ICare4Autism

Birth Order Linked to Autism Severity & IQ

ICare4Autism — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:41:27 +0000

A recent study conducted by Loren Martin, Ph.D., professor and director of research for the Department of Graduate Psychology at Azusa Pacific University, links birth order to the severity of autism. Drawing from more than 300 sibling pairs diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder from the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange database, the study presents the largest analysis of birth order and interval effects on autism. Using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) to compare symptoms and severity between siblings, Martin found both birth order and interval to be associated with autism. Children born within two years of siblings with autism were found to have more severe symptoms than their older siblings. The study findings show that IQ is similarly associated with birth order, with the second born population showing generally lower IQ than first born among the autistic sibling pairs. Martin explains the significance of his findings saying, “The findings suggest a dosage-type effect in some cases of ASD in which genetic and/or environmental factors accumulate across pregnancies, leading to a more severe manifestation of ASD symptoms.”[i] The study was published in the November 30, 2012 issue of the scientific journal PLOS ONE.

[i] “APU Articles.” Psychology Professor Provides Clues about Autism Causality through Birth Order Study. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2013. .

Researchers Find That Autistics Perceive Motion At Twice The Typical Rate

ICare4Autism — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:14:44 +0000

New research published in the Journal of Neuroscience this April demonstrates how children with autism spectrum disorder perceive motion at twice the rate of typically developing children, suggesting that perception of motion may be responsible for autism symptoms such as painful sensitivity to noise and bright lights, as well as social, behavioral deficits. The study compared the motion perception processes of 20 children diagnosed with ASD with 26 typically developing children, with a population age range of 8 to 17. The subjects were made to watch videos of moving black and white bars and distinguish which direction the bars were sliding—left or right. When subjects indicated the correct direction the video clips were shortened to increase difficulty, and conversely if subjects answered incorrectly the clip duration was lengthened. The researchers adjusted the contrast of the bars, finding that when the distinction between bars was less visible the two groups performed identically. When the contrast was increased, both experimental groups performed better, but children with ASD performed significantly better. The worst performing child for the heightened contrast portion of the test, performed on par with the combined average of the typically developing study population. Researchers concluded that children with ASD perceive motion at approximately twice the rate of typically developing children. As stimulus size increases, typical observers perception is impaired, while autistics’ perception is improved.

Study author Jennifer Foss-Feig, a postdoctoral fellow at the Child Study Center at Yale University, suggests that the neurological responses of an autistic brain increase congruently with sensory stimulus, which can be advantageous until it is overwhelming. The researchers suggest that the pain and disturbance that autistics often experience with sensory dense situations—like crowded malls—may be attributed to this heightened perception of motion. Additionally, many of the social and behavioral symptoms of autism—like communicative ability and face recognition—could be understood through the lens of motion perception.

Foss-Feig, Jennifer H., Duge Tadin, Kimberly B. Schauder, and Carissa J. Cascio. “A Substantial and Unexpected Enhancement of Motion Perception in Autism.”Journal of Neuroscience 33.19 (2013): 8243-249. Http://www.jneurosci.org/. 8 May 2013. Web. 10 May 2013. .

“Why Some Autistic Kids Are Painfully Sensitive to Noise and Bright Lights.” DNA. Www.dnaindia.com, 9 May 2013. Web. 10 May 2013. .

New Research Shows World’s Most Popular Herbicide Among Causes of ASD & Numerous Other Health Concerns

