The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has published the results of a study looking into gene research as it may pertain to autistic savants.  The article, published in the February 13 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, explains that “mice lacking a certain brain protein learn some tasks better but also forget faster.”  This research is promising with regards to explaining why autistic savants function as they do. 

“These opposite effects on different types of learning are reminiscent of the mixed features of autistic patients, who may be disabled in some cognitive areas but show enhanced abilities in others,” said Albert Y. Hung, a postdoctoral associate at the Picower Institute, staff neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and co-author of the study. “The superior learning ability of these mutant mice in a specific realm is reminiscent of human autistic savants.”

Autistic savants usually have an unusually exceptional talent in a specific area - art, music, and mathematics are a few examples of areas in which this talent may occur.  The lead character from the film “Rain Man” was an autistic savant. 

Source:  MIT

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

Posted with permission from Greg Chivers.

I’m a documentary maker and I’m doing some reasearch for a series of films for the British broadcaster Channel 4.

The films are about people overcoming personal obstacles to learn to drive and one of the issues we’re looking at is Asperger’s and
autistic spectrum disorders.

I’m very keen to get in touch with parents (Specifically British families) who have run into problems with driving tuition or who are
keen for their kids to start learning.

I’d really appreciate it if anyone interested in talking to me about their/ their kids thoughts/experiences of learning to drive could
contact me at the e mail address below.

That’s gregchivers@fireflyproductions.tv

Many Thanks

Greg Chivers
Producer/Director
Firefly Film and Television Productions Ltd
gregchivers@fireflyproductions.tv
W: www.fireflyproductions.tv

Celebrating it’s 25th anniversary in 2008, the California Autism Foundation has announced the details for the 2008 Ride for a Better Chance.  Together with the Blacktop Knights Motorcycle Club, the California Autism Foundation will host a poker run with a barbecue to follow featuring live music.  The 2007 event featured over 300 motorcycle enthusiasts; this year the Foundation hopes to top that number.

The 2008 event will be held on Sunday, June 1.  The starting point is at the CruiserCustomizing Showroom in Livermore and the event finishes at the California Autism Foundation office located in Richmond.

For more information, view the Ride for a Better Chance 2008 website.

Larry King will be featuring Jason “J-Mac” McElwain on his show, Larry King Live, on Valentine’s Day - February 14, 2008.  J-Mac is known for his amazing three-point shots during a high school basketball game in 2006.  Playing his first game for Greece Althena high school, J-Mac came in and scored 20 points and made six three-point shots which tied a school record.  J-Mac was ultimately recognized by President George W. Bush, ESPN, and other agencies across the United States.  J-Mac is on the autism spectrum and will talk with Larry King on the Thursday show dedicated to autism spectrum disorders.

Others scheduled to appear on the show include celebrities Holly Robinson Peete, Doug Flutie, and Toni Braxton; all three of these individuals have a child on the autism spectrum.  Unlike other autism shows, the Larry King Live website promises “an uplifting hour with those who know!”

Source:  CNN.com

A February 8, 2008 press release by Vanderbilt University confirms that melatonin can help individuals with an autism spectrum disorder that also have problems with sleep.  Melatonin is a natural supplement; it is believed that people on the autism spectrum are deficient in melatonin.  Supplementing melatonin is thought to induce a more normal and restful sleep pattern.

The Vanderbilt study had 107 participants; 85% of the participants reported improved sleep or completely resolved sleep issues.  According to the news release:

“Although prospective trials will be needed to determine if melatonin is an effective sleep aid in this population, this study does support that it may be a reasonable treatment option in these children when administered under the care of a physician and combined with behavioral therapies for sleep.”

Autism Speaks and the Dana Foundation have pledged $100,000 towards a research study looking at the melatonin solution further. 

Source:  Vanderbilt News Service

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.

Mark Roth of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has published a new story taking a more in-depth look at the rise in autism diagnoses over the past two decades.  Some autism organizations claim that the United States is currently facing an autism epidemic.  Roth reports on a 2006 study by Paul Shattuck that looks at this dramatic rise in autism.  From the Roth story:

A 2006 study in the journal Pediatrics found, for instance, that the national increase in identified autism cases in elementary schoolchildren between 1984 and 2003 had been paralleled by a similar decrease in the number of children labeled as retarded or learning disabled

The entire Roth article can be found on the Post-Gazette website.  For another look at explanations for the rise in autism cases, read The Autism “Epidemic”.

Source:  Mark Roth - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Online