www.aspie-editorial.com

 

Carl Heneghan

Using brain scans to detect autism would be a huge expensive waste of money, says Carl Heneghan

The BBC, the Guardian and Reuters this week widely reported British researchers published in the Journal of Neuroscience have developed a brain scan which can detect autism in adults with 90% accuracy. 

Dr Christine Ecker, the lead author, showed her imaging technique was able to detect which people in her group had autism. “If we get a new case, we will also hopefully be 90% accurate,” she said.

Pretty simple then, you turn up, have the test, and you have a 90% chance of finding out whether you have autism.

Well, you couldn’t be any further from the truth.

To determine if a test is accurate, it might appear reasonable to recruit a disease positive group and a disease free group which is what happened in the brain scan study. An example of how this strategy raises false hopes is the story of carcino-embryonic-antigen (CEA) which was measured in 36 people with known advanced cancer of the colon or rectum. 35 patients (97%) showed elevated results, slightly more than the 90% in the autistic study. At the same time lower levels were found in people with other diseases and without cancer.

From these results it would seem CEA is a useful diagnostic test. However, later studies in patients with less advanced cancer, or those with similar symptoms to colon cancer, the accuracy of CEA plummeted and its use in diagnosis was abandoned.

The authors of the current study report: “The existence of an ASD biomarker such as brain anatomy might be useful to facilitate and guide the behavioural diagnosis. This would, however, require further extensive exploration in the clinical setting.”

To obtain a useful result, a diagnostic study needs to include a broad spectrum of the diseased, from mild to severe. A study also needs to have independent, blind comparison of test results (in this case the brain scan) with a reference standard (the current tests for autism) among a consecutive series of patients suspected (but not known) to have the target disorder and replication of studies in other settings.

But this isn’t my main concern with the reporting of the results. If they stand up to scrutiny and brain scans are adopted widely in the population it will be an expensive waste of money. In those with a positive test, autism will be diagnosed with an accuracy of only 5%, potentially leading to more harm than good.

Dr Ecker said she hoped the findings might result in a widely available scan to test for autism.

Wait a minute, what has happened? One minute the world news is reporting a test that has 90% accuracy, and I’m saying it is only 5% accurate.

Gerd Gigerenzer in his classic BMJ paper on simple tools for understanding risks tells us: “A glance at the literature shows a shocking lack of statistical understanding of the outcomes of modern technologies, from standard screening tests for HIV infection to DNA evidence.”

Read in Full:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2010/aug/12/autism-brain-scan-statistics

 

HEADLINES

“Mother and disabled daughter found dead”:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20100802/tuk-mother-and-disabled-daughter-found-d-45dbed5.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1299665/Mother-disabled-daughter-dead-home.html?ITO=1708&referrer=yahoo

“Mother ‘determined’ to care for daughter alone”:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-10884524

“Langhorne care center sanctioned after autistic man’s heat death”:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20100806_Langhorne_care_center_sanctioned_after_autistic_man_s_heat_death.html

“State official calls autistic man’s death totally avoidable”:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20100805_State_official_calls_autistic_man_s_death__totally_avoidable_.html

“Autistic man who died in hot van was mother’s ‘sweet little boy”:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20100730_Autistic_man_who_died_in_hot_van_was_mother_s__sweet_little_boy_.html

“Dad: Neglect caused autistic son’s death in van”:

http://www.examiner.com/a-2751634~Dad__Neglect_caused_autistic_son_s_death_in_van.html

“Disabled woman may have starved to death after carer mother died suddenly”:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1299665/Disabled-woman-starved-death-carer-mother-died-suddenly.html?ITO=1708&referrer=yahoo

“Missing 3-year-old autistic boy found safe”:

http://www.myfoxmaine.com/news/Missing-3-Year-Old-Autistic-Boy-Found-Safe-99746844.html

“Officials seek cause of fatal Phila. Blaze”:

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20100809/NEWS01/8090318/Officials-seek-cause-of-fatal-Phila.-blaze

“Council branded ‘barbaric’ by family of man wrongly taken by social workers”:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/council_branded_barbaric_by_family_of_man_wrongly_taken_by_s.htm

“Boy taken from family for being a fussy eater”:

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/192026/Boy-taken-from-family-for-being-a-fussy-eater

“Melbourne mum jailed for $15m fraud”:

http://bigpondnews.com/articles/TopStories/2010/08/09/Melbourne_mum_jailed_for_15m_fraud_496815.html

“Autistic boy’s dad’s restaurant attack”:

http://www.newsradio610.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=122821&article=7457202

“Minister Molony announces 2.6m Euros in Innovation grants for Disability & Mental Health, Ireland”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/minister_moloney_announces_26m_euros_in_innovation_grants_f.htm

NAS “Autism charity raises the bar for legal campaigning, UK”:

http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=196152

“Families have chance to shape Autism Act”:

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8306395.Families_have_chance_to_shape_Autism_Act/?ref=rss

“Council chief’s passionate plea for re-think on special needs cuts”:

http://www.lisburntoday.co.uk/news/Council-chiefs-passionate-plea-for.6449174.jp

“PwC responded to illness with scepticism, tribunal told”:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-10780911

“Grandfather David Godfrey plans to hand a petition to the Prime Minister at Downing Street within a month, calling for a specialised city children’s centre to be saved”:

http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/news/Petition-PM/article-2478467-detail/article.html

“Jeremy Clarkson in ‘special needs’ row”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/jeremy_clarkson_in_special_needs_row.htm

“Autistic man faces losing the dog he’s bonded with”:

http://www.760kfmb.com/Global/story.asp?S=12887436

“Ivar Lovaas dies”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/ivar_lovaas_dies.htm

