http://www.medindia.net/healthnews/Autism-news.asp Medindia largest health website in india. en-us Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved. Fri, 25 May 2012 04:25:36 GMT http://www.medindia.net/news/increased-risk-of-autism-or-developmental-delay-if-stricken-with-fever-during-pregnancy-101721-1.htm Mothers afflicted with fevers during their pregnancies run more than twice the chance of having a child with autism or developmental delay than mothers who have no such condition, find researchers. Taking medication to treat fever can counter its effect, the team of UC Davis researchers said. "Our study provides strong evidence that controlling fevers while pregnant may be effective in modifying the risk of having a child with autism or developmental delay," said Ousseny Zerbo, lead author of the study, who was a Ph....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/increased-risk-of-autism-or-developmental-delay-if-stricken-with-fever-during-pregnancy-101721-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/risk-of-autism-may-be-predicted-by-simple-task-at-6-months-of-age-101523-1.htm Researchers at the Kennedy Krieger Institute have revealed that a simple "pull-to-sit" task could improve early detection of developmental delays. Their suggestion comes after a new prospective study of six-month-old infants at high genetic risk for autism identified weak head and neck control as a red flag for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and language and/or social developmental delays. "Research aimed at improving early detection of autism has largely focused on measurement of social and communication development," said Dr....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/risk-of-autism-may-be-predicted-by-simple-task-at-6-months-of-age-101523-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/love-hormone-nasal-spray-may-help-treat-autism-101495-1.htm Researchers have found that oxytocin, a naturally occurring substance produced in the brain and throughout the body, increased brain function in regions that are known to process social information in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A Yale Child Study Center research team that includes postdoctoral fellow Ilanit Gordon and Kevin Pelphrey, the Harris Associate Professor of Child Psychiatry and Psychology, will present the results on Saturday, May 19 at 3 p.m. at the International Meeting for Autism Research....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/love-hormone-nasal-spray-may-help-treat-autism-101495-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/study-shows-delays-in-siblings-of-children-with-autism-spectrum-disorders-101379-1.htm In a new study it was found that one in three children who have an older sibling with an Autism Related Disorder (ASD) fall into a group characterized by higher levels of autism-related behaviors or lower levels of developmental progress. UM's College of Arts and Sciences professor Dr. Daniel Messinger, presenting author of the study, says, "It is clear that the younger siblings of a child with an ASD may face challenges even if they are not themselves identified with an ASD. This new work ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/study-shows-delays-in-siblings-of-children-with-autism-spectrum-disorders-101379-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/influence-of-diet-and-toxins-in-autism-epidemic-101357-1.htm Autism is a disorder of the neural development that is characterized by the disturbed social communication and interaction. There is a repetitive and restricted behavior. bDiet plays a role in autism and care should be taken to make food choices. /b According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 out of every 88 children has autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This is a serious concern. Renee Dufault et al conducted a study to find out the influence of diet on autism....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/influence-of-diet-and-toxins-in-autism-epidemic-101357-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/missing-gene-in-decision-making-center-in-brain-lined-to-a-form-of-autism-101199-1.htm A new study by Yale University researchers has revealed that a recently evolved pattern of gene activity in the language and decision-making centers of the human brain is missing in one form of autism disorder. "This is the cost of being human," said Nenad Sestan, associate professor of neurobiology, researcher at Yale's Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, and senior author of the paper. "The same evolutionary mechanisms that may have gifted our species with amazing cognitive abilities have also ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/missing-gene-in-decision-making-center-in-brain-lined-to-a-form-of-autism-101199-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/smoking-during-pregnancy-may-augment-the-chances-of-autism-in-children-100916-1.htm Researchers claim that children might suffer from high functioning autism if their mothers resorted to smoking during pregnancy. Professor Amy Kalkbrenner, the lead author from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health stated, "It has long been known that autism is an umbrella term for a wide range of disorders that impair social and communication skills." She further added, "What we are seeing is that some disorders on the autism spectrum, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/smoking-during-pregnancy-may-augment-the-chances-of-autism-in-children-100916-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/genetic-systems-disrupted-in-autistic-brain-discovered-100835-1.htm Hebrew University of Jerusalem scientists have identified the genetic systems disorganized in autistic brain. The Hebrew University research, conducted by Dr. Sagiv Shifman and his doctoral student Eyal Ben-David of the Department of Genetics at the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, has potential implications for early diagnosis as well as for treatment of autism in the future. The study was recently published in the journal PLoS Genetics/i/a. Autism spectrum disorders ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/genetic-systems-disrupted-in-autistic-brain-discovered-100835-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/risk-of-autism-indicated-by-higher-maternal-age-100739-1.htm Researchers examined past studies to investigate possible links between maternal age and autism in a study published in the May 2012 issue of the iJournal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/i, guided by Mr. Sven Sandin, of the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden and King's College London. While much research has been done to identify potential genetic causes of autism, this analysis suggests that non-heritable and environmental factors may also play a role in children's risk for autism....