The Abrahams lab works to understand the “whys” and “hows” in the Autism Spectrum Disorders and to use these insights to achieve better patient outcomes. Dr. Abrahams has identified DNA variants that increase risk for disease and discovered how some of these impact brain structure and function. Ongoing work is poised to take these insights back to the clinic and improve quality of life for patients and families.

All of the work that they accomplish begins and ends in the clinic. The Abrahams team is always actively recruiting patients (and family members) to participate in genetic studies. If you are interested in being part of their study, you can contact them directly for more information.

Widely sought by instititutions nationwide, he chose to come to Einstein and now he is choosing to speak at ICare4Autism’s upcoming August Conference Autism: A Global Perspective. This is the second time that we have invited Dr. Abrahams to speak after the rave reviews of his last speaking engagement at our Jun 6^th conference in 2011.

Dr. Abrahams speaks from a history of personal patient interaction and detailed experiments with a protein called Cntnap2. He writes that, “convergent lines of evidence support involvement of Contactin Associated Protein-Like 2 (CNTNAP2), a Neurexin family member, in the ASDs and related disorders of cognition.” The Abrahams lab explores the biological mechanisms by which mutations in CNTNAP2 may cause disease. They characterized animals in which the murine homolog is deleted.

Cntnap2 KO mice were found to have behavioral abnormalities reminiscent of core deficits observed in patients. Mutant mice were also seen to be hyperactive and show spontaneous epileptic seizures, both primary reactions in autistic patients. Treatment with the FDA approved drug risperidone alleviated a subset of behaviors in mutant mice. Dr. Abrahams will discuss further possible treatments and elaborate on the numerous successes that his team has encountered at Einstein.

It was a gathering place for leading international autism researchers to work in collaboration, and converse about the latest autism education, research, treatments and best practices.

Front Row: John Foxe, Ph.D., Research Director of the Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (CERC), Joshua Weinstein, Ph.D., M.B.A., ICare4Autism Founder & CEO, Eric Hollander, M.D., Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Director of OCD and Autism Spectrum Program, Montefiore Medical Center and Einstein and Chairman of the Advisory Committee for ICare4Autism, Shlomo Shinnar, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Management Center at Montefiore Medical Center and Einstein, Dominick P. Purpura, M.D., Dean Emeritus, Professor of Neuroscience, Einstein, Robert W. Marion, M.D., Director of the Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (CERC) Top Row: Brett S. Abrahams, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Genetics & Neuroscience at Einstein, Arthur L. Beaudet, M.D., Henry and Emma Meyer Professor and Chair Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston

Joshua Weinstein, Ph.D., M.B.A., ICare4Autism Founder & CEO, Eric Hollander, M.D., Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Director of OCD and Autism Spectrum Program, Montefiore Medical Center and Einstein and Chairman of the Advisory Committee for ICare4Autism, Rebecca J. Landa, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Founding Director of Kennedy Krieger's Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Mark Lever, Chief Executive, The National Autistic Society (NAS), UK, Hugh Morgan, MMedSc OBE FRSA, CEO Autism Wales & Expert Advisor for ASD to the Welsh Assembly Government

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Rosalind Davis, J. Morton Davis Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Dr. Joshua Weinstein, Founder of ICare4Autism, Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and former Rep. Lester Wolff (D-N.Y.)

The International Center for Autism Research and Education, Inc. (icare4autism) founded by Joshua Weinstein, Ph.D., M.B.A. paid tribute to J. Morton Davis, chairman and owner of D.H. Blair Investment Banking Corp. and board member of The Hill’s parent company, News Communications, today with a luncheon in his honor. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) joined by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.); Reps. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) presented Davis with the lifetime achievement award recognizing his authentic American ingenuity and humanitarian contributions. The luncheon organized by the Friedlander Group and held right off the floor of the Senate chamber in the LBJ Room (used by then Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson) echoed the theme of uniting forces to find the cure for autism which is the mission of icare4autism by bringing together collaborative efforts in the realm of research and funding. The luncheon was chaired by David Lobl, Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs, The Friedlander Group, who also acknowledged the presence of Phil Goldfeder of Sen. Charles Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) office; Caitlin Dorman from Rep. Nan Hayworth’s(R-N.Y.) office, Rabbi Levi Shemtov, of the American Friends of Lubavitch, Dr. Tevi Troy visiting Sr. Fellow at the Hudson Institute and is the former Deputy Secretary of HHS, Lumumba Di-Aping representing the Permanent Mission of Sudan to the United Nations and Adrian Prenkaj, Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo. (Photographs by Greg Nash)

