autism spectrum disorder

Autism Study Reveals Increased Awareness in ASD

Cheryl Phillips — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:48:22 -0500

The results of a study published today in the journal Pediatrics found that one in every 91 children ages 3 to 17 have autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In half the cases, parents report their children's symptoms as "mild." ASD is a group of brain disorders comprising autism and two less severe disorders: Asperger's disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.

Autism Is An Expensive Disease In The UK

harminka — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:18:05 -0500

Research published this week in the Journal Autism, published by SAGE, estimate the annual costs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to be more than £27 billion a year. The costs of supporting children with ASDs were estimated to be £2.7 billion per year, £25 billion each year for adults. The findings will be presented at the Autism & Employment Workshop taking place today at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Relationship between preterm birth and autism spectrum disorder

harminka — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:41:00 -0600

Recent studies have suggested that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be more prevalent among children born very prematurely. The early symptoms of ASD are also associated with other conditions related to preterm births, such as cerebral palsy, which can make it difficult to correctly screen children for ASD.

Decreased levels of binding gene affect memory and behavior

harminka — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:35:21 -0600

Reducing the activity of a gene called FKBP12 in the brains of mice affected neuron-to-neuron communication (synapse) and increased both fearful memory and obsessive behavior, indicating the gene could provide a target for drugs to treat diseases such as autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive disease and others, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston in a report in the current issue of the journal Neuron.

Sound processing abnormalities in autistic children

harminka — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:50:20 -0600

Abnormalities in auditory and language processing may be evaluated in children with autism spectrum disorder by using magnetoencephalography (MEG), according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Poor recognition of 'self' found in high functioning people with autism

harminka — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:02:02 -0600

Contrary to popular notions, people at the high end of the autism spectrum disorder continuum suffer most from an inability to model “self” rather than impaired ability to respond to others, said Baylor College of Medicine researchers in a report that appear in the journal Neuron.

Brain study suggests way to measure, treat autism

harminka — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:53:23 -0600

Researchers have pinpointed subtle deficits in the brains of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that they say could aid more precise diagnoses and perhaps improve treatment of ASD. The researchers discovered characteristic patterns of brain activity in people with ASD that reflect an inability to perceive themselves as social creatures.

Chromosomal abnormalities play substantial role in autism

harminka — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:26:03 -0600

Genome-wide scans of families affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have revealed new evidence that previously unknown chromosomal abnormalities have a substantial role in the prevalent developmental disorder, according to a report published online Jan.

Autistic Brains Can Be Trained to Recognize Visual, Vocal Cues

harminka — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:10:38 -0500

To understand the meaning of a conversation, kids automatically do what adults do —besides processing the meaning of words, they unconsciously "read" the expression on a person's face and listen to their tone of voice, then integrate that information with the context at hand to discern meaning, be it humor, anger, irony or straightforwardness.

Treatment hope for Rett syndrome

harminka — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 03:25:33 -0600