HEALTH & RESEARCH

“Adult diagnosis by brain scan”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/adult_autism_diagnosis_by_brain_scan.htm

“Autism: Lack of evidence for antidepressants, study concludes”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/autism_lack_of_evidence_for_antidepressants_study_conclude.htm

“Unlocking the genetic secrets of autism”:

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20100730/autism-genetic-100731/

“Eye movement tests show family autism link”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/eye_movement_tests_show_family_autism_connection.htm

“Babies may show signs of autism”:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-08-09-autism-babies_N.htm

“Teaching autistic kids to read facial expressions”:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/health/sns-health-teaching-autistic-kids,0,2702417.story

“Cardiff study aims to uncover source of sensory problems in autism”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/cardiff_study_aims_to_uncover_source_of_sensory_problems_in_.htm

“Abnormal auditory forward masking pattern in the brainstream response of individuals with Asperger syndrome”:

http://www.citeulike.org/group/12655/article/7558988

“Mommy not always dearest during treatment for eating disorders”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/mommy_not_always_dearest_during_treatment_for_eating_disorde.htm

“Scientists identify new drug for Fragile X Syndrome”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/scientists_identify_new_drug_strategy_for_fragile_x_syndrome.htm

“AACAP announces release of Parents’ Medication Guide for Bipolar Disorder in Children & Adolescents”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/aacap_announces_release_of_parents_medication_guide_for_bip.htm

“Bipolar Disorder linked to other neurological disorders?”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/bipolar_disorder_linked_to_other_neurological_disorders.htm

“High rate of eating disorders in Bipolar patients”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/high_rate_of_eating_disorders_in_bipolar_patients.htm

“Ketamine may give temporary relief for Bipolar patients”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/ketamine_may_give_temporary_relief_for_bipolar_patients.htm

“EEG predicts success of medications used in Schizophrenia”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/eeg_predicts_success_of_medications_used_in_schizophrenia.htm

“The role of mentalization in Borderline Personality Disorder”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/the_role_of_mentalization_in_borderline_personality_disorder.htm

“Results of pilot study published in Journal Music and Medicine reveal the Listening Program helps children with Down Syndrome improve speech skills”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/results_of_pilot_study_published_in_journal_music_and_medici.htm

“Mental health: are we all sick now?”:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10787342

“Mental health diagnoses mask the real problems”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jul/29/mental-health-diagnostic-manual

“Self-harm figures ‘set to rise’ in Manchester”:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-10817395

“Depression – the illness that’s still taboo”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/02/depression-mental-health-breakdown

“12 depression busters for divorce”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/12_depression_busters_for_divorce.htm

 

“12 depression busters for caregivers”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/12_depression_busters_for_caregivers.htm

 

“Sibling relationships strengthen mental and life skills”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/sibling_relationships_strengthen_mental_and_life_skills.htm

 

“Your take on others reflects your own emotional stability”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/your_take_on_others_reflects_your_own_emotional_stability.htm

 

“Seven hours sleep a night best for health/Tired on Mondays? Sleep more on weekends”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/seven_hours_sleep_a_night_best_for_healthtired_on_mondays_.htm

 

“Cumulative sleep deprivation harms brain and body”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/cumulative_sleep_deprivation_harms_brain_and_body.htm

 

“Thank your thalamus for a good night’s sleep”:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19277-thank-your-thalamus-for-a-good-nights-sleep.html

 

“Antisocial behavior linked to genes and environment”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/antisocial_behavior_linked_to_genes_and_environment.htm

 

“Recovering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome(CFS)”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/recovering_from_chronic_fatigue_syndromecfs.htm

 

“Name that Phobia: Fear of Balloons = Globophobia”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/name_that_phobia_fear_of_balloons__globophobia.htm

 

“Adult behavior follows childhood personality”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/adult_behavior_follows_childhood_personality.htm

 

“Gain and Loss in Optimistic Versus Pessimistic Brains”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/gain_and_loss_in_optimistic_versus_pessimistic_brains.htm

 

“Personality traits linked to mental illness & hazardous alcohol usage in Doctors”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/personality_traits_linked_to_mental_illness__hazardous_alco.htm

 

“Redefining sexual discrimination”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/redining_sexual_discrimination.htm

 

“Inception and dangerous ideas in relationships”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/inception_and_dangerous_ideas_in_relationships.htm

 

“8 ways to stop holding a grudge”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/8_ways_to_stop_holding_a_grudge.htm

 

“Difficult pregnancy increases depression risk”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/difficult_pregnancy_increases_depression_risk.htm

 

“Can money buy happiness?”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/can_money_buy_happiness.htm

 

“5 tips to end the summer well”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/5_tips_to_end_the_summer_well.htm

 

“Is Big Pharma abandoning psychiatry?”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/is_big_pharma_abandoning_psychiatry.htm

 

“Online Tests for Inquisitive Minds: the Autism Spectrum Quotient”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-52399-Cleveland-Autism-Examiner~y2010m8d9-Online-Tests-for-Inquisitive-Minds-the-Autism-Spectrum-Quotient?cid=channel-rss-Health

 

“Internet counseling aids mental health”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/internet_counseling_aids_mental_health.htm

 

“New theory on humor”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/new_theory_on_humor.htm

 

“Virtual Hospital”:

http://www.uihealthcare.com/vh/

EDUCATION

“Teachers head back to class this summer”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/teachers_head_back_to_class_this_summer.htm

“Rethink Autism helps schools serve more autistic students despite shrinking budgets”:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rethink-autism-helps-schools-serve-more-students-with-autism-despite-shrinking-budgets-99748079.html

“Decision to move Jackson Elementary autism class to be made today”:

http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/news/newsview.asp?c=272555

