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The latest on marijuana and autism across the globe

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Since the ASF policy statement on marijuana for the treatment of ASD was published this summer, there have been some new scientific studies that may be of interest to families.  As it turns out CBD has opposite effects in the brains of people with autism compared to those without autism, meaning that it is absolutely essential that more research is done specifically in people across the spectrum in ASD.  Also, early studies in Israel and Brazil are showing some positive effects on behavior, but they are open label non controlled compassionate use basis studies, which in encouraging, but the science needs to be more rigorous and more studies need to be done in people with autism using standardized autism assessments if any progress is to be made.  Luckily a new study at NYU is enrolling for just that approach.  Please contact Latoya.King@nyulangone.edu if you want to learn more about that.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6732821/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6784992/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31736860

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30382443

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6336869/

 

 

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Seizures and the after-effects depends on genetics

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In recognition of epilepsy awareness month, this week we are interviewing Jill Silverman and Nycole Copping from UC Davis who published a paper looking at the causes and consequences of seizures across 3 different strains of mice, which are identical all but their background genetics.  This is important because new animal models of autism are built upon these different background strains, but very little work has been done to really understand how these different tiny changes in genetic background influences response to an environmental factor.  In this study the environmental factor was a drug that produces seizures.  Two out of the three strains showed seizures and all three showed some behavioral after-effects of the seizure – inducing drug.  Therefore, differences in background genetics influenced the outcome of the mice, an effect that is rarely studied.  The authors point out what these behaviors are, what they mean, and why animal models are important for understanding ASD and seizures.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31698263

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Is It Too Good To Be True?

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There are small signs that an exciting finding may actually be “too good to be true”.  Are the differences so big it seems impossible to believe?  Is it hard to replicate?  In a new paper, Dr. Thomas Frazier and colleagues outline what these warning signs are are, and how scientists should critically read scientific findings that might be overreaching.  This week, Dr. Frazier answers some questions about what these flags are, and how families can think critically about scientific findings.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31618104

 

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#thisisanautismmentalhealthcrisis

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Mental health disorders are a serious problem across the lifespan in people with autism.  This has been shown by over 2 decades of research and further proven by a new meta analysis and a systematic review of the last 25 years of data.  What is the result of these mental health disorder co-morbidities?  Many times, these mental health disorders trigger a crisis situation: the police are called, someone goes to the hospital, may end up hospitalized, and family members are traumatized.  This week’s podcast summarizes the evidence and provides recommendations from scientists to help those with autism and possibly prevent crises from occurring.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31447415 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31652032