The University of California at Davis’ M.I.N.D. Institute has just published the results of a study looking into the maternal immune system as it relates to autism, most notably the regressive type of autism.  In a news release, the M.I.N.D. Institute announced that the complete findings will be published in the March 2008 issue of Neurotoxicology.

“Antibodies in the blood of mothers of children with autism bind to fetal brain cells, potentially interrupting healthy brain development. The study authors also found that the reaction was most common in mothers of children with the regressive form of autism…”

This unique study gives scientists and parents hope that a definitive cause may be determined for this type of autism.  Regressive autism occurs after a period of normal development - children will lose speech and language skills, toileting abilities, etc; some parents and advocacy groups consider regressive autism the most catastrophic to families.

Source:  UC Davis News Release

ScienceDaily (2008-02-10) — Contrary to popular notions, people at the high end of the autism spectrum disorder continuum suffer most from an inability to model “self” rather than impaired ability to respond to others, according to a novel research study. This inability to model “self” can disrupt an individual’s ability to understand the world as a whole, according to researchers. … > read full article

A February 9 report by Science Daily discusses a recent study that states that boys with autism are at a higher risk for thin bones when compared to their non-autistic peers.  The study cites a commonly used dietary intervention prevalent among children with autism spectrum disorders - the gluten-free casein-free diet.  Casein is found in all dairy products; dairy products are traditionally the primary source of calcium and vitamin D which are necessary in achieving adequate bone density.

Part of the study’s findings were:

At 5 or 6 years of age, the bones of the autistic boys were significantly thinner than the bones of boys without autism and the difference in bone thickness became even greater at ages 7 and 8.

For more information on the study, which was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, read the Science Daily article.
 

A submission to the January issue of Genetics in Medicine, a journal of the American College of Medical Genetics, details the steps to a genetic diagnosis for autism spectrum disorders.  The article, Genetics Evaluation for the Etiologic Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders, was authored by G. Bradley Schaefer MD and Nancy J. Mendelsohn MD.  Here are a few excerpts of the article as obtained from Ovid Journals Online.

The diagnosis of ASDs is still a clinical one. It is based on behavioral history and behavioral assessments that document persistent deficits in reciprocal social behavior, communication, and restricted interests or repetitive behavior.

The problem with the current method of diagnosis is one doctor may diagnose autistic disorder while another would state the child has pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). 

Epidemiologic data support the presumption that autism is primarily a genetic disorder. The calculated heritability of autism is around 90%.

Data like this is not published by many of today’s leading autism organizations.  It is likely that this study and the projected plans for creating a genetic diagnostic test for autism will be met with controversy. 

An interesting part of the study is a table which lists “Chromosomal Hot Spots for Autism” - among others on the list is the 16p chromosome which was discussed in a January research study.  Other chromosomes of interest are 15q11-13, 7q22-31, 22q11, 22q13, 2q37, Xp, 18q, 17p, and 17q.  As the research from this study is implemented, it will be interesting to see what results are obtained. 

Source:

Schaefer, G Bradley MD & Mendelsohn, Nancy J Md.  Genetics evaluation for the etiologic diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders.  Genetics in Medicine.  January 2008, pp 4-12.  Obtained online from Ovid Journals.

The annual Easter Seals Autism Symposium will be held on February 13 and 14 in Monterey, California.  The symposium is geared towards educators, parents, therapists, social works, case administrators, and psychologists.  The Monterey Conference Center will host the 2008 symposium.  Dr. Richard Solomon, a Michigan physician, will be the keynote speaker on day one speaking on the topic P.L.A.Y. Project Level 1 Workshop Introduction to Floortime and P.L.A.Y.  Floortime and the Developmental, Individualized, and Relationship Oriented (DIR) model are based on the works of noted author and physician Dr. Stanley Greenspan.  DIR is one of several key types of autism therapy.

 Source:  Monterey Easter Seals Autism Symposium

A new study, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, confirms previous studies’ claims that there is no verifiable link between the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism.  An excerpt from the Reuters India article on the topic:

“This study really supports the view these are safe vaccines,” said David Brown, a researcher at Britain’s Health Protection Agency who worked on the study. “The evidence is now so solid there really isn’t a need for further studies here.”

The vaccine/autism debate is one of the most controversial topics in the autism community, often-times causing a divide.  There are those who are certain that vaccines can cause autism and there are those who are equally certain that it doesn’t. 

Read the entire story at Reuters India.
 

Babies Excrete Vaccine-mercury Quicker Than Originally Thought, Study Shows

ScienceDaily (2008-02-04) — New research in Pediatrics offers another reason to rethink blaming the spike in autism diagnoses on thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative routinely used in several childhood vaccines until the late ’90s. Infants’ bodies expel the thimerosal mercury much faster than originally thought — thereby leaving little chance for a progressive building up of the toxic metal. … > read full article

Accelerated Head Growth Can Predict Autism Before Behavioral Symptoms Start, Study Suggests

ScienceDaily (2008-01-31) — Children with autism have normal-size heads at birth but develop accelerated head growth between six and nine months of age, a period that precedes the onset of many behaviors that enable physicians to diagnose the developmental disorder, according to new research. … > read full article