Home to Future ICARE Campus, in Jerusalem

The International Center for Autism Research and Education (ICare4Autism), a New York City- based non-profit organization, announced plans to create the world’s first Global Autism Center on Mt. Scopus in Jerusalem, Israel.

In a ceremony at Jerusalem’s City Hall hosted by Mayor Nir Barkat, ICare4Autism’s Founder and President Joshua Weinstein, Ph.D., M.B.A. signed an agreement paving the way for ICare4Autism to acquire the 5-acre campus of  Bezalel Academy of Art and Design when the Academy relocates to downtown Jerusalem in 2013.

The Global Autism Center’s mission will be to catalyze breakthrough innovation in autism research and treatment by driving powerful multidisciplinary collaborations among the world’s leading investigators, educators and clinicians. When complete and ready to open in 2014, the 300,000 square foot Center will include the following unique elements:

(1) A state of the art research facility to serve as a global platform for investigative collaboration between medical, academic and educational institutions, and synthesize autism-related information worldwide. (2) The world’s first university-level school of professional autism studies, raising the standards of therapeutic practice worldwide by providing specialized advanced education to physicians, educators and therapists. (3) An educational center applying the latest research, cutting-edge technology and innovative design to the special needs of students between 18 months and 21 years of age with Asperger Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder and PDD. (4) A foundation which will provide grants and subsidies to develop a global network of affiliate organizations, and support their collaborative efforts to transform autism education and treatment worldwide.

Dr. Joshua Weinstein (left), speaking at a meeting with Mayor Nir Barkat (right) and his team

Dr. Joshua Weinstein said “I founded ICare4Autism because 20 years in the field convinced me that in order to successfully tackle the global autism epidemic, we need a global community of researchers, educators and advocates that cuts across artificial disciplinary, institutional, cultural and national borders. For the first time, our new Global Autism Center will give us the ability to convene, enable and empower that community.”

“The Global Autism Center will drive the research needed to at last discover the etiology of autism and its biologic and environmental causes; and create opportunities for the powerful multi-disciplinary collaborations needed to bring better methods of detection and treatment to patients and their families all over the world,” said Dr. Eric Hollander, the Chairman of ICare4Autism’s Scientific Advisory Council.

“On this historic day, we welcome The International Center for Autism Research and Education’s plan to create a Global Autism Center on Mt. Scopus, and we look forward to the breakthroughs in autism research that will emanate from its Jerusalem campus to benefit the entire world,” said Mayor Barkat.

- CLICK HERE to View the Official Press Release –

About I.C.A.R.E

The International Center for Autism Research and Education (ICare4Autism) was founded by Joshua Weinstein, Ph.D., M.B.A. in 2004 in New York City, to catalyze and drive collaborations among institutions around the world seeking to discover the etiology of autism, searching for biologic and environmental causes, and, ultimately, working toward better methods of detecting and treating autism.

(Left/Right) Zvika Barak, Chair of Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design speaking with Joshua Weinstein, President & Founder of ICare4Autism, outside Jerusalem's City Hall

About Joshua Weinstein, Ph.D., M.B.A.  

Dr. Joshua Weinstein is the Founder and President of the International Center for Autism Research and Education, which encompasses Shema Kolainu – Hear our Voices School and Center for Children with Autism in New York City, and Tishma – ABA School and Center for Children with Autism in Jerusalem, Israel.

