Posted on

Unique strengths in some people with ASD

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

We almost always hear about how people with autism show deficits in certain behaviors, but what about features that may be an advantage?  A new study from the UK offers some scientific insight on how people with autism exhibit thinking styles that are not as fixed and rigid as ‘neurotypicals’.   Where does this come from?  And is it on the opposite of the genetic coin as things that produce problems in people with ASD?   I mention one task in the study, here’s the image:

Screen Shot 2015-08-21 at 8.44.13 AM

Posted on

Deciphering the US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

The United States Preventive Services Task Force is a group of physicians that reviews systematic reviews of evidence around screening for prevention of disease like mammograms for cancer and aspirin for heart disease.  Last week they released their recommendations for screening all children in primary care settings for autism spectrum disorders.  Unfortunately, they concluded that there was insufficient evidence to make any sort of recommendation and needed to see more direct evidence.  In a statement by ASF, Autism Speaks and AAP, each organization has outlined why they disagree.  In this week’s podcast, I will try and break down where the USPSTF is coming from, why they are wrong in their interpretation, and point to a recent study led by Dr. Laura Schreibman at UCSD which argues that the differences noted across studies evaluated by the task force are not differences at all, that the interventions are more common than previously considered – and consistent in their findings.   This article, by the way, is a great resource and can be found here:  http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-015-2407-8

Posted on

All about chromosome 15 and autism

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

One way to identify which treatments will help which people is to studying them in people with autism and known genetic causes.  This week, I traveled to the Dup15 meeting in Orlando, Florida to participate in a science discussion around how researchers are learning about individuals with this mutation and autism to understand their particular features so more personalized interventions can be delivered.  This includes epilepsy, sleep issues, and behavioral interventions.   I was honored to be a part of the parade at the meeting, and here some some images of these amazing families. photo[1] photo[2]

Posted on

Those ‘brains in a dish’ are not enough

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

This week saw the publication of a remarkable new study that took skin cells and turned them into brain cells.  No joke.  This technique allows researchers to study the autism brain during very early development. But it isn’t sufficient to study and understand the brains across the lifespan of people with autism.  The only way to do that is with postmortem brains of people with ASD.   Because of this resource, researchers discovered a new type of genetic mutation associated with ASD – one that redefines how scientists view all of the DNA.  TO REGISTER FOR THE AUTISM BRAINNET GO TO WWW.TAKESBRAINS.ORG.  Also this week, beyond genetics and brain tissue research, a meeting in California applied a technique to the air pollution and autism data to understand and make sense of the multiple studies showing an association.

Posted on

Can people with autism lose their diagnosis?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Researchers have been studying a small group of individuals who were diagnosed with autism, then later no longer met criteria for diagnosis.  Most of these people received early intense behavioral intervention before the age of 3, and what is called “optimal outcome” by researchers is the exception, not the rule.  However, a new study explores where they are no longer showing symptoms, and where they still are.  Also, ASF postdoctoral fellow Aarthi Padmanabhan explains her data on the brain structure of girls and boys with autism.  A sneak peak:  girls are different than boys.

Posted on

Help for symptoms of anxiety in autism and understanding very early signs of autism in girls

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

About 40% of individuals with autism experience symptoms of anxiety. Despite this, clinicians still treat anxiety in autism the same way they treat anxiety in people without autism because there has not been enough research.  However, this week a new study was published which reviews and summarizes almost a dozen studies on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in autism, showing that it is effective when given in group and individual sessions.  Also, I talk to Dr. Clare Harrop from UCLA about why it isn’t enough to study people with autism at just younger ages or at older ages, and what types of research is needed.

Posted on

Targeting environmental chemicals in neurodevelopmental disorders

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

This week a group of experts met to build consensus around the effects of environmental chemicals on the developing brain. Autism was part of this discussion. And a new large-scale study shows that c-sections do not cause autism, it is something else related to c-sections.

Posted on

Who isn’t at risk for having a child with autism?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

The largest study on parental age and autism reveals more age groups at risk for having a child with autism.  So what does this say about a single unitary “cause” for autism?  And is this type of finding specific to ASD or is ASD now a condition that is affected by parental age?  Also, vocational rehabilitation programs that are effective for both men and women with autism.