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/risk-of-autism-indicated-by-higher-maternal-age-100739-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/prime-suspects-top-10-toxic-chemicals-probably-causing-autism-and-learning-disabilities-100738-1.htm iEnvironmental Health Perspectives/i in an editorial calls for improved research to identify the probable environmental causes of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in America's children and presents a list of ten target chemicals including the ones that are considered highly likely to contribute to these conditions. Philip Landrigan, MD, MSc, a world-renowned leader in children's environmental health and Director of the Children's Environmental Health Center (CEHC) at Mount Sinai ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/prime-suspects-top-10-toxic-chemicals-probably-causing-autism-and-learning-disabilities-100738-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/experimental-drug-found-to-reduce-two-signature-characteristics-of-autism-in-mice-100722-1.htm Researchers testing the effects of an experimental drug GRN-529 in a group of mice exhibiting autism-like behavior have found that the drug reduces two major characteristics, repetitive behavior and abnormal social interactions, associated with the condition. Crawley's team found that BTBR mice injected with GRN-529 showed reduced levels of repetitive self-grooming and spent more time around - and sniffing nose-to-nose with - a strange mouse. Moreover, GRN-529 almost completely stopped repetitive jumping in another strain of mice....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/experimental-drug-found-to-reduce-two-signature-characteristics-of-autism-in-mice-100722-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/genetic-mutations-associated-with-fragile-x-can-also-be-linked-to-autism-100720-1.htm Fragile X syndrome could be linked to autism after a new study published in the journal Neuron found that both the conditions shared several genes and genetic mutations. It is well established that genetic variation caused by mutation can lead to autism spectrum disorders, and research has repeatedly implicated "de novo" (new) mutations, those that show up for the first time in affected children, as being particularly relevant. Identification of the specific genes associated with autism may ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/genetic-mutations-associated-with-fragile-x-can-also-be-linked-to-autism-100720-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/new-tool-produces-accurate-autism-diagnosis-99961-1.htm A web-based tool accurately detects autism in young children. The process of diagnosing autism is complex, subjective, and often limited to only a segment of the population in need. With the recent rise in incidence to 1 in 88 children, the need for accurate and widely deployable methods for screening and diagnosis is substantial. Dennis Wall, associate professor of pathology and director of computational biology initiative at the Center for Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/new-tool-produces-accurate-autism-diagnosis-99961-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/autism-and-other-developmental-disorders-linked-to-maternal-obesity-and-diabetes-99946-1.htm A new study has found significant links between maternal diabetes and obesity and the likelihood of having a child with autism or similar developmental disorders. Conducted by researchers affiliated with the UC Davis MIND Institute, the study found that mothers who were obese were 1-2/3 times more likely to have a child with autism as normal-weight mothers without diabetes or hypertension, and were more than twice as likely to have a child with another developmental disorder. Mothers with ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/autism-and-other-developmental-disorders-linked-to-maternal-obesity-and-diabetes-99946-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/elderly-dads-perhaps-run-higher-risk-of-getting-autistic-kids-99937-1.htm A new indication to the workings of a possible environmental factor in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), provided by researchers. Fathers were four times likelier than mothers to transmit tiny, spontaneous mutations to their offspring with the disorders. Moreover, the number of such transmitted genetic glitches increased with paternal age. The discovery may help to explain earlier evidence linking autism risk to older fathers. The results are among several from a trio of new studies, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/elderly-dads-perhaps-run-higher-risk-of-getting-autistic-kids-99937-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/maternal-obesity-linked-to-autism-99917-1.htm Mothers who are obese during pregnancy are more likely to have babies with autism, reveals US study. The findings "appear to raise serious public health concerns," said the study in the journal Pediatrics, which comes amid an obesity epidemic in the United States with recent research showing autism strikes up to one in 88 children. Researchers examined 1,004 mother-child pairs from diverse backgrounds in California -- about half of the children had autism, while 172 had other developmental problems and 315 were considered normal....