ICare4Autism — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:49:36 +0000

A new research study published in the journal Entropy this April examines the long-term health effects of the popular herbicide RoundUp^®, a product of Monsanto, finding significant associations with a variety of conditions “associated with the western diet”[i] including Autism Spectrum Disorder, gastrointestinal disorders, ADHD, and other developmental malformations. The study holds glyphosate—the active ingredient of RoundUp^®—accountable for inhibiting the body’s natural detoxifying processes, making it more susceptible to other food born herbicidal/pesticidal residues and environmental toxins. The research bears evidence that glyphosate inhibits cytochrome P450 (CYP), an enzyme necessary for detoxifying xenobiotics (foreign chemical compounds like pesticides and carcinogens). Researchers Anthony Samsel and Stephanie Seneff, chart glyphosate’s interference with CYP enzymes, gut microbiota, biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids, and serum sulfate transport, concluding that “glyphosate is the “textbook example” of exogenous semiotic entropy: the disruption of homeostasis by environmental toxins.”i The researchers insist that the biological mechanisms that the popular herbicide inhibits “remarkably explain a great number of diseases and conditions that are prevalent in the modern industrialized world,” including autism, ADHD, Alzheimer’s, developmental malformations, infertility, inflammatory bowel disease, depression, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and cancer, many of which share symptoms. The observed effects of glyphosate increased when combined with dietary deficiencies and insufficient sun exposure. Because glyphosate exposure builds over time, causing inflammation that disturbs cellular systems, the consequences of the long-used herbicide are becoming more and more evident. The study authors emphasize the significance of these findings and encourage further action to restrict the use of glyphosate saying it is “likely to be pervasive in our food supply, and, contrary to being essentially nontoxic, it may in fact be the most biologically disruptive chemical in our environment.”i

[i] Samsel, A.; Seneff, S. Glyphosate’s Suppression of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Amino Acid Biosynthesis by the Gut Microbiome: Pathways to Modern Diseases. Entropy 2013, 15, 1416-1463.

Reed, Genna. “Study Links Monstanto’s RoundUp To Autism, Parkinson’s And Alzheimer’s.” Prison Planetcom Study Links Monstantos RoundUp To Autism Parkinsons And Alzheimers Comments. N.p., 6 May 2013. Web. 09 May 2013. .

Birth Weight & Gestation Age Associated with Autism

ICare4Autism — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:10:08 +0000

New research published in The American Journal of Psychiatry reveals a significant association between fetal growth and autism. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Manchester in the U.K., utilized early ultrasound data from Sweden’s Stockholm Youth Cohort, which yielded a population of 589,114 children under the age of 17. The population included 4,283 children ultimately diagnosed with ASD, 1,755 with intellectual disability, and 2,528 without. Utilizing the Swedish Medical Birth Registry, study authors charted the populations’ deviance from normal fetal growth, finding that significant deviance from mean birth weight in either direction is associated with risk of ASD. Findings showed that risk increased with fetal growth 1.50 standard deviations below and 2.00 standard deviations above the mean for gestational age, which supports earlier research regarding the association between premature birth and risk for autism. Babies born weighing over 9 pounds 14 ounces had 60% higher risk for developing autism, while those born weighing 5.5 pounds or less had 63% higher risk. These associations are strong, leaving ample space for inference and a great foundation for future research. Study author Professor Kathryn Abel elaborated on findings saying, “Risk appeared particularly high in those babies where they were growing poorly and continued in utero until after 40 weeks. This may be because these infants were exposed the longest to unhealthy conditions within the mother’s womb.” Abel asserts that, because “fetal growth is influenced by genetic and non-genetic factors,” we can infer that “the processes that leads to ASD probably begin during fetal life.” In addition to the evidence of the relationship between fetal growth, or birth weight, and risk of ASD, the study found specific significance in the association between below average fetal growth and ASD with intellectual disabilities.

Wood, Janice. “Extremes in Birth Weight Tied to Greater Risk of Autism | Psych Central News.” Psych Central.com. N.p., 4 May 2013. Web. 07 May 2013. .