About Dr. Eric Hollander, MD

Dr. Hollander, Chairman of the Advisory Council of the International Center for Autism Education and Research, (ICare4Autism) is an internationally renowned psychiatrist on the faculty of Montefiore Medical Center University Hospital of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, former Chair of Psychiatry at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and Director of the Seaver and Greater New York Autism Center of Excellence.

CLICK on IMAGE, to View the Presentation for the GLOBAL AUTISM CENTER

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See Recent PRESS

CLICK HERE

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Those interested in becoming a part of the creation of the Global Autism Center can CLICK HERE to view the presentation, pertaining to this project.

M@rg/flickr

Neuroscientists have been increasingly interested in the way children with autism process stimuli in the world around them, and if their brain activity is different from those without the disorder. Researchers at the Yale School of Medicine have identified a dissimilar pattern of brain activity that may characterize the genetic vulnerability to developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers Martha Kaiser and her research team scanned the brains of 62 children, ages 4-17. The study group included children with autism and their unaffected siblings, as well as typically developing children. The three groups were observed as they watched animations of biological movement.

Image Editor / Flickr

The team identified three distinct differences, or what they referred to as ‘neural signatures’. The first were trait markers — brain regions with reduced activity in children with ASD and their unaffected siblings. The second, state markers, were brain areas with reduced activity found only in children with autism. Lastly, the groups observed what they referred to as compensatory activity, or enhanced activity seen only in unaffected siblings (Daily News Analysis, 2010).

The genetic tendency in autism puts siblings of children with autism at a much higher risk, so researchers are suggesting that the enhanced brain activity may reflect a developmental process by which these children overcome a genetic predisposition to develop ASD, and remain unaffected.

“This study may contribute to a better understanding of the brain basis of ASD, and the genetic and molecular origin of the disorder,” said Kaiser, a postdoctoral associate in the Yale Child Study Centre (Daily News Analysis, 2010).

This research is extremely insightful and could eventually lead to earlier and more precise autism diagnosis, which means a higher likelihood of early intervention for children with ASD. The original study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Sources:

“Kids with autism have distinctive patterns of brain activity .” Daily News Analysis (DNA) 16 Nov. 2010: n. pag. DNA India. Web. 16 Nov. 2010. <http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report_kids-with-autism-have-distinctive-patterns-of-brain-activity_1467357>.

Doreen Granpeesheh is the Founder and Executive Director of The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD). Dr. Granpeesheh earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from UCLA under the guidance of Dr. Ivar Lovaas. (Photo by Ron Uriel)

A recent study conducted by Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh concluded that children are capable of making significant strides against autism with the help of intensive behavioral therapy. The study showed that the children who participated in the study produced significant gains in regard to their cognitive and adaptive functions.

The three-year study was conducted by the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD).  CARD is one of the largest provider of behavioral intervention for children in the world.  The evaluations were conducted on 14 young children who underwent a blended structure of teaching that included a hybrid version of learning.  Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) incorporated play-based learning with structured teaching.  Currently findings show that 43 percent of the participants show no signs of autism symptoms.

“Years ago, some doctors would tell parents that they should institutionalize their children after an autism diagnosis,” said Dr. Granpeesheh. “Today, we know that autism is treatable and recovery is possible with the right services. Every child deserves a chance to learn and grow, and we hope that these results provide hope to families of newly diagnosed children.”

Another major discovery made because of this research illustrated the fact that children who learned language skills earlier in therapy than their counterparts showed significantly more improvement over time.  Even the children who did not recover showed signs of improvement in their abilities to communicate and live independently.

This behavioral therapy is remarkable and shows limitless potential who for allowing children with autism to overcome their condition and maintain a better quality of life.