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/maternal-obesity-linked-to-autism-99917-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/diverse-cases-of-autism-and-genetic-mutations-at-conception-linked-99886-1.htm Nearly 15 percent of autism cases in families with a single autistic child are linked to impulsive mutations that occur in sex cells, Yale University researchers report in the April 4 issue of the journal INature/I. The findings are the result of DNA sequencing of every gene in 238 families, each with only one autistic child - the most sophisticated analysis yet of the genetic links to autism. The study identified hundreds of such de novo or spontaneous sequence variations, and as more are ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/diverse-cases-of-autism-and-genetic-mutations-at-conception-linked-99886-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/autism-risk-influenced-by-rare-gene-glitches-99831-1.htm A new study has revealed that mutations in genes involved in wiring the brain may trigger development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, while there is no simple explanation for ASD, the researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center identified a few genes as "genuine risk factors", raising hopes that they will be able to discover the underlying biological cause of these disorders. Numerous other genes are also strongly implicated based on their biological functions and roles in conditions related to ASD....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/autism-risk-influenced-by-rare-gene-glitches-99831-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/genetic-clues-to-autism-99749-1.htm Researchers have identified three more genes implicated in autism in a new study. This research effort also provided evidence to explain why it occurs more frequently among children of older parents. Mutations in three genes called CHD8, SNC2A and KATNAL2 were found among children with so-called autism spectrum disorders (ASD), according to one of a trio of papers published in the journal Nature. But many more faulty genes remain to be found and understanding how they do their disruptive ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/genetic-clues-to-autism-99749-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/variety-the-commonality-of-adhd-and-cancer-99658-1.htm ADHD is a wholesome package of disorders, similar to multiple subtypes of cancer, states new research conducted at Oregon Health (and) Science University, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It's an entire family of disorders, much like the multiple subtypes of cancer. The research, which highlights various versions of the disease, each with differing impacts, demonstrates that there is likely not going to be a "one-size-fits-all" approach to treating patients. It also suggests new ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/variety-the-commonality-of-adhd-and-cancer-99658-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/study-confirms-over-diagnosis-of-adhd-99528-1.htm A new study by German researchers have confirmed what experts and the public have already long suspected- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is over-diagnosed. What experts and the public have already long suspected is now supported by representative data collected by researchers at Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (RUB) and University of Basel: ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is over-diagnosed. The study showed that child and adolescent psychotherapists and psychiatrists ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/study-confirms-over-diagnosis-of-adhd-99528-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/autistic-kids-bullied-thrice-more-than-their-unaffected-siblings-new-data-proves-99475-1.htm Preliminary results of the first national survey to scrutinize the impact of bullying on children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were reported by The Interactive Autism Network (IAN), the nation's largest online autism research initiative and a project of the Kennedy Krieger Institute. The results show that 63 percent of children with ASD have been bullied at some point in their lives. These children, who are sometimes intentionally "triggered" into meltdowns or aggressive outbursts by peers, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/autistic-kids-bullied-thrice-more-than-their-unaffected-siblings-new-data-proves-99475-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/austim-cases-on-the-rise-in-us-99474-1.htm In the United States the number of children diagnosed with autism has risen 23 percent since 2009, shows data. Previous figures had shown the disorder was found in as many as one in 110 US children. The rise may be due in part to improved identification of autism cases, particularly among children under three, but the extent of that influence on the overall number of cases is unknown, experts said. "To understand more, we need to keep accelerating our research into risk factors and ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/austim-cases-on-the-rise-in-us-99474-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/knack-of-autistic-people-greater-to-process-information-99334-1.htm Folks with autism possess greater adeptness than normal capacity for processing information even from rapid presentations. They are also better able to detect information defined as `critical`, claims a new study. The new study, funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Economic and Social Research Council, may help to explain the apparently higher than average prevalence of people with autism spectrum disorders in the IT industry. Autism is a lifelong developmental disorder that affects social ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/knack-of-autistic-people-greater-to-process-information-99334-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/scientists-identify-gene-expression-abnormalities-in-autism-99273-1.htm A study has identified genetic mechanisms involved in abnormal early brain development and overgrowth that occurs in autism. The study was led by Eric Courchesne, PhD, director of the Autism Center of Excellence at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. The findings suggest novel genetic and molecular targets that could lead to discoveries of new prevention strategies and treatment for the disorder. The study to be published on March 22 in PLoS Genetics uncovered ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/scientists-identify-gene-expression-abnormalities-in-autism-99273-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/new-toolkit-useful-for-autistic-kids-with-sleep-problems-99258-1.htm A new toolkit has been developed by Vanderbilt Kennedy Center which may improve sleep for children and teens with autism spectrum disorders. This new toolkit, titled "Sleep Strategies for Children with Autism: A Parent's Guide," offers strategies to help families whose children affected by autism have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep through the night. Beth Malow, M.D., M.S., Burry Chair in Cognitive Childhood Development and co-developer of the sleep guide, says that ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/new-toolkit-useful-for-autistic-kids-with-sleep-problems-99258-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/symptoms-of-rett-syndrome-in-mice-halted-by-bone-marrow-transplant-99170-1.htm A new study has revealed that using bone marrow transplant (BMT) to replace faulty immune system cells in mouse models of Rett Syndrome arrested many severe symptoms of the childhood disorder. The latter included abnormal breathing and movement, and significantly extended the rodents' lifespan. Exploring the function of microglia deficient in methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (Mecp2), the protein encoded by the "Rett gene," principal investigator Jonathan Kipnis, Ph.D. and his team at the University ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/symptoms-of-rett-syndrome-in-mice-halted-by-bone-marrow-transplant-99170-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/autism-risk-gene-linked-to-differences-in-brain-structure-study-99152-1.htm A recent study establishes linkage between a gene variation associated with an increased risk of autism and changes in brain structure. This may help explain how the gene affects brain function and increases vulnerability for autism. "This work could lead to the creation of an exciting new line of research investigating the impact of genetics on communication between brain regions." Although carriers of the common gene variant CNTNAP2-identified as an autism risk gene-may not develop ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/autism-risk-gene-linked-to-differences-in-brain-structure-study-99152-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/novel-mouse-model-for-autism-created-99116-1.htm A mouse model that expressed the most common of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) variations has been created by researchers. The change is a very small one in biochemical terms, yet it appears to cause SERT in the brain to go into "overdrive" and restrict the availability of serotonin at synapses. "The SERT protein in the brain of our mice appears to exhibit the exaggerated function and lack of regulation we saw using cell models," said Blakely, director of the Vanderbilt Silvio O....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/novel-mouse-model-for-autism-created-99116-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/adhd-drug-impairs-learning-and-memory-in-kids-98889-1.htm Ritalin also known as methylphenidate, the drug which is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, may impair learning and memory in children, a new study finds. The results parallel a 1977 finding that a low dose of the drug boosted cognitive (mental) performance in ADHD, but a higher dose that reduced their hyperactivity also impaired their performance on a memory test. ADHD symptoms are distraction, being forgetful, careless, losing things, not following or carrying ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/adhd-drug-impairs-learning-and-memory-in-kids-98889-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/new-insights-into-autism-found-via-research-on-rare-bone-disorder-98772-1.htm Multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE) is an inherited genetic disease that affects children, who suffer from multiple growths on their bones that cause pain and disfigurement. But beyond the physical symptoms of this condition, some parents have long observed that their children with MHE also experience autism-like social problems. Buoyed by the support of these parents, researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) used a mouse model of MHE to investigate cognitive function....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/new-insights-into-autism-found-via-research-on-rare-bone-disorder-98772-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/higher-doses-of-adhd-drug-may-harm-learning-98616-1.htm Drug methylphenidate may affect learning and memory in kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, reveals research. The results parallel a 1977 finding that a low dose of the drug boosted cognitive performance of children with ADHD, but a higher dose that reduced their hyperactivity also impaired their performance on a memory test. "Many people were intrigued by that result, but their attempts to repeat the study did not yield clear-cut results," says Luis Populin, an associate ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/higher-doses-of-adhd-drug-may-harm-learning-98616-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/autistic-behaviors-of-children-could-also-be-due-to-lack-of-maternal-warmth-98593-1.htm The "Refrigerator Mother" theory has pointed out that autistic behaviours in children could arise due to lack of emotional attachment and maternal warmth. The hypothesis was popularized by Austrian-born American child psychologist and writer Bruno Bettelheim. Now, scientists around the globe are making remarkable progress in untangling the genetic roots of the condition, which affects millions of children and adults. They are focusing on genes that have been implicated in autism and ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/autistic-behaviors-of-children-could-also-be-due-to-lack-of-maternal-warmth-98593-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/december-born-individuals-have-high-risk-of-developing-adhd-98453-1.htm A large study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal has found that those born in December were more likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Researchers from University of British Colombia surveyed more than 937,000 children who were aged between 6 and 12 years during the study period of 1997 to 2008. The researchers found that girls who were born in December were 70 percent more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD compared to those who were born in January....