Nonverbal Autistic Teen Masters Written Communication & Advocates For ASD Education

ICare4Autism — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:32:07 +0000

If I told you a 16 year old wrote a book that is being assigned in university classrooms, would you believe me? Maybe. What if I told you that 16 year old is a nonverbal autistic? Ido Kedar, a California teen with Autism Spectrum Disorder, has escaped the “solitary confinement”[i] of his body through mastering the motor skills necessary for communication tools like IPad apps. Ido is now able to express his feelings, opinions, and self-interest—insisting on inclusion in a regular education program and challenging experts’ assumptions about his condition. Ido describes the difficulty of his silent half-life saying, “It was terrible having experts talk to each other about me, and to hear them be wrong in their observations and interpretations, but to not be capable of telling them.” i

Ido advocates for integrated education through his blog and book, “Ido In Autismland,” and leads by example as an honor roll student. In his blog post Truth Over Theory, Ido describes his conversation with an open-minded professor as refreshing because, “more often, I think, people get used to their theories and stay there their whole professional careers.”[ii] Ido’s book has been assigned to college classrooms and is available on Amazon. In the personal statement of Ido’s Blog, he states his intent is to “help other autistic people find a way out of their silence too.”

Ido’s story was featured as an NBC News special, in which Ido was interviewed and able to respond via IPad, more articulately, in fact, than many people his age. The insight Ido has provided into the mind and condition of nonverbal autistics is monumental for the future of education and intervention strategies. Ido’s literary voice is unique and engaging—a true joy to read. Through his advocacy efforts and personal successes, Ido is altering the stigmas associated with autism. In an interview with NBC News Ido asserted, “I want people to understand that not speaking is not the same thing as not thinking.”i

[i] Lin, Daisy, and Bruce Hansel. “Autistic Teen Uses Tech to Break Silence: “I Escaped My Prison”" NBC Southern California. N.p., 35 Apr. 2013. Web. 06 May 2013. .

[ii] Kedar, Ido. “Truth Over Theory.” Ido In Autismland. N.p., 13 Feb. 2013. Web. 06 May 2013. .

Gender Discrepancy In Manifestation of Autism May Necessitate Varied Treatment Strategies & Further Research

ICare4Autism — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:14:48 +0000

The gender distribution of autism spectrum disorder has raised flags for researchers for years. Males are 4 to 5 times more likely to be diagnosed with ASD than females. Recent studies approach the discrepancy through various lenses, propelling the dialogue on gender as a mediating factor for autism. The current diagnostic criteria for ASD were designed primarily from symptoms in boys, so if symptoms manifest differently in girls, then some girls may be slipping through the diagnostic cracks. Concurrently, we have a weaker understanding of girl’s symptoms because the discrepancy in incidence leaves most research populations with imbalanced gender distributions. Neuropsychiatries have informed this dialogue with the discovery that symptoms can be different in girls, which implies the need for varied treatment. This week, at the International Meeting for Autism Research in Spain, two new studies are slated to present results—prior to official publication—on the association between autism and gender.

One study,[i] conducted by Yale University researchers, examines the interaction between genetics, gender, and autism, hypothesizing that the extra X chromosome of females provides protection from genetic mutations associated with autism. The study assesses the gender distribution of rare variants in ASD probands, finding that female probands have more variants than males. The expression of these high-risk mutations in females with autism supports the hypothesis that the female extra X chromosome serves to protect women from autism spectrum disorders by suggesting that women who have autism have such because higher-risk mutations “overwhelmed” their “protective mechanism.”[ii] The mutations found are referred to as “de novo” mutations, which are epigenetic, changes occurring in the sperm or egg, as opposed to genetically transferrable.

The second study[iii] pertaining to gender discrepancies presented at IMFAR was designed to study the ‘Effects of a Targeted Face-Processing Intervention On Visual Attention to Naturalistic Social Scenes,’ but found that significantly different results contingent on gender, suggesting the need for varying treatment strategies, research studies, and ultimately diagnostic criteria. The study, conducted by the Marcus Autism Center of Emory University, assessed changes in processing abilities—such as identity recognition with changes in expression, viewpoint, features, face process strategies, and attention or ability to ascertain information from eyes—by using a computer-based intervention called Let’s Face It! (LFI!). Researchers concluded that after a concentrated intervention with LFI! children with ASD paid grater attention to faces and less to background regions. However, the chief of the division of autism and related disorders at Emory University School of Medicine asserts, that when the data was displayed by gender, “In boys, the more they looked at the eyes, the less socially disabled they are. In girls, the more they looked at the eyes, the more disabled they are… we have to take gender as a mediating factor.”