“Overcoming reading-comprehension difficulties in children: Training program can help”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/overcoming_readingcomprehension_difficulties_in_children_t.htm

“Special needs … For months now, a group of parents have been challenging the adequacy of services offered to students with autism in Redlands Unified School District.”:

http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/ci_15706057?source=most_emailed

“It’s that time again: For College”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/its_that_time_again_for_college.htm

EMPLOYMENT

“Jobs cash for autistic people in Scotland”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/jobs_cash_for_autistic_people_in_scotland.htm

“Hampton teen Bella Tommey takes pop-up cafe idea to 10 Downing Street”:

http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/8302180.Teen_wins_PM_s_support_for_autism_project/?ref=rss

“Single benefit payment among ‘radical’ welfare plans”:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10807098

“Some standardized employment tests may be biased”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/some_standardized_employment_tests_may_be_biased.htm

 

“How to support someone who is unemployed: Seven steps to making a difference”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/how_to_support_someone_who_is_unemployed_seven_steps_to_mak.htm

 

“Creative Support Ltd”:

http://www.creativesupport.co.uk/

“Autelligent Laboratories

We believe all people have a contribution to make and deserve an opportunity to be productive.

With your caring and excellent help, we are creating jobs for the 40 million people worldwide who are diagnosed with Autism and Asperger Syndrome. Today less than one in five of us are currently employed. We are motivated and competent and we deserve equal employment. Help make this a reality.

Autelligent Laboratories is dedicated to creating a space where autistic software engineers can more than contribute, we can excel.”:

http://www.autlabs.com/

Luxury Quality Scented Candles “Humbolt Candles – Autism & Disability Employment Company”:

http://www.humboldtcandles.com/index.html

“Auties.org”:
Individuality, Diversity, Equality, Achievement

Auties..org is an Aspie & Autie friendly site for all people on the Autistic Spectrum who are ready to dare reach out to occupation and employment, open the doors to the community and market their abilities directly to the public and for those interested in supporting these pioneers.

http://www.auties.org/

“Prospects”:

http://www.autism.org.uk/our-services/employment-support/prospects-for-job-seekers.aspx

“AutismJobs”:
Linking job seekers with vacancies in work related to autism, Aspergers and ASDs

http://www.autismjobs.org/?section=00010009

“Employment within the NAS”:

http://www.autism.org.uk/en-gb/working-with/a-career-in-autism/career-opportunities-with-the-nas.aspx

For further employment information, please view”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/employment_on_the_autism_spectrum.htm

GENERAL/HUMAN INTEREST

“Reno Williams: Autistic Cape Coral boy, 12, advocate”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/reno_williams_autistic_cape_coral_boy_12_advocate.htm

“Washington Times Communities: “Autistic” or “Person with Autism”?:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/washington_times_communities_autistic_or_person_with_aut.htm

“Neurodiversity: An Interview with Dr. Thomas Armstrong”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/neurodiversity_an_interview_with_dr_thomas_armstrong.htm

“Celebrating females on the Autism Spectrum”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/celebrating_females_on_the_autism_spectrum.htm

“The medical labels bias, ctd”:

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/08/the-medical-labels-bias-ctd.html

“New store caters to caretakers of autistic children”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/new_store_caters_to_caretakers_of_autistic_children.htm

“Finding faith in technology”:

http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/4367933

“Autistic teen competes with best”:

http://myarklamiss.com/fulltext?nxd_id=69015

“The importance of bed time routines with your autism spectrum child”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-42684-Newark-Autism–Parenting-Examiner~y2010m7d29-The-Importance-of-Bed-Time-Routines-with-your-Autism-Spectrum-Child

“Summer routines for autistic kids”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/summer_routines_for_autistic_kids.htm

“Dora the Explorer and the secret of getting an autistic/sensory kid to transition”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-7542-NY-Special-Needs-Kids-Examiner~y2010m8d5-Dora-the-Explorer-and-the-secret-of-getting-an-AutisticSensory-kid-to-transition

“Camp stresses social skills for autistic kids”:

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/28/2010/august/02/camp-stresses-social-skills-for-kids-with-autism.html

Sensory Processing Disorder “It’s all too much for them to handle”:

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/08/01/2924200/its-all-too-much-for-them-to-handle.html#mi_rss=Living%20Here

“New store caters to caretakers of autistic children”:

http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20107310365

Blindness “Second sight”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/31/candia-mcwilliam-second-sight-blindness

“Blind bank manager fails in land speed record bid”:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-10828619

“Celebrating females on the autism spectrum”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-26516-SF-Autism–Parenting-Examiner~y2010m7d30-Females-on-the-Autism-Spectrum-Need-Representation-and-Support

Temple Grandin “Autism isn’t everything”:

http://www.kansas.com/2010/08/05/1433591/array0xd5224bc.html

“Understanding and managing emotions are important life and social skills”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-43538-Autism-Examiner~y2010m8d9-Understanding-and-managing-emotions-are-important-life-and-social-skills-for-children-with-autism

WASHINGTON

“The Autism Society Washington Chapter”

http://209.200.89.252/search_site/chapter_detail.cfm?program_id=23481

Washington State Capital, Olympia

“Disability Rights Washington”:

http://disabilityrightswa.org/

Reflections: Sunrise over the Yakima River, Seattle

“Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council”:

http://www.ddc.wa.gov/

Seattle in motion at sunset ~ The serpentine flow of traffic in motion reflects the pulse of the city, as if it were living and breathing. The Puget Sound is the city’s important shipping waterway and is shadowed by the Olympic Mountain Range to the West.

“DSHS Division of Developmental Disabilities”:

http://www.dshs.wa.gov/ddd/

Library From Another Dimension: the downtown Seattle public library. Built by Rem Koolhass, this piece of modern architectural art is as amazing on the inside as it is outside.

