Author: ahalladay@autismsciencefoundation.org

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Keep on Screening for ASD

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This week, a little longer #ASFpodcast on a topic that deserves a little extra attention:  screening for ASD.  Some media click-bait driven headlines have made it seem like screening for autism is a waste of time for parents, doctors and care providers.  That’s FAKE NEWS!   We talk to Whitney Guthrie from CHOP and Diana Robins from Drexel about recent studies that cast doubt on common screening tools, why doctors may not be administering them the same way all the time and how that makes a difference, the importance of screening and data that shows that it does help toddlers with ASD maximize their full potential.

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News new families can use, thank you to the BSRC

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This week an important study was released that provides information that parents can use – particularly parents with a child with autism and another on the way or who is an infant.  This of course comes from the Baby Siblings Research Consortium and makes particular observations about families with 2 or more affected children vs 1 affected child.  They have different rates of autism outcomes and trajectories of behaviors that parents and doctors should be aware of.  In addition a new meta analysis of vitamin supplementation shows that while moderate doses of vitamins may not be harmful, they may not also be helpful.  In other words, talk to your doctor about a nutritional plan and assessment, and save your money for things that are known to work.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31589284

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31586029

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Praise for genetic testing in ASD

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Genetic testing for autism spectrum disorders is not just about finding the gene.  So many genes have been found that genetic testing allows families who have a rare genetic disorder to find each other, support one another, raise money for research and train physicians to better help their community.  While genetic testing isn’t always pushed, it should be.  Autism Science Foundation has organized an initiative called AGENDA (www.alliancegenda.org) to bring together rare diseases associated with ASD.  This is important in moving from discovery to development faster.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31542846

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31548702

 

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SPARK it up

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You may have heard of SPARK, it is the largest genetics research project in autism spectrum disorders.  But have they found anything?  Yes!  Pam Feliciano of SPARK discusses what the project is, what a pilot study has found, and how the results might help families with ASD.  In addition, a different but complementary study identified new genes associated with autism.  Given that one of them is a target of environmental factors, it’s time to spark up studies looking at gene x environment interactions as well.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6707204/

https://escholarship.org/uc/item/36f811zq

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15592294.2019.1656158

 

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Where superior ability crosses disability in ASD

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A study conducted by researchers at Yale this week revealed that while people with autism have disabilities in reading individual emotions, they have an unexpected amazing ability to understand and apply social rules to groups of people.  They understand social phenomena much better than those without. So how can this be?  Also, a new groundbreaking study shows scientists that there are changes in brain activity that are observed way before a diagnosis, which can change early detection and early intervention of ASD.

http://www.pnas.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=31501348

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31519897

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Mirror mirror on the wall, what is the fairest early predictor of adult language ability?

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Scientists study motor skills in early development not just because it is one of the first features to emerge, but because it is predictive of later social communication development, and as it turns out, later expressive language development.   A new study combining data from 2 countries shows that early motor deficits predict language abilities all the way up to age 19, so focusing on early motor skills is imperative for early intervention.  Also this week – a review on why those tiny details in genetics of ASD can be so helpful for people across the spectrum and families.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31429087

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31491383

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Autism: Difference or Dysfunction?

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The question of whether or not autism is a difference or a true dysfunction in brain development has been debated for years.  A new study from Canada demonstrates that within an autism diagnosis, there is less of a difference in symptoms in the last 5 years than there was 30 years ago.  This raises a lot of questions about what autism researchers have been studying lately.  It also reinvigorates the discussion of whether the heterogeneity issue in autism has become such an issue that those with a true dysfunction are not getting the services they need, because of an interpretation that autism is just a difference.  The podcast includes thoughts of the community voiced on social media as well as opinions of the ASF scientific advisory board.

Article is open access here:  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2747847 

 

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In autism, what does protection mean?

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Some autistics are offended by the word “protection” when it comes to autism, but in addition to things increasing the probability of a diagnosis, some things reduce the probability?  This week’s podcast explores the female protective effect as well as a new study from the BASIS study in the UK looking at early regulatory function as a protective factor in ASD and ADHD traits.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31347307

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31351456

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The extra benefit of caregiver mediated interventions

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This week, a new systematic review published by researchers at Virginia Polytechnic Institute looked at the existing evidence around caregiver (parent) mediated interventions and not child outcome, but family relationships and dynamics. While it isn’t the focus on the intervention, what effect does allowing parents to be involved and empowered on their child’s support on the wider family?  The answer is, it does help, although not all interventions are the same.  Also, a new video tool from collaborators at Washington University and the UC Davis MIND Institute to help parents identify early signs and symptoms in their own children was validated, which is exciting but more work needs to be done.

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How to get and keep a job – from those that know

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There are many different factors that go into successful employment for people with and without autism.  As part of the ASF policy brief on employment, the US, Australia and Sweden held meetings with autistic adults, family members and employers and asked “what are the issues in your words”?  Then they were mapped onto areas of functioning, not ability or disability.  One thing that stands out is “matching interests and skills to job requirements”.  This is important, but a complicated issue.  This week’s podcast reviews what autistic people say, how it maps onto functioning and why we need to be careful about taking a one – sided approach to autism.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31276308

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31177369