Autism After 16 Begins Series on Mental Health and Autism

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Roanoke, VA (PRWEB) September 24, 2012

Autism After 16 today published the first in a series of articles on autism and mental health.

When Autism and Mental Health Issues Collide focuses on challenges faced by teens and adults with autism who simultaneously experience mental illness. While studies indicate that a number of adults with autism also face mental health challenges, accurately assessing the presence of a comorbid conditionone that exists alongside the autism diagnosiscan be difficult. Often behavioral challenges are considered to be part of the autism diagnosis, when mental illness is actually present.

We have so much more to learn about the parameters of autism, its hard to know at what point a person should receive an additional diagnosis, says Dr. Ken Duckworth, medical director at the National Alliance on Mental Illness. But there are people who have all of the symptoms of a mental illness in addition to the autism that warrant additional diagnoses.

When comorbid conditions arent accurately diagnosed, treatment becomes difficult. The Autism After 16 article shares the story of a young man whose comorbid mental illness began to threaten his well-being and that of his family. Coping with mental illness in addition to autism can be extremely complicated, notes editor Merope Pavlides. The individual suffers, and so does the family. We want to help drive dialogue about this issue and to encourage families to seek help. And to know that they are not alone.

Written by Florida-based journalist Cara Nissman, When Autism and Mental Health Issues Collide is the first of several articles on mental health that Autism After 16 will publish. The next one will examine mental health concerns in college support programs for students with autism.

Autism After 16 is a website devoted to providing information and analysis of adult autism issues. Over 50 percent of its contributing writers are autistic adults, while many others are family members. Autism After 16 provides informational articles on accessing adult services, commentary, links to useful resources, and a library of videos to help teach independent living skills.

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Autism After 16 Begins Series on Mental Health and Autism

Research lacking on drugs for older children with autism

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By Serena Gordon HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Sept. 24 (HealthDay News) -- More and more children are growing up with autism, and although many treatments and interventions are now available, clinical studies on the use of medications in teens and young adults are lacking, according to new research.

"The majority of (older) individuals with autism spectrum disorders appear to be taking medications that we have very little evidence for," said the study's lead author, Dr. Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, medical director of the Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders at the Vanderbilt Brain Institute in Nashville, Tenn.

"In the absence of sufficient evidence, parents and people with autism should find a clinician who tells you what's known and unknown about the potential benefits and risks of any medication," he said. "It should be a shared decision-making process."

Results of the study were published online on Sept. 24 in the journal Pediatrics.

Autism spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental disorders that impair social development and communication. Autism spectrum disorders also may cause repetitive movements and even self-abusive behavior, such as head banging, according to the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

It is estimated that about one in 88 American children has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder

As children with autism age, some do experience significant improvements, according to NINDS, but many do not. There is no cure for autism, although there are many treatments available, including education and behavioral interventions and medications.

Medications usually are used to treat some of the symptoms associated with autism, rather than the core symptoms of the condition, according to background information in the new study. For example, the medication risperidone (brand name Risperdal) may be used to treat behavioral symptoms associated with autism, such as aggression, outbursts and irritability, said Dr. Melissa Nishawala, medical director of the Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinical and Research Program at the NYU Child Study Center in New York City.

"Medications like risperidone and aripiprazole don't address the cause of autism, but they help calm down [people with autism]," Veenstra-VanderWeele said.

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Research lacking on drugs for older children with autism

Working and autism

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Editor's note: A little over a decade ago, California officials raised an alarm about the growing number of children being diagnosed with autism. The Star examined the struggles of several Ventura County children who were part of that surge in 2000. In this series, we look at what has happened to them as they've come of age.

More on mobile: 2000: Special report - Children in Disorder

Q: What percentage of autistic adults work?

A: About 55 percent of young adults with autism spectrum disorders had held paid employment in the first six years after high school, according to a study published in May. In a review of studies from the 1980s through the mid-2000s, about 25 percent of autistic adults were employed, autism authority Patricia Howlin reported. The studies covered a period when autism was more strictly defined than it is now.

Q: What kinds of jobs do they hold?

A: Some held responsible positions that paid well, but most were menial jobs, such as kitchen hands, unskilled factory workers or backroom supermarket staff, Howlin wrote. In the Southern California area today, autistic adults work in fast-food restaurants, grocery stores, movie theaters and offices, employment specialists said. Some run their own businesses. Media production and computer jobs could be a growth area. They can receive preference for federal jobs under the government's hiring policies for people with severe disabilities. Some are noted for their success, including Temple Grandin, a professor whose life inspired a television movie. Historically, many have worked in sheltered workshops or have done piece work, earning less than minimum wage.

Q: What are the obstacles?

