Tag: autism

Music-based interventions can improve stroke, Parkinson's disease

Music-based interventions have become a core ingredient of effective neurorehabilitation in the past 20 years thanks to the growing body of knowledge. In this theme issue of Neurorehabilitation, experts in the field highlight some of the current critical gaps in clinical applications that have been less thoroughly investigated, such as post-stroke cognition, traumatic brain injury,

Virtual training gives young adults with autism stronger interview skills to obtain jobs

Young adults with autism spectrum disorder boosted their interviewing skills using a virtual reality training program, according to a new University of Michigan study. The virtual training sessions and separate preemployment assistance also significantly reduced anxiety and improved their access to jobs within six months compared to their counterparts who only received preemployment information. Autistic

Mothers of children with autism found to have significantly different metabolite levels

Blood sample analysis showed that, two to five years after they gave birth, mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) had several significantly different metabolite levels compared to mothers of typically developing children. That’s according to new research recently published in BMC Pediatrics by a multidisciplinary team from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Arizona State University,

Vitamin D the clue to more autism spectrum disorder in boys

A deficiency in Vitamin D on the mother’s side could explain why autism spectrum disorder is three times more common in boys, say researchers from The University of Queensland. In their latest study, Professor Darryl Eyles and Dr. Asad Ali from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute found vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy caused an increase in

Research reduces barriers for doctors treating children with autism

While autism specialists are crucial in the diagnosis and treatment of children with autism, primary care providers are very often the first to care for children with autism spectrum disorder. Two new studies reveal a range of barriers these clinicians face in recognizing and treating autism symptoms, as well as evidence that an innovative tele-mentoring

More pieces of the autism puzzle uncovered

A major international study from the Autism Sequencing Consortium with participation of researchers from the Danish iPSYCH psychiatry project, has recently mapped 102 new autism genes. The new findings provide a new understanding of the biology behind autism, which could in the future be utilised to provide an earlier and more precise diagnosis and better

Missing protein in brain causes behaviors mirroring autism

Scientists at Rutgers University-Newark have discovered that when a key protein needed to generate new brain cells during prenatal and early childhood development is missing, part of the brain goes haywire—causing an imbalance in its circuitry that can lead to long-term cognitive and movement behaviors characteristic of autism spectrum disorder. “During brain development, there is

Family matters in autism outcomes

Cognition is influenced by siblings, researchers find. Autistic children with autistic siblings have better cognition than those who are the only family member with the condition, researchers have found. Importantly, the outcome does not depend on birth order. Although previous studies have identified that having autistic siblings leads to better cognition for individual children with

Using paracetamol during pregnancy may double risk of ADHD and autism

Study links taking Tylenol in pregnancy to two-fold higher risks of having children with ADHD and autism – but experts say the household painkiller is an unlikely cause Researchers analyzed umbilical cord blood samples of acetaminophen, known by the brand name of Tylenol They then examined diagnoses of ADHD, autism or developmental disabilities Twice as many children

More U.S. kids being diagnosed with autism, ADHD

(HealthDay)—More U.S. children today have developmental disabilities like autism and ADHD than a decade ago, though improved recognition may be a major reason, according to a government study. Researchers found that between 2009 and 2017, the percentage of U.S. children and teens with a developmental disability rose from just over 16% to nearly 18%. Increases

My Autism Diagnosis at Age 38 Drastically Changed How I Parent

What’s so important about diagnosis? Isn’t autism just a label? These are questions that people going through assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorders regularly hear — and they’re difficult to answer on the spot. For me, the diagnosis of having autism — a neurodevelopment disorder — came as a relief to me, mainly because I suddenly had a way to explain my extreme childhood behaviors (and having always been “the

A smartphone app to treat and track autism

Diagnosing autism can take half a day or more of clinical observation, and that’s the quick part – often, families wait years just to get to that point. Now, in hopes of speeding things up, Stanford researchers are developing a smartphone app that could drastically reduce the time it takes to get a diagnosis. The