In summer of 2010, Dr. Granpeesheh presented “Curriculum for People with ASDs/ An International Model of Service Delivery for People with ASDs” at ICare4Autism’s 2010 International Autism Conference. The event was held in Jerusalem and attracted over 600 attendees from around the globe. CLICK HERE to VISIT the OFFICIAL CONFERENCE WEBSITE of the ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh is the Founder and Executive Director of The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD). Dr. Granpeesheh earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from UCLA under the guidance of Dr. Ivar Lovaas. She is a licensed psychologist and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She started the Center for Autism & Related Disorders, Inc.(CARD) in 1990. Click here to VIEW Extended Bio

SOURCE

CLICK HERE to VIEW SOURCE

Bruno Girin/Flickr

The rising prevalence of autism in the United States has been a topic of discussion for some time now. New statistics that are being revealed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other health organizations indicate that autism presently affects around 1 in every 90-110 children. I have touched on topics in the past that are relevant to autism awareness on a global scale and what we should be doing to ensure that children receive the care they need.

Here in the U.S., where exposure of autism is much more than in some other countries, I wonder what happens after all the testing is done and the diagnosis becomes clear. Where does this leave our children? How can we ensure that they will be included and not ostracized? At the onset level, the ideal situation is that some early-intervention model is implemented to ensure that the child gets the best possible chance of battling this disorder.

But, what happens after? In most cases, if it is determined that you should receive services, the state will only cover therapy until the age of 3.5 or once they enter the school system. After this, it is the responsibility of the school to pick up where the previous services left off.

This is tricky for many reasons. Autism is a spectrum disorder (ASD), which means it spans a wide variety of characteristics. As a result, many children may present more severe symptoms and require extra attention and care, while others may need help mainly with their socializing skills but were able to catch up in language and reading through early intervention. For this reason, a generic program is not always ideal for a child suffering with autism. Programs must be tailored to fit a child’s individual needs, and in some states, where resources are limited, this is extremely challenging.

Early intervention is a key step in helping your child, but maintaining that progress as well as encouraging even more advancement is where the difficulty lies, and for many children who enter our public schools, this dream falls through the cracks. While some states are dedicating time and resources to developing special programs that will help to ensure brighter outcomes for students with ASD, others are still struggling to catch up. Some parents opt for private solutions, placing their children in special schools, or paying out-of-pocket for supplemental services- all of which can be very costly.

Initiatives are being pushed all over the U.S. but it is encouraged that everyone take time out to contact their state and local representatives and rally support for autism, this could help to ensure much better outcomes for the generations that follow us. Additionally, researching the public schools in your area and gaining a better understanding of their structure will help you decide if they will greatly benefit your child or if you may need to seek extra help.

One organization that is on the forefront of this battle is Autism Votes, whose website can be found by clicking here.

On Feb. 2nd, 2010 James Ottar Grundvif, of The Epoch Times interviewed Dr. Hollander on his latest Oxytocin research. The reporter also managed to slip in some questions about the anticipated our 2010 International Autism Conference.

Overall, we appreciate the kind attention from the news media. This is important topic and it is imperative to create awareness, educate and piece together the puzzle of the mysterious neurological disorder.

* * HERE is the INTERVIEW * *

Investigating the Hormone Oxytocin as a Treatment for Autism

An interview with Dr. Eric Hollander

By James Ottar Grundvig

>>> To View the interview, on The Epoch times Website please go to this link: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/29029/

Finding a cure for autism will succeed with a global, interdisciplinary, coordinated endeavor. To unlock the roots of the disorder and treat them will require the merging of the three rivers that feed the research pool: Science at the medical and institutional level; government funding and sponsorship; and the advocacy of the autism community.

It will be a long road that will take a few advanced treatments, combined with several more tertiary ones, and early intervention to succeed. As with many types of cancer, there will be cures—many of them—that will combat, reduce or eliminate the ailments and deficits that make up the autism spectrum disorders (ASD) umbrella.

