The latest autism research news stories with ASF Chief Science Officer Alycia Halladay
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A new paper in Translational Psychiatry this week outlines the reasons why some conditions that occur with autism are actually co-morbid, and not co-occurring. The podcast will break down clues on why sometimes they are co-morbid, and present an argument on why they are important in understanding the vast heterogeneity of autism.
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A new study uses baby teeth, which are formed in pregnancy and emerge at about 6 months to a year, to understand the dynamics of metals in people with autism. Not just the levels, but the cycles of zinc and copper, which goes up and down normally with regular biological processes. This could be the start to many more studies which use baby teeth to understand prenatal and early neonatal exposures in people with autism. Also, the largest study published so far on food allergies confirmed a higher than normal presence of food, respiratory and skin allergies in people with autism. Are allergies part of autism? Probably not, but there seem to be a subgroup of people with immune issues that warrant specific treatments for those allergies.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29854952
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2683952
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This week’s podcast summarizes a new neural stem cell study and a recent review article on IGF-1 treatment in developmental disorders. IGF stands for Insulin Growth Factor and is essential for generation of new neurons, and shaping and health of existing neurons. Patients with autism spectrum disorder are already starting to be treated with IGF-1, and now there is even more evidence validating it as a target. If you are interested in participating in a research trial at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine using IGF-1, call the Seaver Center at 212-241-0961.