“Washington Autism Advocacy”:

http://www.washingtonautismadvocacy.org/

Point Robinson Lighthouse is a twin of the Alki Point Lighthouse located in West Seattle

“ADC Pathways to Employment”:

http://adcpathways.org/index.html

 Fantasy Seattle: View from Discovery Park, Seattle, with Mt. Rainier in the distance.

“Aspergers Northwest”:

http://www.aspergersnw.org/

Paradise Valley, Mt Rainier

“Asperger’s Syndrome Meetups near Seattle, Washington”:

http://aspergers.meetup.com/cities/us/wa/seattle/

Cherry Blossoms, Latona, Seattle

Japanese Cherry Tree, Bremerton, Washington

“Washington Guide”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/united-states/washington-guide/

The Museum of Glass, Tacoma: the Museum of Glass is located on the Tacoma, Washington waterfront. It houses many fine works from the world renowned glass master, Dale Chihuly. The exterior of the museum has an interesting profile; a steel cone that rises at an angle 90 feet in the sky, offsetting the buildings horizontal thrusts. The structure overlooks the waterfront and Puget Sound. Ironically, you can also see a real volcano in Mt. Rainier just off in the distance. In this studio, or hot shop, visitors to the Museum of Glass can watch the glass artists at work performing glass blowing demonstrations. There are areas to walk around the studio, as well as 130 seats to relax and watch the process for a while. Next to the museum is the Bridge of Glass which connects to the University of Washington Tacoma. The museum was designed by Arthur Erickson and opened in 2002.

Glass ceiling, Tacoma: Chihuly Glass bridge that goes over the freeway in Tacoma, Wa.

“Washington Facts”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/united-states/washington-facts/

Owl in the Window, Ruston, Tacoma

“Washington Map”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/united-states/washington-map/

 Gig Harbor Village in the snow: a picturesque little fishing village with Mt. Rainier looming behind it.

NG Traveler “Free Things To Do In Seattle”:

http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/2008/01/free-city/seattle-text

Moses Lake, Washington

“Seattle, Washington Guide”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/city-guides/seattle-washington/

The “Sleepless in Seattle” Houseboat is located at the very end of the pier and is supposedly the largest on Lake Union. Houseboat was up for sale back in 2008 (Tom Hanks not included):
www.seattlepi.com/local/360788_sleepless27.html

“Seattle Must-Dos”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/city-guides/seattle-must-dos/

Ritzville, Washington Farmland:  a little east of Moses Lake

“Photo Gallery: Seattle City Life”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/city-guides/seattle-photos-2/

“In a Cloud of Dust” ~  Wild horses near Goldendale Washington

“Seattle Quiz”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/city-guides/seattle-quiz/

A Mother’s Patience -Native American mother & daughter,  Ellensburg Rodeo, Washington

 Teapot Dome Gas Station: Built in 1922 as comment on a former US Presidential scandal, this closed gas station outside Zillah is on the National Register of Historic Places

Peppers to Spice Up Your Life ~  Pepper strung for decoration found at the seattle pikes market

Pier 66 ~  Bell Street Pier and Cruise Ship Terminal, operated by the Port of Seattle, is an 11 acre complex on the downtown waterfront with plazas, restaurants, a pleasure craft marina and an interactive maritime discovery center.

The Space Needle is a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and the symbol of Seattle. Located in Seattle Center, it was built for the 1962 World’s Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators — 2.3 million visitors in all for the World Fair. The Space Needle is 605 feet (184 m) high and 138 feet (42 m) wide at its widest point and weighs 9,550 tons. When it was completed it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River.[1] It is built to withstand winds of up to 200 mph (320 km/h) and earthquakes up to 9.5 magnitude (which would protect the structure against an earthquake as powerful as the 1700 Cascadia earthquake) and has 25 lightning rods on the roof to prevent lightning damage.The Space Needle features an observation deck at 520 feet (160 m), the SkyCity restaurant at 500 feet (152 m), and a gift shop.

ADD/ADHD

“Garrett speaks about ADHD”:

http://www.savagepacer.com/news/activities/garrett-speaks-about-adhd-108

“10 things you may not know about ADHD”:

http://www.healthcentral.com/adhd/c/849319/117620/ten-things-adhd

 

“2010 International Conference on ADHD”:

http://add.about.com/b/2010/08/10/international-conference-on-adhd.htm

 

ADRES “Adverse Drug Reaction Electronic System(Adverse Drug Reactions Website)”- This website provides patients, doctors, and other medical professionals with a comprehensive examination of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), side effects, and other safety information for both prescription and over-the-counter medications.. Our goal is to allow users of our website make informed decisions when taking (patients) or prescribing (doctors) drugs. We are providing unmatched information and analysis tools.

http://www.adverse-drug-reaction.net/

 

“adders.org”:
Our objective is to promote awareness to AD/HD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and to provide information and as much free practical help as we can to those affected by the condition, both adults and children, their families in the UK and around the World via this website.

http://www.adders.org/

 

“ADDISS” The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service…

http://www.addiss.co.uk/index.html

 

“ADDA”:

http://www.add.org/index.html

 

“hi2u ADHD Pages”:

http://www..adhd..org.uk/

 

“CHADD”:

http://www.chadd.org/am/CustomPages/home/CHADD_Home.htm?CFID=2282059&CFTOKEN=38105335&jsessionid=f2303343221169802693562

SPORT

“Swimming Challenges ~ Includes Great Swim Series 2010(June – September 2010)”:

The Great Swim series is taking place at various locations during summer 2010. There will be four televised one-mile outdoor swims, staged in lakes, lochs and docks around the UK.