Both studies confirm speculation that autism spectrum disorders manifest diversely between genders, necessitating new approaches to treating females with ASD. Further, the study conducted by Yale University suggests that while incidence of autism for females is lower, the manifestation of autism may be of higher-risk. Finally, the protective mechanism occurring in females could offer insight regarding the development of autism spectrum disorder in general.

[i] Whole-Exome and CNV Data for ASD Sex Bias. S. J. Sanders* and M. W. State, Yale University School of Medicine

[ii] “Girls with Autism May Need Different Treatment | Health24.” Health24. N.p., 2 May 2013. Web. 03 May 2013. .

[iii] Effects of a Targeted Face-Processing Intervention On Visual Attention to Naturalistic Social Scenes. P. Lewis*1, J. M. Moriuchi1, C. Klaiman1, J. Wolf2, L. Herlihy3, W. Jones1, A. Klin1, J. W. Tanaka4 and R. T. Schultz5, (1)Marcus Autism Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta & Emory University School of Medicine, (2)Yale Child Study Center, (3)University of Connecticut, (4)University of Victoria, (5)Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Autism Brain Bank Collaboration Announced Today

ICare4Autism — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:49:01 +0000

Today, four prominent autism research organizations announce their collaboration with the formation of Autism BrainNet, a national “brain bank,” to acquire brain tissue of recently diseased persons with autism spectrum disorder and disseminate for research purposes. The culmination of the Autism Tissue Program’s preexisting efforts in conjunction with the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI), the University of California’s MIND Institute, and others will greatly expand reach and impact. Autism BrainNet will launch this fall, under the direction of David Amaral, Ph.D., of the MIND Institute. A web portal will provide access to research results and track the progress of the numerous ventures that Autism BrainNet is supporting.

Brain tissue provides valuable information for research into neurological disorders, such as autism, that are difficult to assess. The Autism BrainNet organizations are sensitive to the fact that many people are uncomfortable with the concept of brain donation, and commend families who have donated to the Autism Tissue Program for their courage.

Rubinstein, Jane E. “Autism Speaks and the Simons Foundation Announce New Brain Tissue Network.” Autism Speaks and the Simons Foundation Announce New Brain Tissue Network. EurekAlert!, 2 May 2013. Web. 02 May 2013. .

ICare4Autism Adviser Advocates With “1000 Ausome Things” Flashblog Today

ICare4Autism — Wed, 01 May 2013 17:47:42 +0000

Today, Ariana Zurcher is hosting the Autism Positivity 2013 Flashblog event where anyone can contribute, seasoned blogger or not. This year’s theme is 1000 Ausome Things. The community-building project is a beautiful way to conclude Autism Awareness Month. Ariane Zurcher champions autism rights across the blogosphere with her personal writings, Emma’s Hope Book, and her contributions to widely circulated resources like the Huffington Post. Zurcher began her saga with autism when her daughter, Emma, was diagnosed. She works to expose the mistreatment of autistics, dissemination of misleading resources for caregivers of autistics, and the cultural assumptions of disability as unable, rather than differently able.

In her Huffington Post article, “What I Wish I’d Been Made Aware of When My Daughter Was Diagnosed With Autism” and her journalistic writings shared in Emma’s Hope Book, Zurcher accentuates the “ausome” qualities of autism. She demands that autism not be seen as a disease, but a people, like any other, with there own strengths and strangeness. She encourages skepticism of experts who claim knowledge of causes or treatment. Throughout Zurcher’s writings, she maintains a motto of confidence: confidence in your child’s competency, confidence in non-verbal communication (whether guided or intuitive), and confidence in your ability as caregiver.

The International Center for Autism Research & Education feels blessed to have Ariana Zurcher among our advisory committee, providing her scrupulously honest opinions.

To read the inspiring, reflective contributions of a community of caregivers, advocates, and autistics themselves or to share something ausome—visit Autism Positivity today.

