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Abnormal Micro-RNA: A Possible Cause of ASD and Schizophrenia
Key Concept: Abnormal micro-RNA programming disrupts early brain development causing autistic spectrum disorder, characterized by delays, plateaus and spurts of brain development. Similar abnormal micro-RNA programming disrupts brain development during adolescence causing schizophrenia,...
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An Autism Spectrum News Interview with Margaret L. Bauman, MD, Director of the Lurie Family Autism Center – LADDERS
We are indeed fortunate to have an opportunity to speak with Dr. Bauman about her work in clinical and basic research at the Lurie Family Autism Center/Learning and Developmental Disabilities Evaluation and Rehabilitation Services (LADDERS). In the interview that follows, Dr. Bauman reveals her...
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The Very Early Identification of Autism – An Indispensable Goal
The clinical presentation which we call “autism” is now widely believed to be a condition caused my multiple factors with a very variable presentation. In the scientific literature it is frequently called “the autisms”. I would like to present a case which shows that progress in our...
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How Do I Explain My Decision to Use Science-Based Treatments for Autism When Friends and Relatives Often Insist I Try Something New?
When friends or acquaintances hear about our experiences with autism, quite often the first thing that person asks is, “What is your opinion of vaccines?” Then, in many cases, that person asks if we have heard of or read anything about Jenny McCarthy and how she cured her son’s autism. The...
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The Immune System in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Recent evidence implicates the immune system in some cases of autism spectrum disorders. Researchers at the University of California, Davis, Johns Hopkins, and the Kennedy Krieger Institute have found that some mothers of children with autism produce autoantibodies that target the developing fetal...
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Advancing the Evidence-Base in Autism Assessment
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders that share a core set of clinical symptoms that includes impairments in socialization, abnormal language development, and a restricted repertoire of behaviors and interests (APA, 2000). Affected individuals may...
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Medications for ASD and the Future of Psychopharmacology of Autism
The first fact we need to acknowledge when we talk about medications for autism, is that that there are no pharmacologic treatments that actually treat autism. There is no data to date to suggest that any medications actually teach skills or change the developmental course of the disorder. As such,...
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Potential New Treatments for Fragile X Syndrome and Autism
There are exciting new developments occurring in finding potential new treatments for the fragile X syndrome, and by extension for autism. The fragile X syndrome, an X chromosome-linked syndrome and the most commonly inherited condition associated with intellectual deficiency, is considered to be...
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Importance of Motor Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Experienced clinicians often get their first diagnostic impression from observing their young patients’ initial social response, but also from looking at their odd posture or movements as they walk into the office. In his original paper, Kanner noticed several atypical aspects of his patients’...
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A Review of “The Complete Guide to Autism Treatments”
The array of treatments for autism is indeed quite diverse, and taken together can be absolutely overwhelming to parents of newly diagnosed children. Consumer advocates who think that exposure to many diverse treatment options is a good thing are likely not considering the agonizing decisions...