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2551

 

“10-kilometre runs”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1816

 

“Trek the Sahara – 5-25 March 2010 or 29 Oct-8 Nov 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2542

 

“Big Fun Run (See Link For UK Location Dates):

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2169

 

“Trek Mont Blanc – 26-30 August 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2604

 

“Victory for Autism Bike Ride – 11 September 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2409

 

“Land’s End to John O’Groat’s Bike Ride – 28 Sept-10 Oct 2010/3-15 May 2011”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2605

 

“Royal Parks Half Marathon – 10 October 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2208&a=19143

 

“Trek Mount Kilimanjaro – 8-19 Oct 2010/2-13 Feb 2011/13-24 July 2011”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2200

 

“Trek the Great Wall of China – 9-18 Oct 2010/8-16 October 2011”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2356

 

“Trek to Everest Base Camp – 5-21 November 2010/25 March – 10 April 2011/4-20 Nov 2011”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2354

 

“Trek to the Home of the Dalai Lama – 17-28 March 2011 and 15-26 Sept 2011”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2602

 

“Trek the Inca Trail – 14-23 May 2011”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1863

 

“Icelandic Lava Trek – 20-24 July 2011”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2611

 

“Sky Diving – All Year Round”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1726

MUSIC

“Autism & Music”:

http://www.musicforautism.org/aandm.php

Stephen Shore: Music for the Autistic Child”:

http://www.autismasperger.net/writings_music_for_the_child_with_autism.htm

 

“The AutisMusic Project”:

http://www.autismusic.com/

ART

“Autistic artist shares his blessings”:

http://www.cathnewsindia.com/2010/08/02/autistic-artist-shares-his-%E2%80%98blessings%E2%80%99/

“Autist Spotlight: Poetry, pictures and music from ‘Artists and Autism”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-10971-Education-Collaboration-Examiner~y2010m7d31-Autist-Spotlight–Poetry–pictures-and-music-from-Artists-and-Autism

GLIMPSE – the talents of the autism community

They are painters, sculptors and photographers; poets and storytellers; musicians and creators of amazing video games. They are kids, teens and adults. Last year, a new online publication arose to celebrate the talents of autistic individuals and other developmental disabilities: GLIMPSE, offered by ICDL (The Interdisciplinary Council of Developmental and Learning Disorders). In late 2008, Volume 2 of GLIMPSE was released, and was expanded into a print book and notecards. The works are serious, humourous, deeply personal and illuminating. See it for yourself, share it with others, submit your own/your child’s work for inclusion in Volume 3, to release later this year. Find information and ordering details at www.icdl.com

 

“ARTROOM ………where under 17s can make and display art online”:

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artroom/index.php

MOVIES/ENTERTAINMENT

“Ocean Heaven more ‘statement’ than ‘entertainment”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/ocean_heaven_more_statement_than_entertainment.htm

“Burns Court Cinemas to host special movie screening of Toy Story 3 for autistic children”:

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100730/ARTICLE/7301032

“Actors for Autism”:
http://www.actorsforautism.com/

BOOKS

“Alice Ricciardi von Platen: Upcoming Biography”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/alice_ricciardi_von_platen_upcoming_biography.htm

“Yen Yen has read “Born On A Blue Day”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/yen_yen_has_read_born_on_a_blue_day.htm

“Sue Townsend: ‘I hate it when people call me a national treasure”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2010/aug/01/sue-townsend-kate-kellaway

“Asperger Syndrome and Anxiety”

A Guide to Successful Stress Management

Nick Dubin

Foreword by Valerie Gaus

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843108955

“Asperger Syndrome and Employment: A Personal Guide to Succeeding at Work”

Nick Dubin

With Gail Hawkins

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843108498

“Asperger Syndrome and Employment: Adults Speak Out about Asperger Syndrome”

Edited by Genevieve Edmonds and Luke Beardon

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843106487

“Adults on the Autism Spectrum Leave the Nest: Achieving Supported Independence”

Nancy Perry

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843109044

“The Girl Who Spoke with Pictures: Autism Through Art”

Eileen Miller

Foreword by Robert Nickel MD

Illustrated by Kim Miller

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843108894

“Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Practical Resource of Play Ideas for Parents and Carers”

2^nd Edition

Julia Moor

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843106081

CINEMA

“The Expendables”

Release date: August 13, 2010. Worldwide

Official Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8f9y_M8OWc&feature=fvst

Synopsis: THE EXPENDABLES is a hard-hitting action/thriller about a group of mercenaries hired to infiltrate a South American country and overthrow its ruthless dictator. Written, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone, THE EXPENDABLES brings together a dynamic cast including Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Terry Crews and Mickey Rourke.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_expendables/

“The Refuge” (Le Refuge)

Release date: August 13, 2010. Worldwide

Official Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asmB8seoCYE

Synopsis: Mousse and Louis are young, beautiful, rich and in love. But drugs have invaded their lives. One day, they overdose and Louis dies. Mousse survives, but soon learns she’s pregnant. Feeling lost, Mousse runs away to a house far from Paris. Several months later, Louis’ brother joins her in her refuge.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_refuge_2010/

VIDEO GAMES

“Gran Turismo 5 (PS3) 3+

Release Date: November 2, 2010

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Gran-Turismo-5-PS3/dp/B002BWONDK/ref=pd_nr_vg_h__2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames

“Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep – Special Edition (PSP)

Release Date: September 10, 2010

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kingdom-Hearts-Birth-Sleep-Special/dp/B003WT2798/ref=pd_nr_vg_h__23?ie=UTF8&s=videogames

“Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails (Nintendo DS)

Release Date: August 20, 2010

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thomas-Friends-Hero-Rails-Nintendo/dp/B003WIZRXC/ref=pd_nr_vg_h__82?ie=UTF8&s=videogames

“Nintendo 3DS games tested”:

http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/blog/article/14242/

“Amazing game technology coming soon”:

http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/blog/article/14297/

“Medical School education from video games?”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/medical_school_education_from_video_games.htm

TECH

“Future On Display: Technology You’ll Want To Stroke”

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19250-future-on-display-technology-youll-want-to-stroke.html

SCIENCE

“Moonless Sky Sets Stage For Dazzling Meteor Show”

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2010/08/moonless-sky-paves-way-for-daz.html

Take Care,

Julie

Sunrise twilight at Alki Beach, looking out across Puget Sound

 

Monty Python(Dead Parrot Sketch)

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on August 10, 2010 

For centuries philosophers have debated the concept of humor.