A: Communication problems and social skills are blamed for unsuccessful interviews and problems on the job. People with autism may need routine, have difficulty making eye contact and misunderstand expressions or facial cues, such as a wink or nod. Employers fear they will have outbursts, although not all do. Behavioral interventions have reduced such problems, educators say. Job coaches boost chances of success, as does finding the right match between job and employee.

Q: What's being done about it?

A: Specialists at UC Santa Barbara's Koegel Autism Center are tackling the issues from a research and counseling standpoint. They're working with people who are having trouble preparing for careers because of social issues and studying procedures to ease the passage to adulthood.

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Working and autism

Drug Shows Promise Against Fragile X Syndrome, Possibly Autism

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By Randy Dotinga HealthDay Reporter Latest Mental Health News

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19 (HealthDay News) -- In a preliminary study, scientists are reporting that an experimental pill designed to treat fragile X syndrome -- a genetic condition tied to intellectual impairment, or "mental retardation," and some cases of autism -- may help patients develop better social skills.

The scientists are continuing to study the medication and have launched research into whether it may also help social withdrawal in those with autism. However, it's still not clear if the drug works, nor do its developers know how much it might cost. It's also not known whether other medications in development might do a better job, either in conjunction with the new drug or instead of it.

Still, the results so far are promising, and the medication "could be an important model for developing treatments for autism," said Dr. Michael Tranfaglia, medical director of the FRAXA Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization seeking better treatments for fragile X syndrome.

Fragile X syndrome is caused by the loss of the gene for fragile X mental retardation protein. The condition affects an estimated 100,000 people in the United States, potentially leading to mental retardation, epilepsy, autism and abnormal body growth. There is no cure for fragile X syndrome.

Essentially, the lack of the gene weakens the wiring of the brain, said Stephen Warren, chairman of human genetics at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. People with the condition usually must live in group homes, although they're often able to work, he added.

Several studies have been launched into the drug -- known as arbaclofen -- as a treatment for fragile X syndrome and related autism-type conditions. The new study was funded by Seaside Therapeutics, the drug's manufacturer, and done jointly by scientists at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and the MIND Institute at the University of California, Davis. It was the second of three phases of research required for drugs before they can be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

In the study, Dr. Elizabeth Berry-Kravis, a professor of pediatrics, neurological sciences and biochemistry at Rush, and colleagues tested the drug over a 15-month period by giving either the drug or an inactive placebo to 63 people between the ages of 6 and 39 who have fragile X syndrome in a six-week treatment. Of those who participated, 55 were boys or men; the condition is more common in males.

Those who took the drug were better able to deal with other people on a social level, said Warren, who didn't work on the new research but has consulted for Seaside Therapeutics. "Their social anxiety was diminished. That's the real problem with these kids. They get real anxious in novel situations, and it's very difficult consequently for families to go out and have a hamburger at a restaurant."

The amount of improvement isn't easily understood on a layperson level. But Dr. Paul Wang, a vice president with Seaside Therapeutics, said families told researchers that children who took the drug were more interested in talking to, and playing with, others instead of staying in their room, for example.

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Drug Shows Promise Against Fragile X Syndrome, Possibly Autism

Faculty from UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment receive multiple NIH awards

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Public release date: 18-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Mark Wheeler mwheeler@mednet.ucla.edu 310-794-2265 University of California - Los Angeles

The National Institutes of Health, recognizing UCLA's preeminence in both research and clinical care for children with autism, has announced multiple awards to the university as part of the agency's Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) research program.

The UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART) was the only NIH ACE Center in the nation to be awarded renewed funding for the next five years. The funding will support ongoing research focused on examining genes' link to behavior, developing clinical interventions for those severely affected by the disorder, and explaining why autism affects more boys than girls.

The goal of this work is to understand the full range of autism spectrum disorders, the brain condition that causes a continuum of social deficits, communication difficulties and cognitive delays.

Genes and behavior

UCLA's CART will receive $10 million for research aimed at advancing treatments, understanding the disorder's genetics and biology, and improving diagnostics. New research will link genetic mutations to distinct patterns of brain development, structure and function in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. This research effort is led by Susan Bookheimer, the Joaquin Fuster Professor of Cognitive Neurosciences at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA.

CART is unique in its breadth of expertise, which spans treatment, research, genetics, brain imaging and early-detection methods.

"We are very pleased to receive this additional funding to continue our investigation into the relationship between aberrant brain development and core deficits in autism," Bookheimer said. "With this award, we will now begin to track children, from infants to adolescents, who have multiple risks for autism and follow them over time in order to understand the trajectory of this disorder."