That was the core message I took from Dr. Eric Hollander when I interviewed him on a crisp January day at his new home at the Child Psychiatry Annex at the Montefiore Medical Center University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

For the past two decades, Dr. Hollander has exemplified the dedication, laser focus and tireless work ethic needed to unravel the mysteries of autism. His research into the neurological divide of spectrum kids has been a collaborative and shared process in the scientific community. Like most medical research, it involved years of conducting studies and reporting on their findings. He did that while setting up the ultimate platform on autism dialogue: In the past decade, he chaired an annual conference on autism on international research to foster the exchange of ideas and promote the latest research to combat the disorder.

Dr. Hollander also chairs the Advisory Board of ICare4Autism: The International Center for Autism Research; Education, Inc. (www.icare4autism.org). The non-profit organization was founded in 2004 to expand the resource network on autism research. More than merely making people aware of an issue, like some charities, icare4autism acts as a “catalyst” to ensure that research, overlapping or a part of the “autism puzzle,” is shared, funded, and disseminated. This made the interview with Dr. Hollander and his decade-old research on Oxytocin—aka the “love hormone”—all the more intriguing.

As a clinical psychiatrist between 1994 and 2009, Dr. Hollander spearheaded autism research at the Seaver Center for Treatment and Research of Autism at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. There he also he hosted his annual international conference on autism research. In autumn 2005, I attended one of the marathon sessions, where speaker after speaker stepped up to the podium to discuss topics ranging from the archaic treatment of autistic children—France—to biomolecular studies on how autistic brains differ from normal brains. The conferences spurred discussion between government agencies, such as the CDC, and advocacy groups, down to the individual parent, which made for some lively discussions.

In July 2009, Dr. Hollander moved to Montefiore/Albert Einstein, where he is the Director for Compulsive, Impulsive and Autism Spectrum Disorders Program in the Child Psychiatry Annex. The following is the 13-question interview with him.

The Epoch Times: As a psychiatrist, when did you become interested in trying to unravel the mystery surrounding the cause of Autism?

Dr. Hollander: It started in 1994, when I came to The Seaver and New York Autism Center of Excellence at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. The foundation was setup by one of the trustees, who had a grandchild with autism. I was one of two doctors at the start. The focus was on autism and genetics in children. It was interdisciplinary from molecular biology of genes to behavior.

The Epoch Times: For the past decade, you held an annual autism conference at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, where doctors, scientists and molecular biologists from around the world came to New York to present their latest research on autism. How were those conferences helpful to you and your peers? Will you continue those research conferences at Montefiore/Albert Einstein?

Dr. Hollander: They put in touch basic scientific research and practical treatments on autism with education, biomedical, and advocacy groups. The sharing of information is critical to finding what works. From imaging brainwaves, such as fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging), to integrating treatment studies on what brain systems seem to respond to which external stimuli.

In July, I am going to emcee the icare4autism conference in Jerusalem. I am looking to hold my annual autism conference at Montefiore/Albert Einstein in the fall.

The Epoch Times: What will be the extent of the involvement of icare4autism in 2010? How has icare4autism enabled top researchers worldwide, such as you, access to information?

Dr. Hollander: The Conference in Jerusalem (held on July 5-6, 2010) is sponsored by the icare4autism organization. The two-day symposium will feature experts on autism research from Japan, Holland, and Israel, among others. It will be an open forum that will discuss basic research and new developments, biomedical treatments and the importance of advocacy.

The Epoch Times: Where will the funding or sponsorship come from at icare4autism?

Dr. Hollander: General fund raising. International, interdisciplinary clinical research and education.

The Epoch Times: What is Oxytocin? Besides being called the “love hormone,” how else is Oxytocin used in medicine-outside of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

Dr. Hollander: They are peptides. Large proteins secreted through the periphery: blood, milk. Oxytocin can be measured in blood. It is synthesized into the brain’s limbic systems, which govern emotions. It stimulates social memories, reinforces reward. My research into Oxytocin came from translational research: the study of Oxytocin in animals and how it might be applied or translated to humans.