A new take on the subject comes from two psychological scientists who believe humor comes from a harmless threat to the way the world ought to be.

According to A. Peter McGraw and Caleb Warren, most older theories of humor all come up short in one way or another.

Freud thought humor came from a release of tension; another theory holds that humor comes from a sense of superiority, and still another from incongruity.

The researchers, however, point out that all of these could happen if you accidentally killed your spouse—but that wouldn’t be funny. They thought that instead, a situation might be funny only if it also seems benign.

To test their hypothesis, the researchers presented various situations to volunteers they rewarded with candy bars.

In one experiment, the volunteers read pairs of situations—for example, one where Jimmy Dean hired a rabbi as spokesman for their new line of pork products, and one where Jimmy Dean hired a farmer as spokesman for their new line of pork products.

The situation with a moral violation—having a rabbi promote pork—was both more likely to be seen as wrong and more likely to make the reader laugh.

The other part of the study tested whether benign appraisals of a moral violation made it funnier.

Read in Full:  http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/08/10/new-theory-on-humor/16619.html

 

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on August 10, 2010 

A new research study finds that complications during pregnancy can increase the risk of postnatal depression.

Complications during pregnancy can include medical problems such as preeclampsia, deep vein thrombosis, and problems with the baby including poor growth and fetal distress.

Of course, problems during labor may lead to emergency caesarean section.

Dutch researchers looked at 4,941 pregnant women who had enrolled in the Generation R Study, a multiethnic population-based cohort following urban babies in utero through young adulthood.

Information on pregnancy complications was gathered and researchers calculated the risk of postnatal depression for the various complications.

Two months after giving birth, the mothers were assessed for signs of postnatal depression using the Edinburgh scale, a widely used scoring method looking at how the mother is feeling. It ranges from 0, meaning no depression, to 30, meaning very depressed.

Little research had previously been undertaken regarding the association between pregnancy complications and postnatal depression.

Read in Full:  http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/08/10/difficult-pregnancy-increases-depression-risk/16635.html

 

Article Date: 10 Aug 2010 – 2:00 PDT

One underlying cause that surprises many women during treatment for an eating disorder is the relationship an adolescent girl has with her mother, according to Catherine Weigel Foy, a family therapist at Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, a leading eating disorder center.

Young girls suffering with eating disorders often think the physical aspects of their disease call for the most healing, but in most all instances, girls have to recognize the psychological and emotional damage caused by anorexia or bulimia, too. It’s during this process that they often uncover unexpected root causes of their disease.

“The mother-daughter relationship can be a complicated one. While relationships with friends and husbands begin in adolescence and adulthood, a mother’s love begins before a child is born, and can create an unrealistic expectation that the connection between mothers and daughters will be as strong and free from limitations in adulthood as it was in early infancy,” said Weigel Foy, LCSW, LMFT.

A clinical lecturer at Northwestern University, where she is affiliated with both the Family Institute and the Department of Psychology, Weigel Foy endorses an introspective look at this unique relationship and believes temporary distance from family members allows many adolescent and teenage girls to feel safe exploring the mother-daughter relationship in ways they haven’t been able to during prior treatment for anorexia or bulimia. Weigel Foy and her colleagues at Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center work together to foster a nurturing environment that helps teen girls gain a realistic view of their relationship with their mothers. In turn, the girl and her mother are better equipped to support each other on their path to recovery.

Exploring relations with her mother in a residential setting also equips a young woman to place the relationship in a healthier social context. “In reality, an individual’s needs and fears are often informed by society’s needs and fears, making this one of the most maligned of all human relationships. By identifying societal myths commonly found in these relationships, mothers and daughters can begin to build a stronger foundation and one of recovery for those suffering from eating disorders and substance abuse,” said Weigel Foy, who also serves on the consulting editorial board for the Journal of Feminist Family Therapy.

Weigel Foy identifies several “perfect mother” myths that can create unrealistic standards for behavior that often strain the relationship and trigger feelings of shame:

— the measure of a perfect mother is a perfect daughter

— constant nurturing comes naturally to all mothers

— mothers are born knowing how to raise children

— mothers and good daughters don’t get angry

These ideas contribute to mother-blaming when mothers don’t match the myth and can create distance between mothers and daughters.

In the same way, there are “bad mother” myths that can lead mothers and daughters to feel like they are walking a tightrope where too much or too little love will push them over the edge. Damaging assumptions include:

— mothers are inferior to fathers as authority figures

— only experts know how to raise children

— mothers and daughters are bottomless pits of neediness

— mother-daughter closeness is unhealthy

— assertion of a woman’s power is dangerous or unseemly

The impact of beliefs like these can keep a teenage girl from seeking support from her mother when she needs it, or from accepting her mother’s efforts to build a normal, healthy bond that will help her through adolescence.

Relationship myths can be particularly perilous for young girls who are struggling with body image issues, says Weigel Foy. Given that a mother is often the first person to recognize signs and symptoms of an eating disorder, any reluctance to address her concerns in an open and honest way can impact her daughter’s chances of avoiding long term medical complications.