Autism in boys and girls

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Faculty from UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment receive multiple NIH awards

New Drug Could Help Autism Patients

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Researchers have found a drug that can help patients with Fragile X syndrome, the most common cause of inherited intellectual impairment (formerly known as mental retardation), stay calm in social situations by treating their anxiety.

Dr. Elizabeth Berry-Kravis and her team found that a drug called Arbaclofen reduced social avoidance and repetitive behavior in Fragile X patients, especially those with autism, by treating their anxiety. The drug increases GABA, a chemical in the brain that regulates the excitatory system in Fragile X patients, who have been known to have too little GABA to do the job otherwise, causing their excitatory systems to "signal out of control" and make them anxious.

Such patients have been known to cover their ears or run away at their own birthdays because they are overwhelmed by the attention, but one trial participant said he was able to enjoy his birthday party for the first time in his life while he was on Arbaclofen, she said.

"I feel like it's kind of the beginning of chemotherapy when people first realized you could use chemotherapy to treat cancer patients instead of just letting them die," said Berry-Kravis, a professor of neurology and biochemistry at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago who has studied Fragile X for more than 20 years.

Universal Images Group/Getty Images

She said people used to think Fragile X patients couldn't be helped either, but she and her team have proven that by using knowledge from existing brain mechanism studies, doctors can select medications to target specific problems in Fragile X patients' brains.

Fragile X syndrome is a change in the FMRI gene, which makes a protein necessary for brain growth, and studies indicate it causes autism in up to one-third of patients diagnosed with it. Unlike Fragile X syndrome, which is genetic, autism is a behavioral diagnosis characterized by an inability to relate to other people or read social cues. Autism and Fragile X are linked, but not mutually exclusive. A core symptom of both is social withdrawal.

Sixty-three patients with Fragile X participated in Berry-Kravis's placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial from December 2008 through March 2010. Of those, the patients with autism showed the biggest improvements in social behavior, Berry-Kravis said.

To psychologist Lori Warner, who directs the HOPE Center at Beaumont Children's Hospital, the study is exciting because when her autistic patients are anxious, they often have a harder time learning the social cues they can't read on their own.

"Reducing anxiety opens up your brain to be able to take in what's happening in an environment and be able to learn from and understand social cues because you're no longer frightened of the situation," Warner said.

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Other Advice (Part 4 of 10) – Autism Speaks Challenging Behaviors Tool Kit – Video

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13-09-2012 21:29 Autism Speaks Challenging Behaviors Tool Kit. Sometimes the difficulties of autism can lead to behaviors that are quite challenging to understand and address. The guiding principle used in developing this kit is that each individual with autism and their family should feel safe and supported, and live a healthy life filled with purpose, dignity, choices and happiness. Download the Autism Speaks Challenging Behaviors Tool Kit here: Nicole Weidenbaum, MSEd., SAS, Executive Director, Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism, offers advice for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Questions addressed include: 1) Can you use Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) on adolescents and adults with autism? 2) What role can medication play in addressing challenging behaviors? 3) When should I consider residential placement? 4) Where do siblings fit in with all of this? 5) Do you have any general advice for families dealing with challenging behaviors?

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Other Advice (Part 4 of 10) - Autism Speaks Challenging Behaviors Tool Kit - Video

Experimental drug may help some autism cases, researchers say

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An experimental drug can improve sociability in patients with fragile X syndrome and may be helpful as a treatment for autism, according to the authors of a new study.

Fragile X is a rare genetic disorder that affects about 1 in 4,000 boys and 1 in 8,000 girls, according to the National Institutes of Health. It usually results in mental retardation and in about half of cases some form of autism.

In fragile X, which accounts for 2% of autism cases, a mutation in a gene on the X chromosome turns off production of a regulatory protein known as FMRP. That leads to out-of-control activation of the brain chemical glutamate, which plays a key role in learning and memory, potentially explaining social anxiety and other symptoms of the disorder.

A group of researchers tested a drug known as STX209 in mice that were genetically engineered to have an animal version of fragile X. The researchers found that it helped correct the biochemical abnormalities associated with the mutation and reduced seizures and repetitive behaviors in the mice, they reported Wednesday in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

In a related study published in the same journal, 46 children and 17 adults with fragile X were assigned to take the drug for four weeks and a placebo for four weeks. Patients made bigger improvements on a "social avoidance" scale while they were taking the drug compared with when they were taking the placebo.

"This study nails a core feature in autism," said Dr. Randi Hagerman, an expert in neurodevelopmental disorders at the UC Davis MIND Institute and coauthor of the human study. "We think this is a great drug."

But scientists who were not involved in the study said the improvements were modest at best and that their applicability to autism a highly variable disorder that may have many distinct causes was unclear.

