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Brain Differences Found at 6 Months in Infants Who Develop Autism
07/03/2012
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A new study from the Infant Brain Imaging Network, which includes researchers at the Center for Autism Research at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), found significant differences in brain development starting at age 6 months in high-risk infants who later develop autism, compared to high-risk infants who did not develop autism."It's a tremendously exciting finding," said Sarah Paterson, PhD, director of the Infant Neuroimaging Lab at CHOP's Center for Autism
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New Research Tool Can Detect Autism At 9 Months Of Age
07/03/2012
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The Early Autism Study, led by Mel Rutherford, associate professor of psychology in the Faculty of Science, has been using eye tracker technology that measures eye direction while the babies look at faces, eyes, and bouncing balls on a computer screen. "What's important about this study is that now we can distinguish between a group of siblings with autism from a group with no autism -- at nine months and 12 months," says Rutherford. "I can do this in 10 minutes, and it is
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Brain Wired At Birth
06/14/2012
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As reported in the journal Neuron, a team of researchers led by Jeff Lichtman, the Jeremy R. Knowles Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology, has found that just days before birth mice undergo an explosion of neuromuscular branching. At birth, the research showed, some muscle fibers are contacted by as many as 10 nerve cells. Within days, however, all but one of those connections had been pruned away. "That is one theory people have talked about, whether autism could be a disorder
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Potential Environmental Trigger For Autism In Genetically Predisposed
06/14/2012
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Psychoactive medications in water affect the gene expression profiles of fathead minnows in a way that mimics the gene expression patterns associated with autism spectrum disorder in genetically susceptible humans, according to research published in the open access journal PLoS ONE. These results suggest a potential environmental trigger for autism spectrum disorder in this vulnerable population, the authors
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DSM5 reduces toddlers' autism diagnoses by 48%
06/13/2012
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A couple months ago a study came out of Yale University that showed an overall 55% reduction in the number of people with an autism diagnosis using the new autism diagnostic criteria proposed for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition, (DSM5) slated for adoption next spring. Now another study has been published, this one by researchers at Louisiana State University, that found a 48% reduction in the number of toddlers with an autism diagnosis using the DSM5
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Protein Necessary For Behavioral Flexibility
05/31/2012
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Researchers have identified a protein necessary to maintain behavioral flexibility, which allows us to modify our behaviors to adjust to circumstances that are similar, but not identical, to previous experiences. Their findings, which appear in the journal Cell Reports, may offer new insights into addressing autism and schizophrenia—afflictions marked by impaired behavioral flexibility.Our stored memories from previous experiences allow us to repeat certain tasks. For instance, after
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Oxytocin in high-functioning autism
05/31/2012
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http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/02/05/0910249107.full.pdf+htmlA team led by Angela Sirigu at the Centre de Neuroscience Cognitive (CNRS) has shown that the inhalation of oxytocin, a hormone known to promote mother-infant bonds and social relationships, significantly improved the abilities of autistic patients to interact with other individuals.To achieve this, the researchers administered oxytocin to 13 autistic patients and then observed their social behavior during ball games and
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Elevated male hormones in autism spectrum disorders
05/31/2012
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Title: An evaluation of the role and treatment of elevated male hormones in autism spectrum disordershttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22508080Study participants were administered testosterone to determine whether enhancement or reduction of autistic traits (AT) occurred. Results indicate AT increased in subjects administered testosterone. This study, along with others, indicated AT can be significantly reduced through employment of antiandrogen medications and that
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Ziprasidone in an adult population
05/31/2012
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Title: The effect of a switch to ziprasidone in an adult population with autistic disorder: chart review of naturalistic, open-label treatmenthttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14744179BACKGROUND:The present investigation retrospectively assessed the effect of an open-label switch to ziprasidone from other atypical antipsychotics on behavior, weight, and lipid levels in an adult population with autistic disorder.METHOD:We conducted a chart review of 10 adults (mean +/- SD age = 43.8 +/-
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Ziprasidone in adolescents with autism:
05/31/2012
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Title: Ziprasidone in adolescents with autism: an open-label pilot studyhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18315450INTRODUCTION:The antipsychotic drugs are the best-studied agents shown to reduce symptoms in autism, including hyperactivity, aggression, self-abusive behavior, temper tantrums, lability, irritability, social withdrawal, and stereotypical behaviors. However, significant weight gain has been associated with use of many atypical agents. Ziprasidone has been weight neutral in
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Aripiprazole: Aged 6–17
05/31/2012
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Title: Aripiprazole: A Review of its Use in the Treatment of Irritability Associated with Autistic Disorder Patients Aged 6–17http://www.la-press.com/aripiprazole-a-review-of-its-use-in-the-treatment-of-irritability-asso-article-a2715A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed examining the efficacy of aripiprazole for the treatment of irritability associated with autistic disorder in children and adolescents. Aripiprazole was found to be more effective in reducing
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Risperidone treatment of children and pharmacokinetic implications
05/31/2012
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Title: Risperidone treatment of children with autistic disorder: effectiveness, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic implicationshttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15142390BACKGROUND:Recent evidence indicates that atypical antipsychotics represent a promising option for the treatment of autistic disorder. In particular, risperidone appears to be effective in treating aggressiveness, hyperactivity, irritability, stereotypies, social withdrawal, and lack of interests.OBJECTIVE:The aim of the
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Study of 53 preschool children treated with Risperidone
05/31/2012
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Title: A 3-year naturalistic study of 53 preschool children with pervasive developmental disorders treated with risperidonehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14628979BACKGROUND:Only sparse and short-term data are available on pharmacologic treatments in very young children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). The purpose of this 3-year naturalistic study (March 1999-April 2002) is to describe the clinical outcome of a consecutive sample of preschool children with PDD treated
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study of risperidone in adults
05/31/2012
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Antipsychotic (or neuroleptic) drugs were originally designed to treat schizophrenia, but have been used to address autistic behaviors including severe aggression, self-stimulation, hyperactivity, and social withdrawal. Use of risperidone and other atypical antipsychotics is fairly common in the treatment of autism, and conventional antipsychotics, like haloperidol, continue to be used less frequently. Most conventional and atypical antipsychotics are potent dopamine (DA) receptor
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Acupuncture for treatment of autism spectrum disorders
05/31/2012
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Title: Acupuncture for treatment of autism spectrum disordershttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22203876There has been lack of reviews of evidence on efficacy, methodology, and/or safety of acupuncture in autism spectrum disorders. This paper examines the emerging evidence of the effects of acupuncture in the treatment of autistic children. Method. A literature review was completed via Medline and three Chinese search engines. A total of 31 studies were evaluated for acupuncture
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Clinical Presentation and Histologic Findings at Ileocolonoscopy
05/31/2012
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Title: Clinical Presentation and Histologic Findings at Ileocolonoscopy in Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Chronic Gastrointestinal Symptomshttp://www.la-press.com/clinical-presentation-and-histologic-findings-at-ileocolonoscopy-in-ch-article-a1816Background: Children with developmental disorders experience chronic gastrointestinal symptoms.Aims: To examine the nature of these gastrointestinal symptoms and histologic findings in children with autism spectrum/developmental
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Pathways underlying the gut-to-brain connection
05/31/2012
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Title: Pathways underlying the gut-to-brain connection in autism spectrum disorders as future targets for disease management.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21810417Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are pervasive neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication and the presence of limited, repetitive and stereotyped interests and behavior. Bowel symptoms are frequently reported in children with ASD and a potential role for
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