Through residential treatment and therapy this relationship can be explored and these young girls can come to better understand its affect on their diseases and in turn help build a foundation for lifelong recovery.

Source: Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/197298.php

 

Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. Updated: Aug 9th 2010

Its August of 2010 and that means college freshman are sharpening their pencils and packing their bags to set out on their quest for an undergraduate degree. Many of these young people are feeling anxious because of all the unknowns they will face. Among the unanswered questions some of them have are:

1. What will it be like to live away from home and parents for the first time?

2. What will my roommates and floor mates be like in the dormitories?

3. Will I make new friends and will people like me and find me acceptable?

4. Will my classes be difficult and will I pass everything?

5. Will I be able to take care of myself?

6. Because of the state of the economy, many students begin their college career with the worry, “Will there be enough money for me to complete college and graduate?

1. Food and Diet

It is important for males and females to eat a balanced diet each day. As part of this, a regular meal schedule is important. Regularly scheduled breakfast, lunch and dinner should be adhered to.

Those students who come from families that kept a schedule of three meals per day will not find this difficult to do. However, those from homes in which there were no regular meal schedules are likely to find it challenging to work this into their routine.

The foods that eaten are as important as when they are eaten. Full proteins, such as fish, chicken and other meats balanced with fresh green vegetables comprise good sources of nutrition. Processed foods such as chicken nuggets, potato chips and processed cereals, do not make for healthy eating.

2. Weight

Many female students become vulnerable to “food talk” with girl friends around the lunch and dinner table. Discussions that center around issues of weight gain and loss, dieting and low calorie foods, can reinforce the kind of thinking and behavior that leads to eating disorders such as Anorexia, Bulimia or Binge eating. It is best for all involved to avoid these topics especially during freshman year when there is a tendency to gain a few pounds of weight.

Studies

One of the problems confronting students during their first year is leaning how to study. Many were able to get by and even do well in High School without having to study because they relied on their memory of classes. That strategy does not work on the college level where there are prodigious amounts of material to learn.

A recent study showed that even when listening to enjoyable music while engaging in tasks that are cognitive in nature, the noise interferes with memory and other cognitive processes. In reality, reading and studying are done more efficiently when there is an atmosphere of silence.

Many young people have told me, over the years, that they cannot concentrate when there is silence. They need music or television while they are studying or doing homework. I suspect that this is a result of a number of problems:

1. Poor study habits from the past that must be changed.
 
2. Attention Deficit Disorder that can cause silence to be distracting.
 
3. Anxiety and depression both of which interfere with concentration.
 
4. Poor reading skills that causes distractibility because reading is felt to be a painful and arduous experience.

5. Any number of possible learning disorders that went previously undiagnosed.

All of these problems can be addressed if students check out the programs available designed to help them succeed in school. Today, all schools have a mental health or counseling department to help young people with emotional or adjustment problems including feeling lonely and homesick.

It is also important to not procrastinate doing essays, term papers and preparing for quizzes and exams. It is easier to study for these tests if there has been concentration on reading and studying prior to the upcoming exams.

Part of the learning and study process is focusing attention during class. I remember taking copious amounts of notes because it helped me focus. The notes then served as a study guide. I suggest that this is a good idea for many students and that the only thing that may vary are the amounts of notes taken.

Read in Full:  http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=39162&cn=51

 

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on August 11, 2010 

A new survey of medical students finds a strong interest in using video games and virtual reality environments to practice role-playing and strategy games for physician training.

Actually, it should be no surprise because today’s students were raised with a digital mouse in their hands.

A reported 98 percent of medical students surveyed at the University of Michigan and University of Wisconsin-Madison liked the idea of using technology to enhance their medical education.

The study is published online in BMC Medical Education.

For example, a virtual environment could help medical students learn how to interview a patient or run a patient clinic. In the survey, 80 percent of students said computer games can have an educational value.

The study helps dispel the stereotype of video games as the exclusive purview of adolescent loners. Instead they may be used as advanced teaching tools that fit an emerging learning style, authors say.

“Due in large part to their high degree of technological literacy, today’s medical students are a radically different audience than the students of 15 to 20 years ago,” Frederick W. Kron, M.D., says of the so-called millennial generation.

“They are actually more comfortable in image-rich environments than with text.”

Read in Full:  http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/08/11/medical-school-education-from-video-games/16680.html

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on August 11, 2010

New research adds to the growing evidence that inadequate sleep can harm both the body and the mind.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found that five nights of restricted sleep–four hours a night–affect the brain in a way similar to that seen after acute total sleep deprivation.

Although the new study was based on rats, researchers say the findings add to earlier studies suggesting the negative effects of restricted sleep for both the brain and the body.

The study appears in the current online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“There’s a huge amount of interest in sleep restriction in the field today,” says Dr. Chiara Cirelli, associate professor of psychiatry at the School of Medicine and Public Health, who led the research.

Many people are sleep restricted, either because they have to or because they choose to be, she says.

“Instead of going to bed when they are tired, like they should, people watch TV and want to have an active social life,” she says. “People count on catching up on their sleep on the weekends, but it may not be enough.”

This “casual” lack of sleep can be harmful.

“Even relatively mild sleep restriction for several nights can affect an individual’s ability to perform cognitive tasks,” Cirelli says.

“For instance, recent studies in humans have shown that 5 days with only 4 hours of sleep/night result in cumulative deficits in vigilance and cognition, and these deficits do not fully recover after one night of sleep, even if 10 hours in bed are allowed. Sleep restriction can also increase resistance to insulin, leading to a risk of diabetes.”