"The data have to be viewed with extreme caution," said Dr. Christopher McDougle, a psychiatrist and autism expert at Harvard University. "They're interesting. That's about all you can say."

An explosion in autism diagnosis over the last two decades makes the disorder an obvious target for drug developers. But with little understanding of its biological underpinnings, researchers have not known which chemical pathways to focus on.

Two drugs, both antipsychotic medications designed for schizophrenia, are currently approved to treat autism. But they target irritability and not its hallmark symptoms of social dysfunction, communication problems and repetitive behaviors.

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Experimental drug may help some autism cases, researchers say

Autism symptoms could arise from unreliable neural responses

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Public release date: 19-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Elisabeth (Lisa) Lyons elyons@cell.com 617-386-2121 Cell Press

Diverse symptoms associated with autism could be explained by unreliable activity of neurons in the brain in response to basic, nonsocial sensory information, according to a study published by Cell Press on September 19th in the journal Neuron. The new findings suggest that autism is a disorder of general neural processing and could potentially provide an explanation for the origins of a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders.

"Within the autism research community, most researchers are looking for either a dysfunctional brain region or inadequate connections between brain regions," says lead study author Ilan Dinstein of Carnegie Mellon University. "We're taking a different approach and thinking about how a general characteristic of the brain could be different in autismand how that might lead to behavioral changes."

Autism is a developmental disorder marked by social deficits, communication problems, and repetitive behaviors. Two previous studies suggested that the neural responses of individuals with autism are more variable than those of control subjects during visual and motor tasks. Building on this past evidence, Dinstein and his collaborators have now shown that multiple sensory systems within these individuals show noisy responses, suggesting that widespread behavioral abnormalities could arise from a basic dysfunction in neural processing that emerges during development.

In the study, adults with autism participated in functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments in which their brain activity was measured under three different conditions: while they watched moving dots on a screen, listened to tone beeps, and felt air puffs on their hands. The neural responses to all three types of sensory information were less reliable across trials in individuals with autism than in control subjects.

The findings suggest that autism could result from fundamental defects in general neural processing rather than a collection of independent problems that affect different brain regions. "Unreliable neural activity is a general property that could have a profound impact on the function of many brain systems and could underlie a range of cognitive and social abnormalities," says study author Marlene Behrmann of Carnegie Mellon University. "So we think that this problem could play a role not only in autism, but also potentially in other disorders such as epilepsy and schizophrenia."

###

Dinstein et al.: "Unreliable evoked responses in autism."

Video: Marlene Behrmann, Professor of Psychology, and IIan Dinstein, Postdoctoral Researcher, from Carnegie Mellon University's Department of Psychology discuss their study "Autistic Adults have Unreliable Neural Sensory Responses" publishing in Neuron.

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TOMY Kicks-Off Donation Program in Conjunction with Autism Speaks

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OAK BROOK, Ill., Sept. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- TOMY, a leading global designer, producer and marketer of toys and collectible products sold to preschoolers, youths and adults, proudly announces a large scale donation in conjunction with Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. TOMY will donate up to five hundred Chuggington Wooden Railway playtables and train sets, with a total value of up to $250,000, to preschools who serve children with autism. According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), autism affects one in 88 children and one in 54 boys. TOMY's donation is designed to help preschools serving children with autism provide wholesome and engaging play opportunities within educational environments.

"Train play is perennially popular with preschoolers, especially boys, engaging them with action-oriented vehicle play, construction elements, imaginative role play and more. Through the years we have had customers who have children with autism tell us how much they love and play with our trains, and we wanted to provide that opportunity to as many preschoolers across the country as we could," states Greg Kilrea, president of TOMY International. "We are thrilled to be working with Autism Speaks through their network of family services, which will connect this donation with hundreds of preschools serving children with autism and offer to provide them with Chuggington playtables and train sets to be incorporated into their facilities."

Chuggington's popularity with kids ages 3-6 combined with the durable, wooden construction of TOMY's award-winning toy train brand make it an ideal solution to share with preschools who are providing vital services to communities nationwide. "The playtables are sturdy and sized perfectly for preschoolers. The Chuggington Wooden Railway sets and engines provide endless opportunities for kids to play or for educators and therapists to incorporate into daily lessons and treatment plans," adds Kilrea.

"This donation program is one of the many ways that Autism Speaks and our partners help communities by providing a fun activity for children," said Lisa Goring, vice president of Family Services at Autism Speaks. "We are grateful to TOMY for its support and generosity to the preschools that will receive playtables."

TOMY has initiated the program in conjunction with back to school 2012 and plans to have all the playtables placed into individual preschools by spring 2013.