The first study on the affects of Oxytocin was in voles, those little furry creatures (they are mouselike rodents related to lemmings). The researchers found two types of voles. Those that were a-social and those that were very social with strong pair bonds. The a-social voles protested, lots of vocalization. When injected with Oxytocin, it enhanced their behavior and social recognition.

Oxytocin stimulates the receptors in the regions of the brains that involve memory, like the amygdala and the thalamus. Further tests on mice, using Oxytocin and vasopressin (a peptide hormone that reabsorbs molecules), centered on gene manipulation. The tests supported the earlier results that the hormones enhanced social memory and social cognition.

The Epoch Times: On your research and “randomized double-blind study” on the effects of Oxytocin on repetitive behaviors in ASD: What have you learned so far about the causal relationship between Oxytocin in these children? Is it related to abnormalities in Oxytocin?

Dr. Hollander: The studies were in healthy adults. We gave Oxytocin via a nasal delivery. It improved strong trust bonds. It improved emotions that could be read in the eyes. In the recent study of young adults (above 18 years of age) on the spectrum, Oxytocin therapy lessened the “stimming.” It reduced or eliminated repetitive behavior. Delivered intravenously, it improved social cognition. The improvements were preserved for a two-week period on a single dose.

We are going to conduct a third Oxytocin study with an eight (8) week time period to rescue certain symptom domains. It is important to expand the database in the young adults with autism. We need to acquire evidence by the studies that Oxytocin treatment works. Recruiting clinical patients for this study is vital. So is safety. Safety and evidence. In this study we will give Oxytocin with intranasal delivery.

The Epoch Times: I read that two universities, Duke and Stanford, in 2009 announced that they had researched possible links between autism and Oxytocin. Both of those studies post-dated your Oxytocin research by several years. Do they relate to your studies in anyway? Do they expand upon it?

Dr. Hollander: The Duke study was interesting. It focused on people inheriting polymorphisms, or genetic receptors. And epigenetics, how genes transform in the environment in early brain development. Methyl (“gene relating molecules”) in blood and brain tissue could be measured for the first time. It followed how genes changed over time. They identified the best response was by intranasal delivery. They found Oxytocin strengthened “trust,” the kind that Wall Street traders would like to give investors. It also improved social interaction.

Brain development starts in the first trimester, in the womb. This has profound affects of social interaction. Orphanages in Romania, where the children were isolated from contact, developed social deficits from the social deprivation.

[Study A. "Possible Link Between Autism And Oxytocin Gene Via Non-DNA
Sequence Mutation Science Daily (Oct. 22, 2009).]

[Study B. Clinical study recruiting both typically-developing and autistic youngsters Stanford Report, March 4, 2009 by Erin Digitale.]

The Epoch Times: My research shows that studies into the links between autism and Oxytocin date to a paper you led at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine all the way back to 2002. Have you seen progress in the research and multiple studies over the past decade?

Dr. Hollander: Yes. Oxytocin has enhanced social memory. It surprised us how well it worked. How it improved behavior. How it altered system bonds, the ability to process. Expectations now… It will improve the rigid, repetitive behavior found in OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and autism children.
Studies in Australia on Oxytocin, using the intranasal form, saw big improvements in behavior of autistic children. It improved their social development and can treat other subgroup neurological disorders, like schizophrenia or social anxiety disorder.

The Epoch Times: After such a long journey with Oxytocin, and the recent success of studies done on young adults on the spectrum, do you believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel? Do you believe that studies are near for this linkage with ASD children?

Dr. Hollander: We must replicate the findings in adults on the spectrum to better identify bigger responses, which brain systems are enhanced. This will be done by fMRI. We need to set the baseline, do more research.

The Epoch Times: What is your next step in Oxytocin research?

Dr. Hollander: Perform more imaging studies on compulsive/impulsive behavior and better understand how Oxytocin interacts with neurotransmitters. Doing Oxytocin studies on ASD children is more than two years away. We need more evidence and safety before the FDA approves that phase of research. That will come after more studies are done on young adults.