Read in Full:  http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/08/11/cumulative-sleep-deprivation-harms-brain-and-body/16682.html

 

ScienceDaily (Aug. 10, 2010) — Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have identified a potential new strategy for treating fragile X syndrome — the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability.

The researchers have found that a class of drugs called phosphoinositide-3 (PI3) kinase inhibitors can correct defects in the anatomy of neurons seen in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. In experiments with cultured neurons from the hippocampus, a brain region involved in learning and memory, the drugs could restore normal appearance and levels of protein production at synapses, the junctions between cells where chemical communication occurs.

The results, published online in the Journal of Neuroscience, suggest that PI3 kinase inhibitors could help improve learning and cognition in individuals with fragile X syndrome.

“This is an important first step toward having a new therapeutic strategy for fragile X syndrome that treats the underlying molecular defect, and it may be more broadly applicable to other forms of autism,” says senior author Gary Bassell, professor of cell biology and neurology at Emory University School of Medicine. He adds that his group has recently begun experiments in the mouse model to assess PI3 kinase inhibitors’ effects on behaviors associated with fragile X syndrome.

The first author of the paper is postdoctoral fellow Christina Gross. Collaborators included Keqiang Ye, PhD, associate professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, and Stephen Warren, PhD, professor and chairman of human genetics.

In the United States, fragile X syndrome is the most common known one-gene cause of autism, accounting for between two and five percent of cases. Mutations in the PTEN gene and tuberous sclerosis genes, which in humans can lead to autism, also perturb the signaling of the PI3 kinase pathway, Bassell says. This connection suggests that PI3 kinase inhibition might be a viable strategy for treating individuals with mutations affecting this pathway.

While clinical trials in humans testing the effectiveness of another class of drugs, metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonists, against fragile X are well underway, Bassell says “the new approach may offer a different way to calm the overactive signaling, and also restore the glutamate receptor sensitivity that is lost in fragile X.”

The genetic mutation responsible for fragile X prevents production of an RNA binding protein, FMRP, which regulates the production of many other proteins at synapses of brain cells. FMRP’s absence leads to overactive signaling and protein production at synapses.

“The focus in the field has been on glutamate receptor antagonists,” Bassell says. “The effects on glutamate receptor signaling are a big piece of fragile X, but they’re not the only piece.”

At their synapses, fragile X neurons produce proteins indiscriminately compared to unaffected neurons, he says. The “overexuberant” protein production leads to structural changes at their synapses, including a hyperabundance of dendritic spines. These spines are small protrusions that transmit electrical signals to adjacent neurons, and contribute to the communication between individual neurons in the brain.

Gross and Bassell discovered that in cells from mice where the FMRP gene has been deleted, the PI3 kinase enzyme is three times more active. PI3 kinase regulates protein synthesis in response to the electrochemical signals neurons send each other. The authors showed that tamping down PI3 kinase activity in fragile X neurons can restore normal levels of both protein synthesis and dendritic spine density.

PI3 kinase inhibitors are already under investigation for their anti-cancer properties, and some drugs of this type, such as wortmannin, can be toxic to normal cells. Bassell notes that this type of drugs would need to be used at low doses to only dampen excess signaling of protein production caused by fragile x. The drugs his team tested were effective in correcting fragile X molecular defects at levels five times lower than those usually employed, and did not reduce protein production in normal cells.

Bassell anticipates that drugs that preferentially inhibit the subtype of PI3 kinase present only in neurons hold greater promise as a novel therapeutic strategy.

“A few of these subtype-specific drugs are already available for researchers, and we are involved in efforts to test these more specific drugs in the fragile x mouse model,” he says.

“This is a really exciting time for fragile x research because progress is occurring at a fast pace,” Gross says. “I look forward to testing our theory of this mechanistic link between fragile x and autism, which suggests that a specific drug treatment could be broadly applicable.”

The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Fragile X Foundation.

Source:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100810203501.htm

 

ScienceDaily (Aug. 9, 2010) — Antidepressants commonly prescribed to people with autistic spectrum disorders cannot be recommended based on current evidence, a new study by Cochrane Researchers concludes. Despite some evidence of benefits in adults diagnosed with autism, they say there is no evidence for any benefits associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in children, who may suffer serious adverse effects as a result of taking the drugs.

Autistic spectrum disorders are difficult to treat because of the range of symptoms experienced by patients, including difficulties with social interactions and communication. SSRIs are among the most commonly prescribed medications, although none have been specifically approved by any drug authority for use in autism. In the UK, most antidepressants are not approved for children for any condition. The rationale behind the use of SSRIs in autism is that they act on serotonin, the same chemical in the body that is responsible for some of the psychological processes affected by the condition.

The researchers included a total of seven trials, involving 271 patients, in their study. The trials evaluated fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, fenfluramine and citalopram. Overall, the researchers found no benefit in the five trials in children and some evidence of serious harm, including one child who suffered a prolonged seizure after taking citalopram. The two trials in adults were very small and thus, although there was some evidence for improvement in symptoms, the authors concluded there was too little evidence for the drugs to be recommended. A major problem with analysing the results was that all the trials used different measures for assessing the drugs’ effects.

“We can’t recommend SSRIs as treatments for children, or adults, with autism at this time. However, decisions about the use of SSRIs for co-occurring obsessive-compulsive disorder, aggression, anxiety or depression in individuals with autism should be made on a case by case basis,” said lead author Katrina Williams of the School of Women’s and Children’s Health at the University of New South Wales & Sydney Children’s Hospital in Sydney, Australia.

“Not all the SSRIs currently in use have undergone controlled trials for autistic spectrum disorders, but parents are often anxious to try treatments regardless of the lack of evidence. It’s important that doctors are open about the lack of evidence, and explain any risks fully, before prescribing these treatments.”

Source:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100808212808.htm