About TOMY InternationalTOMY International (www.tomy.com) is a leading global designer, producer and marketer of a broad range of innovative, high-quality toys sold to preschoolers, youths and adults under the TOMY, Ertl, Johnny Lightning and Tomica brands as well as products for mothers, infants and toddlers marketed under its The First Years, Lamaze, JJ Cole Collectionsand Boon brands. TOMY International also markets its products under popular and classic licensed properties such as Chuggington, Dinosaur Train, John Deere, Disney's Winnie the Pooh, Princesses, Cars, Fairies and Toy Story, and other well-known properties. TOMY International's mission is to inspire and fulfill the dreams of children and parents worldwide. TOMY International reaches its target consumers through multiple channels of distribution supporting more than 25,000 retail outlets throughout North and South America, Europe and Australia. TOMY International is a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan-based TOMY Company, Ltd. (Tokyo Stock Exchange Code No. 7867). TOMY

About AutismAutism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders autism spectrum disorders caused by a combination of genes and environmental influences. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by communication difficulties, social and behavioral challenges, as well as repetitive behaviors. An estimated 1 in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum a 1000 percent increase in the past 40 years that is only partly explained by improved diagnosis.

About Autism SpeaksAutism Speaks is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Mr. Wright is the former vice chairman of General Electric and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed over $180 million to research and developing innovative resources for families. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 95 cities across North America. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit http://www.autismspeaks.org.

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TOMY Kicks-Off Donation Program in Conjunction with Autism Speaks

Addressing Challenging Behaviors (Part 2 of 10) – Autism Speaks Challenging Behaviors Tool Kit – Video

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13-09-2012 21:27 Autism Speaks Challenging Behaviors Tool Kit. Sometimes the difficulties of autism can lead to behaviors that are quite challenging to understand and address. The guiding principle used in developing this kit is that each individual with autism and their family should feel safe and supported, and live a healthy life filled with purpose, dignity, choices and happiness. Download the Autism Speaks Challenging Behaviors Tool Kit here: Nicole Weidenbaum, MSEd., SAS, Executive Director, Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism answers questions about addressing challenging behaviors. Questions addressed include: 1) Why is it important to address challenging behaviors? 2) What should I know before addressing challenging behaviors? 3) How important is consistency in addressing challenging behaviors? 4) What if I'm having trouble carrying out a behavior plan?

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Addressing Challenging Behaviors (Part 2 of 10) - Autism Speaks Challenging Behaviors Tool Kit - Video

Neuronal Circuits In Autism Can Be Reversed

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Editor's Choice Main Category: Autism Article Date: 15 Sep 2012 - 0:00 PDT

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A specific dysfunction in neuronal circuits has been identified, by Professors Peter Scheiffele and Kaspar Vogt at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel, that results from autism.

The researchers also discovered a way to reverse these neuronal changes. They believe that their findings, published in the journal Science, will have a great effect in drug development for treating autism.

Current estimates have revealed that about 1% of all kids develop an autistic spectrum disorder.

Autism is a hereditary developmental disorder of the brain, where people may experience fixed behavioral traits, disabled social functioning,and restricted speech development.

There are several mutations in over 300 genes identified as a central risk factor for the development of autism. One example is the gene neuroligin-3, which has a role in the formation of synapses- a structure that permits a neuron to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another cell.

Roche and a team of researchers from the Biozentrum at the University of Basel have detected a fault in the way signals are transmitted through the synapses that change the plasticity and function of the neuronal circuits.

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Neuronal Circuits In Autism Can Be Reversed

Scientists develop genetic test to predict autism

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Australian scientists have developed a genetic test to predict autism spectrum disorder in children, which could provide a long-sought way for early detection and intervention, according to a study published on Wednesday.

About one in 150 children has autism, with symptoms ranging from social awkwardness and narrow interests to severe communication and intellectual disabilities, said researchers led by the University of Melbourne.

The researchers used U.S. data from more than 3,000 individuals with autism in their study, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, to identify 237 genetic markers in 146 genes and related cellular pathways.

By measuring these markers, which either contribute to or protect an individual from developing autism, scientists could assess the risk of developing autism.

The risk markers increase the score on the genetic test, while the protective markers decrease the score. The higher the overall score, the higher the individual risk.

"This test could assist in the early detection of the condition in babies and children and help in the early management of those who become diagnosed," lead researcher Stan Skafidas said in a statement.

The test correctly predicted autism with more than 70 percent accuracy in people of central European descent, with study into other ethnic groups continuing.

The test would allow clinicians to provide early intervention to reduce behavioral and cognitive difficulties in people with autism.