The Epoch Times: Over the years in your studies and research with Aspergers’ syndrome and autism disorders, what are the similarities between the “spectrum cousins?” What are the differences? Which one, if any, will benefit the most from Oxytocin treatment?
Dr. Hollander: We’re doing better in broadening ASD system domains. PDD, Aspergers’ syndrome, and Kanter’s syndrome make up most of the spectrum. The social deficits of all three are very similar. But in verbal functions there is a big difference. In autism, Aspergers’, OCD, trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder), tourrets syndrome, and OCD personality disorder there are social differences and overlaps in rigidity.

The Epoch Times: In your years of research, have you seen a spike in autism diagnosis or children with it? If so, do you feel there is an environmental cause combined with genetic defects, abnormalities or deficiencies?

Dr. Hollander: There has been a huge increase in services for autism. The CDC estimates 1 in 50 boys born will be on the spectrum. Have the CDC rates increased?… That may be due to broadening the definition of autism. The environment on genetics is a big factor.

The Epoch Times: Tell me a little more about icare4autism 2010 International Autism Conference coming to Jerusalem in July. I understand that you plan on speaking at the conference, and that it will bring together researchers, theorists, physicians and educators to discuss autism topics such as treatment, education, causes and prevention.

Dr. Hollander: Yes, I will emcee it. I am excited about the Jerusalem Conference. That is where international sharing of epigenetic findings, basic genetic work, and clinical experiences come together. It will be important to keep research going. Media and the availability of services will have a big impact on research findings. Large sample sizes will be needed for more studies, as will be collecting treatment and genetic studies. For Oxytocin and other autism studies, it will be vital to build a larger international network. ICare4Autism and other advocacy groups like it are key to expanding that base. To get the knowledge out.

James Ottar Grundvig is a writer living in New York City who has an autistic child.

Researchers at Kennedy Krieger studied the relationship of fine motor skills and handwriting in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The study indicates that children with autism have a harder time forming letters. However, this is not with their size, alignment, and spacing. By identifying this obstacle, parents, teachers, and therapists can develop specific approaches for written as well as verbal communicating.

“Identifying this fine motor deficiency in handwriting provides important insight about ASD,” said Dr. Amy Bastian, corresponding study author and Director of the Motion Analysis Laboratory at the Kennedy Krieger Institute.

Dr. Bastian continued on to say, “It provides another example of motor skill problems that may give us cues for other deficits with socialization and communication. Furthermore, occupational therapists and teachers can now take the information from this study and apply it to the students they see on a daily basis.”

Handwriting is not the only task that requires fine motor skills. Many children with autism also have a hard time holding a fork, buttoning a shirt, or tying their shoelace. And, these problems with motor skills may carry over into social interactions. Dr. Bastian also points out that a lack of motor skills can make it harder to communicate through gestures and facial expressions, a trademark characteristic of autism spectrum disorders.

A movement is growing to help harness the qualities of those on the spectrum into desired job skills. For example, the Chicago-based nonprofit Aspiritech trains high-functioning people with autism to work as testers for software companies. In Denmark, the company Specialisterne (the name means “the specialists”), trains and hires out people with autism to do data entry, assembly work and other jobs that many workers find tedious.

“The stuff we do is boring for [others], like going through a program looking at every detail, testing the same function over and over again in different situations, but it doesn’t disturb those of us with autism,” says Thomas Jacobsen, an autistic employee at Specialisterne. “That’s our strength.”

However, there are other important qualities that are important for the workforce but are often difficult for those with autism, including changing plans at the last minute or dealing with sudden new requirements. Socializing, another extremely important quality in the workforce, is often a challenge for those with autism as well. Potential employees require intensive screening and training before going out in the field.

Animal behavior expert Temple Grandin, who is autistic, says her says her intense attention to detail was an asset in designing effective cattle containment systems that are now widely used. This movement hopes to redefine disabilities as differences and utilize the unique skills of a population that has been largely ignored from the workforce.