connection between immunizations and an increase in autism. However, a study by Mayo Clinic researchers published in the January issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine suggests the increase may be due to improved awareness, changes in diagnostic criteria and availability of services, not environmental factors or immunizations.

4 Jan 2005

Newly discovered genetic defect might represent an important risk factor for major depression

A newly discovered genetic defect might represent an important risk factor for major depression, a condition which effects 20 million people in the U.S., according to Duke University Medical Center researchers.

13 Dec 2004

Autism results from failure of brain areas to work together

In contrast to people who do not have autism, people with autism remember letters of the alphabet in a part of the brain that ordinarily processes shapes, according to a study from a collaborative program of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

29 Nov 2004

New class of drugs to repair psychiatric disorders

“Smart” drugs capable of targeting specific brain cells to control psychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia may be ready for early clinical trials within three years, with the launch of a $1.5 million project to take place at the Brain Research Centre (BRC)

29 Nov 2004

Brain inflammation is a sign of autism

A new study by scientists at Johns Hopkins shows that brain inflammation is a sign of autism. The findings are reported in the online edition of Annals of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Neurological Association.

15 Nov 2004

Discovery of the gene for a form of Joubert Syndrome

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine have discovered the gene for a form of Joubert Syndrome, a condition present before birth that affects an area of the brain controlling balance and coordination in about 1 in 10,000 individuals.

21 Oct 2004

Innovative help for parents of autistic children

In 1997, the Pennsylvania Department of Education held a focus group of parents with autistic children throughout the state to learn more about their needs. George Shadie of Luzerne County was one of those parents.

11 Oct 2004

Brain imaging study shows brain differences between autistic boys with language impairment and those with normal language development

The study, published October 11, 2004, in the advance online issue of the Annals of Neurology, found that a language center of the brain -- Broca's area -- is apparently normal in autistic boys who have normal language capabilities.

11 Oct 2004

Detention of a man with autism was a breach of his human rights

The Alzheimer’s Society has welcomed a ruling made by the European Court of Human Rights, that the detention under common law of a man with autism was a breach of his human rights.

6 Oct 2004

Autism decision is turning point for autistic children in Northern Ireland

The decision to fund Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in Northern Ireland marks a turning point in the services available to families with autistic children in Northern Ireland, according to a University of Ulster behaviour analyst.

6 Oct 2004

Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

New findings challenge one of the established views of how nerve cells communicate with one another

Diary kept by a mother of twins has revealed indicators of autistic behaviour in children

Merck may have known the overuse of mercury in their vaccines posed a dangerous health threat to children

Research confirms how early-life events shape later physiology

Asthma or allergies in an expectant mother may increase the likelihood that her child will exhibit symptoms of autism

Clues to autism's neural basis

People with autism may perform unusually well on some tests of visual processing

Studying monkeys social judgments could provide clues to autism

Beneficial effects of essential fatty acids in children with autism and Asperger's syndrome

Scientists reveal how we recognise the look of fear

No link between immunizations and autism

Newly discovered genetic defect might represent an important risk factor for major depression

Autism results from failure of brain areas to work together

New class of drugs to repair psychiatric disorders

Brain inflammation is a sign of autism

Discovery of the gene for a form of Joubert Syndrome

Innovative help for parents of autistic children

Brain imaging study shows brain differences between autistic boys with language impairment and those with normal language development

Detention of a man with autism was a breach of his human rights

Autism decision is turning point for autistic children in Northern Ireland

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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