"Early identification of risk means we can provide interventions to improve overall functioning for those affected, including families," clinical neuropsychologist Renee Testa said in a statement.

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Yale receives $15M grant for five-year study on autism in girls

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By Jim Shelton, Register Staff jshelton@nhregister.com / Twitter: @jimboshelton

James McPartland, left, and Kevin Pelphrey of the Yale Child Study Center, will be helping to lead a study of autism in girls.

NEW HAVEN In a major step for autism research, the Yale School of Medicine is embarking on a five-year, $15 million push to develop new diagnostic tools and treatment protocols for autism in girls.

Its part of an overall $100 autism research project announced recently by the National Institutes for Health. Preliminary work already has begun, and Yale researchers expect to start working with patients by December.

This is a game changer, said Kevin Pelphrey of the Yale Child Study Center, who is director of the Yale Autism Center for Excellence and principal investigator for the project. Its a crucial time. If we can put all this research together, I think were going to do something fantastic. Ill be upset if we dont have some kind of treatment to offer.

Autism, a disorder that can impair socialization, communication, learning and behavior, affects one in 88 children in the U.S. It is diagnosed more often today than in previous generations, Pelphrey explained, owing to more standardized diagnostic methods and a greater awareness of autism by physicians.

Its not a true increase in the number of kids having autism, Pelphrey said. Were much better at picking it up now.

Yales work will focus on how autism affects girls. Roughly one in 250 girls in the U.S. develops autism, compared with one in 50 boys.

Due in part to the disparity in numbers, relatively little is known about autism in girls. Yet a small, but growing body of research seems to indicate that autism in girls is distinct both genetically and in terms of behavior.

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Yale receives $15M grant for five-year study on autism in girls

Disorder of neuronal circuits in autism is reversible, new study suggests

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ScienceDaily (Sep. 14, 2012) People with autism suffer from a pervasive developmental disorder of the brain that becomes evident in early childhood. Peter Scheiffele and Kaspar Vogt, Professors at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel, have identified a specific dysfunction in neuronal circuits that is caused by autism. In the journal Science, the scientists also report about their success in reversing these neuronal changes. These findings are an important step in drug development for the treatment for autism.

According to current estimates, about one percent of all children develop an autistic spectrum disorder. Individuals with autism may exhibit impaired social behavior, rigid patterns of behavior and limited speech development. Autism is a hereditary developmental disorder of the brain. A central risk factor for the development of autism are numerous mutations in over 300 genes that have been identified, including the gene neuroligin-3, which is involved in the formation of synapses, the contact junction between nerve cells.

Loss of neuroligin-3 interferes with neuronal signal transmission

The consequences of neuroligin-3 loss can be studied in animal models. Mice lacking the gene for neuroligin-3 develop behavioral patterns reflecting important aspects observed in autism. In collaboration with Roche the research groups from the Biozentrum at the University of Basel have now identified a defect in synaptic signal transmission that interferes with the function and plasticity of the neuronal circuits. These negative effects are associated with increased production of a specific neuronal glutamate receptor, which modulates the signal transmission between neurons. An excess of these receptors inhibits the adaptation of the synaptic signal transmission during the learning process, thus disrupting the development and function of the brain in the long term.

Of major importance is the finding that the impaired development of the neuronal circuit in the brain is reversible. When the scientists reactivated the production of neuroligin-3 in the mice, the nerve cells scaled down the production of the glutamate receptors to a normal level and the structural defects in the brain typical for autism disappeared. Hence, these glutamate receptors could be a suitable pharmacological target in order to stop the developmental disorder autism or even reverse it.

Vision for the future: Medication for autism

Autism currently cannot be cured. At present, only the symptoms of the disorder can be alleviated through behavioral therapy and other treatment. A new approach to its treatment, however, has been uncovered through the results of this study. In one of the European Union supported projects, EU-AIMS, the research groups from the Biozentrum are working in collaboration with Roche and other partners in industry on applying glutamate receptor antagonists for the treatment of autism and hope, that in the future, this disorder can be treated successfully in both children and adults.

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Disorder of neuronal circuits in autism is reversible, new study suggests

Autism charity continues fundraising despite Oregon warning, probe

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A charity under investigation by the Oregon Department of Justice has continued to advertise for paid fundraisers in the Portland-Vancouver area four months after telling state prosecutors it was shutting down.

In June, saying Olympia-based Autism Awareness United appeared to have broken state laws, DOJ threatened legal action if the organization did not agree to stop raising money in Oregon. However, as of Friday, the group had not signed any agreement, and according to autism activists, has continued to raise money from Oregonians using paid fundraisers who set up tables outside supermarkets and other stores.