Possible Association Between Ultrasounds & Autism

ICare4Autism — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:39:50 +0000

Jennifer Margulis, author of The Business of Baby, exposes the cultural assumptions and institutional practices dictating pregnancy, childbirth, and infant nurturing as influenced by corporate interests rather than based on the best medical evidence. Margulis is a Senior Fellow at Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis University, and an award winning parenting writer. In an article yesterday for Newsweek: The Daily Beast, Margulis expresses informed skepticism regarding the health risks of the casual use of ultrasounds during pregnancy. Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR), formerly referred to as retardation, is among conditions that physicians utilize ultrasound technology to identify during pregnancy. However, ultrasounds themselves may be associated with the development of IUGR and they may not be any more instrumental in identifying them than palpation of the pregnant woman’s abdomen. Former director of Women’s and Children’s Health at the World Health Organization firmly asserted the later claim saying, “There is no justification for clinicians using routine ultrasound during pregnancy for the management of IUGR.” A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine compared outcomes for children of pregnant women who received two scans with that of those who received scans only when other medical indicators necessitated further investigation, finding that ultrasound scan has no positive bearing on fetal outcome. Explaining the discrepancy between utility and use may be the over $1 billion additional annual cost of routine ultrasounds in the U.S. To add injury to insult, a study published in Lancet found that women who received five ultrasounds had a significantly higher chance of developing intrauterine growth restriction than women who received one scan at eighteen weeks. One possible explanation for this association was found through a 2006 study conducted by neuroscientist Pasko Rakic M.D. and Yale University School of Medicine, finding that prenatal exposure to ultrasound waves affects the way that neurons arrange in the brains of mice. Though these findings are part of a larger, ongoing study utilizing primate brains, researcher Rakic considered the data too significant to withhold until the outcome of the larger study, warning, “We should be using the same care with ultrasound as with X-rays.” For Margulis’ full article, visit here or go to www.jennifermargulis.net additional writings regarding parenting and health.

Margulis, Jennifer. “Are Ultrasounds Causing Autism in Unborn Babies?” The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast, 29 Apr. 2013. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. .

New, Refined Research Holds Promise For Early Detection Through Blood Test

ICare4Autism — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:14:36 +0000

New research by the laboratory services company SynapDx aims to develop a blood test that accurately distinguishes between children who have autism spectrum disorders and those who have other developmental disorders. Based on research findings in 2012 that suggest blood as an indicator of gene expression associated with autism. The 2012 study analyzed the differences in expression of 55 genes from blood samples of 170 children with autism and 115 without. The average age of study participants was 8, while the average age of autism diagnoses is 4.5 years. While the research findings proved the blood test accurate in identifying autism among two-thirds of the sample, these findings are not strong enough to be reliable indicators and they do not take into account early detection because of the population age.

SynapDx acquired this blood test method in hopes of focusing study goals on distinguishing between autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disorders to increase early detection and subsequently early interventions. The study design has potential for greater reliability, with a larger population and sample location of 660 participants from 20 facilities throughout the United States and greater consideration regarding age of participants. If the test proves accurate in identifying autism spectrum disorder in particular among other developmental delays, earlier interventions can be enacted to aid in communication and motor skill ability before children fall too far behind neurotypical children. However, the sheer reliability of a test does not necessitate that doctors will utilize the resource. A similar blood test developed for schizophrenia in 2012 showed 83% accuracy for indication of schizophrenia, but physicians did not find the test advantageous for diagnosing the psychiatric disease and the test fell from the market. The practicality of the blood test to distinguish ASD from other developmental disorders will be instrumental for physicians if it proves reliable for early detection, or detection prior to behavioral manifestation.

SynapDx’s new study began last week. Stay tuned for further developments on the early detection front and share your opinions below. For study details, see SynapDx’s official description.

Rettner, Rachael. “Could a Blood Test Detect Autism? Study Aims to Answer.”MyHealthNewsDaily.com. N.p., 26 Apr. 2013. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. .