Latest study identifies 18 new autism-linked genes, deepening understanding of autism’s broad spectrum The newest study from the Autism Speaks MSSNG project — the world’s largest autism genome sequencing program — identified an additional 18 gene variations that appear to increase the risk of autism. The new report appears this week in the journal Nature Neuroscience....
Tag: <span>ASD</span>
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Immersive reality helps autistic kids deal with the real thing
The Blue Room is used to simulate catching a bus It’s not at all uncommon for autistic children to have phobias. Unfortunately, these fears can sometimes be so severe that the children have to completely avoid commonly-experienced situations such as taking buses or going into shops. A relatively new immersive reality treatment, however, is showing...
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Could a tuberculosis drug help treat autism?
An antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis has the potential to alleviate the social impairments associated with autism spectrum disorder, new research suggests. Researchers suggest that the social impairments seen in autism could be treated with an antibiotic. The study reveals that the drug d-cycloserine boosted the function of an autism-related gene called PCDH10 and...
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Fecal transplant improves autism symptoms
Could the key to helping autistic children lie in their gut? While many people are aware of the behavioural symptoms associated with autism, probably not so many realize that autistics often also have gastrointestinal problems. With that in mind, scientists at the University of Arizona recently conducted a study in which a group of 18...
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Changes in blood-brain barrier, intestinal permeability found in individuals with autism
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has the dubious distinction of being the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With 1 in every 68 children born in this country diagnosed with ASD, parents are looking everywhere for answers about best treatments. Along with selective medication to treat certain...
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New clinical trial shows ‘promising results’ for ASD treatment
The gut microbiota is a fascinating part of the human body; it plays a crucial role in immunity and keeps our bodies healthy. New research suggests that the gut microbiome may even hold the key to a potential treatment for autism. New research shows some promising early results for ASD treatment. The gut microbiota...
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Commentary: I made my autistic son cannabis cookies. They saved him.
It took me awhile to perfect the cookie recipe. I experimented with ingredients: Blueberry, Strawberry, Sour Diesel, White Widow, Bubba Kush, AK-47 — all strains of cannabis, which I stored, mixed with glycerin, in meticulously labeled jars on a kitchen shelf. After the cookies finished baking, I’d taste a few crumbs and annotate the effects in...
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Autism breakthrough: One protein’s sweeping influence on development of autism revealed
Reducing nSR100 protein levels by half was enough to trigger autistic-like behavior in these animals. As many as a third of autism cases could be explained by a scarcity of a single protein in the brain, Toronto scientists have revealed. The findings provide a unique opportunity to develop treatments for a disorder that is rooted...
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Parents of autistic children call ‘Buzzies’ a game changer
PHOENIX – Trouble focusing in class and wanting to get up and leave are issues that a lot of 17-year-olds deal with during the school day, but for Jacob Holma these are problems he really struggles with on a daily basis. Jacob has Autism and has a difficult time concentrating both inside and outside of...
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Virtual reality training improves social skills of individuals on the autism spectrum
Summary: Children with autism spectrum disorder, who participated in a virtual reality training program, improved social cognition skills and reported better real-world relationships. Neurocognitive testing showed significant gains in emotional recognition, understanding the perspective of others and the ability to problem solve. Although most children with high-functioning autism have above average intellectual capabilities, they often...