The state's investigation turned up receipts showing the nonprofit's debit card was used to pay for meals, cocktails, Chianti and other, unidentified expenses at a local casino. While not illegal, such expenses raise questions with charity oversight experts about a group's effectiveness. Meanwhile, Autism Awareness spent just 3 percent of its funds from late 2010 through early 2012 on direct assistance to needy families or autism-related agencies, according to documents obtained by The Oregonian under public records law.

In late March, the state launched its investigation after receiving an inquiry from The Oregonian as well as a citizen tip that the group had been selling raffle tickets in Oregon, which, if involving $10,000 or more, is legal only for charities that are federally tax-exempt. Autism Awareness United is a state-approved nonprofit, but not federal.

The group's president, Joe Searles, denied wrongdoing in an interview early this year but declined to respond to follow-up requests for information, including for this story.

Searles is a latecomer to professional charity work. He pleaded guilty to illegal gambling in 1985 for running a sports-betting operation from a government car on work time as a state mail courier in Washington. Last year he agreed to a five-year ban from the mortgage business after a Washington state administrative action and several lawsuits were filed accusing his real estate businesses of fraud.

In April 2010, Searles and his wife started fundraising for the Autism Society of Washington, a long-standing group, under a 12-month contract that let the Searles keep 80 percent of what they collected. The society's board later canceled the contract and sent documents to the state of Washington alleging Searles' group used "deceptive practices in soliciting the money."

The nonprofit's stated mission is "to spread awareness about autism spectrum disorders, and to raise funds to assist low-income families in gaining access to available interventions, therapies and resources."

According to documents turned over to DOJ, the group raised about $276,000 between late 2010 and early 2012, while dispersing $8,750 in direct grants to families and other groups that help autistic people, including $2,000 in Oregon.

The group submitted a financial report to Washington state earlier this week saying it raised $199,760 in 2011 and spent $122,000 on "program services." However, it's unclear whether the charity included salaries and payments to fundraisers, because the state does not clearly define program services, according to state charities officials.

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Autism: It's personal

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Theres a saying: If you meet one person with autism, youve met one person with autism, Cathy Louden said.

Autism is a term used for complex disorders of brain development and symptoms tend to be very personal and different for each person.

These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors, the Autism Society of West Shore website said.

In Loudin's home it rings true, she and her husband, Shawn Loudin and their two boys, Jason, 8, and Andrew, 11, are all have autism and they are all very different, she said, each with their own needs, their own quirks.

Andy is more withdrawn, Jason is the social butterfly, Cathy Loudin said. But it flips sometimes.

Andrew perfers to be left alone. Jason will pick on his brother.

Yet each has similarities too; they can focus for some time on electronic games.

Neither Cathy nor Shawn knew they had autism until they started noticing signs in their sons. They recognized things from their own childhoods, and it just made sense. The knowledge has strengthened their relationship and has given them a better understanding of each other, she said. They've learned to avoid situations that make them uncomfortable, such as large crowds.

As she learns the needs of her boys, Cathy found having a solid support system was a must. The family found that in the Autism Society of West Shore, the local chapter of the Autism Society of America.

ASWS has monthly coffee socials, Cathy said, where parents can just talk and share tips, tricks and ideas. They have a free speakers series with topics such as how to get through the individualized education plan, she said.

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Autism: It's personal

Autism and schizophrenia in kids linked to fathers' age

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A new study finds that babies of older fathers have increased health risks due to genetic mutations that increase with age.

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SALT LAKE CITY Older fathers are more likely to father a child with autism or schizophrenia, due to genetic mutations that increase with age, according to a new study published online Wednesday in the journal Nature.

Researchers examined 78 Icelandic families with children who had been diagnosed with autism or schizophrenia. They found that a 40-year-old passes 65 genetic mutations to his child, while a 20-year-old passes 25. Fathers transmitted two new mutations in their DNA each additional year, while mothers passed on 15 new mutations at every age.

The research corrected false assumptions that the risks lie in the older ages of women alone, the Los Angeles Times reported. "Although older mothers are more likely to have children with chromosomal disorders such as Down syndrome because of problems with older eggs, the study found that practically all of the novel mutations detected in children came from the father's sperm."

Experts said the finding might influence reproductive decisions, but was hardly reason to forgo fatherhood at an older age, The New York Times reported. There is a 2 percent overall risk to a man in his 40's or older, as well as other contributing factors that remain unknown.

The study found that as many as 20 to 30 percent of cases of autism diagnoses were linked to an older average age in fathers.