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/december-born-individuals-have-high-risk-of-developing-adhd-98453-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/understanding-brain-changes-in-autism-98437-1.htm One of the important symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is impaired social function. This mirror neuron system is impaired in individuals with ASD and better understanding the neurobiology of this system could help in the development of new treatments. In their new study, Dr. Peter Enticott at Monash University and his colleagues used transcranial magnetic stimulation to stimulate the brains of individuals with ASD and healthy individuals while they observed different hand gestures....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/understanding-brain-changes-in-autism-98437-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/researchers-recommend-a-diet-for-children-with-autism-98206-1.htm Penn State researchers suggest a gluten-free, casein-free diet that may lead to improvements in behavior and physiological symptoms in some children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The research is the first to use survey data from parents to document the effectiveness of a gluten-free, casein-free diet on children with ASD. "Research has shown that children with ASD commonly have GI [gastrointestinal] symptoms," said Christine Pennesi, medical student at Penn State College of Medicine....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/researchers-recommend-a-diet-for-children-with-autism-98206-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/eye-tracking-technology-to-measure-cognitive-and-social-disability-in-autistic-children-98148-1.htm Researchers have made use of eye-tracking technology to measure the association between cognitive and social disability in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The study is the largest to date to observe children with ASD watching scenes of social interaction; 135 children, 109 with ASD and 26 without, all approximately 10 years old, participated. The children were shown movie scenes of school-age children in age-appropriate social situations. One set of analyses focused on ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/eye-tracking-technology-to-measure-cognitive-and-social-disability-in-autistic-children-98148-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/tutoring-parents-is-advisable-treatment-for-kids-with-autism-behaviour-problems-98080-1.htm Kids with autism spectrum disorders along with grave behavioural problems responded better to medication pooled with training for their parents instead of treatment with medication alone, Yale researchers and their colleagues report in the February issue of IJournal of the American Academy of Child (and) Adolescent Psychiatry. /I"Serious behavioral problems interfere with everyday living for children and their families," said senior author on the study Lawrence Scahill, professor at Yale University ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/tutoring-parents-is-advisable-treatment-for-kids-with-autism-behaviour-problems-98080-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/signs-of-autism-identified-in-brains-of-babies-as-young-as-six-months-97759-1.htm Researchers in the United States have identified signs of autism in the brains of six month old babies and said that the condition develops from that stage onwards as the babies grow old. According to the report published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers from Washington and North Carolina universities analyzed the brain scans of more than 90 babies at six months and conducted behavioral assessments at two years of age. The researchers found that around 28 of the infants exhibited ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/signs-of-autism-identified-in-brains-of-babies-as-young-as-six-months-97759-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/autism-linked-to-impaired-motor-skills-97707-1.htm Scientists say that autism impairs the development of motor skills in children. Autistic kids often have problems developing motor skills, such as running, throwing a ball or even learning how to write. But scientists have not known whether those difficulties run in families or are linked to autism. Now, new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis points to autism as the culprit. "From our results, it looks like motor impairments may be part of the autism diagnosis, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/autism-linked-to-impaired-motor-skills-97707-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/role-of-synaptic-proteins-in-autism-spectrum-disorders-gets-added-support-97457-1.htm According to a new study a combination of genetic and neurobiological approaches to establish that synaptic mutations worsen the risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). It also highlights a role for modifier genes in these disorders. Published in IPLoS Genetics, /Ithis research was conducted by researchers at the Institut Pasteur, the Paris Diderot University, the Robert Debre Hospital, the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry centre, Ulm University and the Centre National de Genotypage, in collaboration with other institutions in Europe....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/role-of-synaptic-proteins-in-autism-spectrum-disorders-gets-added-support-97457-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/role-of-synaptic-proteins-in-autism-spectrum-disorders-gets-added-support-97456-1.htm According to a new study a combination of genetic and neurobiological approaches to establish that synaptic mutations worsen the risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). It also highlights a role for modifier genes in these disorders. Published in IPLoS Genetics, /Ithis research was conducted by researchers at the Institut Pasteur, the Paris Diderot University, the Robert Debre Hospital, the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry centre, Ulm University and the Centre National de Genotypage, in collaboration with other institutions in Europe....