According to the most recent data available from the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “One in 68 school-age kids
across the country are estimated to have autism.” Such alarming statistics
demand answers and researchers are busy studying the developmental disorder and
its significant ramifications, not only for the people who have autism and
their families, but for our society as well. In commemoration of National
Autism Awareness Month, we’ve scoured the internet, to uncover the latest
research findings on topics related to autism spectrum disorders. Here’s what we found.
1. Brain scans can
help predict development of autism in siblings
In February 2017, scientists at the University of Minnesota published
findings of a 12-year-long study in the journal Nature,
that could result in earlier detection of autism in children who have a genetic
predisposition to developing the disorder. Basing their research on science
from the 1990s that found children with autism had larger brain volume than
children without autism, scientists took brain scans of more than 100 siblings
of children with autism, at 6, 12 and 24 months of age. The researchers
discovered that some siblings who later developed autism, experienced a rapid expansion
of brain surface between the ages of 6-12 months. Using a computer program
built for the study, scientists compared the brain scans of the siblings to the
scans of children in a separate study group and could predict with 80 percent
accuracy, which children would go on to develop autism. That’s a major
development since early detection and intervention can make a huge difference
when it comes to treatment efficacy.
2. Parents of
children with autism need to nurture their relationship
A study published in the Journal of
Autism and Developmental Disabilities last month found that parents of
children with autism spend (21 minutes per day) less time together than parents
of typically developing children. Parents of children with autism should try to
close that gap, recommended study lead author Sigan Harley of University of
Wisconsin-Madison in an interview with Disability
Scoop. “Just like any child, a child with ASD affects, and is affected by,
the entire family …Developing therapies or strategies that help parents thrive
and keep their relationships strong is critical for the long-term success of
children.” In other words: Don’t skip
date night!
3. Links between
autism and gut microbes have treatment implications
A study by researchers at Northern Arizona University, Arizona
State University, Ohio State University and University of Minnesota lent
support to previously reported links between autism and gut microbes. According
to Northern Arizona University News,
“Eighteen participants with autism who ranged in age from 7 to 16 underwent a
10-week treatment program that involved antibiotics, a bowel cleanse and daily
fecal microbial transplants. The results, which were recently published in the
journal Microbiome,
were encouraging,” said the publication. “While the long-term impact is
unknown, researchers observed an 80 percent improvement of gastrointestinal
symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders, with a 20-25 percent
improvement in autism-related behaviors, including improved social skills and
better sleeping habits.”
4. Brain mapping
offers important data on boys with autism
A 2016 study
published in JAMA
Psychiatry provides hope for boys with autism and their families by using functional
magnetic resonance imaging technology to “map and track the function of brain
circuits affected by autism spectrum disorder in boys,” according to a
press release from the George Washington University. "This is
significant because biomarkers give us a 'why' for understanding autism in boys
that we haven't had before," said Kevin Pelphrey, a co-author of the
study. "We can now use functional biomarkers to identify what treatments
will be effective for individual cases and measure progress." In next
steps, Pelphrey and his team will conduct a larger study of individuals with
autism and other neurological disorders to determine whether brain scans show
differences between the brains of boys with autistic spectrum disorders and boys
with other neurological disorders. The study will also evaluate the technique’s
efficacy in tracking treatment progress.
5. Children with autism at far greater risk of
death from injuries
A brand-new study published last month in the American
Journal of Public Health found that individuals with autism diagnoses were
three times more likely to die from injuries than individuals who do not have
the diagnosis. The numbers among children with autism are even more catastrophic.
The study found that children with autism are 40 times more likely to die from
injuries than children without autism. Eighty percent of these premature deaths
are caused by asphyxiation, suffocation or most commonly—drowning. The bottom
line? These needless deaths are preventable. Interviewed by CNN
about the study, Autism Speaks’
Michael Rosanoff, directed parents to the organization’s website for tips
on water safety for children with autism, especially those who tend to
wander.
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