"The findings also give us insight into how our gene pool is changing, and what, in modern times, is driving the genetic diversity that is critical to the survival of our species," the Washington Post observed. "Every difference in our DNA that distinguishes each of us as individuals, or that separates Homo sapiens from other species, arguably got its start as a mutation. Some of these alterations in DNA occur by chance, during cell division, others are triggered by exposure to environmental factors, while still others are selected for when they happen to confer some survival advantage, such as an ability to ward off disease."

The only important thing when it came to explaining the mutations was the age of the father, study author Kari Stefansson, the chief executive officer of deCode Genetics, told the Bloomberg News. Theres very little else to be accounted for. Thats a stunning observation.

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Autism and schizophrenia in kids linked to fathers' age

Axing of autism home tuition ‘rash cost-cutting’

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By Claire OSullivan

Saturday, September 01, 2012

Children with autism are having their home tuition halted and instead are being ordered to attend new special needs units, according to one of the countrys leading autism support groups.

The Department of Education announced that 91 new classes for children with special needs are to be introduced at special needs units at the countrys schools.

Shine Ireland, the Irish Progressive Association for Autism, initially welcomed the investment but yesterday criticised it as "rash cost- cutting" saying they hadnt realised then that such units would be used to replace more costly home tuition.

The home tuition service is used by hundreds of children with autism, some as young as two, who need specific learning support, seen as a form of early one- on-one intervention.

Shine Ireland said families have been told in the past fortnight their home tuition will no longer be funded.

Its CEO Kieran Kennedy said: "The children are being sent wherever. There has been no consultation, no chance to talk to teachers or the principal at school.

"There has been no chance to see if the needs of child can be met. No parent of a regular child would be told that you have to put your child into a particular school at four years of age."

A Department of Education spokesperson denied grants were being cut.

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Axing of autism home tuition ‘rash cost-cutting’

In Autism Suit Against Cigna Insurance for Denying ABA Therapy, Court Certifies National Class Action for all CIGNA …

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PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --A federal court in Philadelphia yesterday granted class action status to a lawsuit brought by the parents of an autistic child against CIGNA Corporation and related CIGNA entities for their policy of denying insurance coverage for an autism treatment known as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. In their lawsuit, the plaintiff, Kristopher Churchill and Luis Rolando, allege that the CIGNA companies have a nationwide policy of classifying ABA as experimental, and therefore they do not provide insurance coverage for this therapy. The plaintiffs claim that the classification of ABA as experimental and the denial of insurance coverage for ABA violates federal laws governing insurance plans. The court's order today means that the case will proceed as a nationwide class action on behalf of all families having children with autism who were denied coverage by CIGNA for ABA therapy.

According to the lawsuit, ABA is a well recognized and scientifically valid form of autism treatment for children. Numerous authorities and organizations have supported using ABA to treat autism. For example, the use of ABA for treating autism has been endorsed by the U.S. Surgeon General and the National Institute of Mental Health. The American Academy of Pediatrics has said that the effectiveness of ABA "has been well documented through 5 decades of research." Currently, 31 states mandate insurance coverage for ABA-type autism treatments.

In the Court's Order entered yesterday, Judge Juan R. Sanchez held that the following subclass shall be certified pursuant to FRCP 23(b)(3):

All individuals who, on or after November 24, 2006, (1) were enrolled in a plan administered by a CIGNA Defendant, or insured under health insurance coverage offered by CIGNA Defendant in connection with a plan, and (2) are currently enrolled in a CIGNA-affiliated plan, and (3) who, on or after November 24, 2006, made a claim or make a claim for Applied Behavior Analysis and/or Early Intensive behavioral Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder which was denied on the grounds that such treatment is deemed by a CIGNA Defendant to be investigative or experimental.

Churchill and Rolando are represented by Gerard Mantese, Brian Saxe, and John J. Conway of Michigan. Mantese and Conway are counsel in several cases seeking insurance coverage for ABA therapy. In 2010, Mantese and Conway obtained final approval of a class action against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan requiring payment of $1 million in claims for ABA. They are also currently counsel for several military beneficiaries seeking coverage of ABA from the military's Tricare insurer. On July 26, 2012, a federal court in Washington D.C. granted summary judgment ordering that ABA Therapy be provided to military beneficiaries in that case.

Contact information for Churchill's attorneys follows:

Gerard Mantese, Esq. Brian Saxe, Esq. Mantese Honigman Rossman and Williamson, P.C. 1361 E. Big Beaver Road Troy, Michigan 48083 248-457-9200 Office 248-515-6419 Cell

John J. Conway, Esq. John J. Conway, P.C. 26622 Woodward Avenue, Suite 225 Royal Oak, MI 48067 313-961-6525 Office 313-574-2148 Cell

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In Autism Suit Against Cigna Insurance for Denying ABA Therapy, Court Certifies National Class Action for all CIGNA ...