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/role-of-synaptic-proteins-in-autism-spectrum-disorders-gets-added-support-97456-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/autism-risk-in-offspring-influenced-by-age-of-both-mom-and-dad-97372-1.htm Having children at an older age could increase the risk of autism after a new study found that both maternal and paternal ages could play a role in the same. Researchers from University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston observed 68 individuals of the same age and gender and found that on an average, the mothers of autistic children were 6.5 years older than mothers with normal children while the age gap was 5.9 years among fathers. Lead researcher Mohammad Hossein Rahbar said that both ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/autism-risk-in-offspring-influenced-by-age-of-both-mom-and-dad-97372-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/risk-of-cardiac-events-in-youth-not-increased-by-stimulant-treatment-for-adhd-97362-1.htm Stimulant medications, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine products, are used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which affects 5-9% of youth. A recent safety communication from the US Food and Drug Administration advised that all patients undergoing ADHD treatment be monitored for changes in heart rate or blood pressure. Amidst growing concern over the risks of stimulant use in youth, a study by Dr. Mark Olfson of the New York State Psychiatric Institute and ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/risk-of-cardiac-events-in-youth-not-increased-by-stimulant-treatment-for-adhd-97362-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/autism-risk-is-high-in-children-born-to-older-mum-or-dad-97148-1.htm Children are at an increased risk of autism if either of their parents is above the age of 35 at the time of conception. The findings have come as a surprise as it was previously thought that delaying motherhood represented the greatest risk. But the new study found that if either parent is between 35 and 39 - regardless of whether it is the mother or the father - then the extra risk of having an autistic child is the same. In both cases there is a 27 per cent greater chance of having ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/autism-risk-is-high-in-children-born-to-older-mum-or-dad-97148-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/medical-community-irked-by-proposed-autism-diagnostic-criteria-97144-1.htm The US medical community is irked by a proposal to use new diagnostic criteria for autism. Many experts are concerned that the move could exclude children affected by some forms of the disorder. The American Psychiatric Association recommended last month that a new category called "autism spectrum disorder" be established to incorporate several forms of autism which were previously considered separately. These include autistic disorder, Asperger?s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/medical-community-irked-by-proposed-autism-diagnostic-criteria-97144-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/onwards-on-new-autism-by-researchers-at-university-of-leicester-study-published-97010-1.htm New research based on autism in adults reveals that adults with an additional intense learning disability have a higher probability of possessing autism. This group, mostly living in private households, was previously 'invisible' in estimates of autism. Dr Terry Brugha, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Leicester, led research on behalf of the University for the report Estimating the Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Conditions in Adults: Extending the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/onwards-on-new-autism-by-researchers-at-university-of-leicester-study-published-97010-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/adhd-risk-linked-to-anesthesia-exposure-during-infancy-97004-1.htm A Mayo Clinic research has found that the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increases among children below 3 years of age if they undergo two or more surgeries involving general anesthesia. The researchers analyzed medical data of 341 children with ADHD and found that over 18 percent of the children who underwent more than one surgery under general anesthesia developed ADHD. The rate fell to 11 percent and 7 percent among children who were exposed to anesthesia once or never underwent any surgery in their infancy....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/adhd-risk-linked-to-anesthesia-exposure-during-infancy-97004-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/research-gene-mutation-in-autism-triggers-hyperconnectivity-in-brains-hearing-center-96963-1.htm The way in which a gene mutation found in some autistic individuals leads to difficulties in processing auditory cues and paying spatial attention to sound may be explained by new research from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). The study has found that when a suspected autism gene called PTEN is deleted from auditory cortical neurons-the main workhorses of the brain's sound-processing center-the signals that these neurons receive from local as well as long-distance sources are strengthened beyond normal levels....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/research-gene-mutation-in-autism-triggers-hyperconnectivity-in-brains-hearing-center-96963-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/syndromic-autism-may-be-caused-by-mutated-gene-module-96855-1.htm Newly discovered mutations in an evolved assembly of genes cause Joubert syndrome, a form of syndromic autism, according to a team led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. The findings are published in the January 26 online issue of iScience/i Express. Joubert syndrome is a rare, recessive brain condition characterized by malformation or underdevelopment of the cerebellum and brainstem. The disease is due specifically to alterations in cellular ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/syndromic-autism-may-be-caused-by-mutated-gene-module-96855-1.htm