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- Robert Sinclair

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- Carolyn Thompson

Biomedics Toric

- Carolyn Thompson

The scientists used the drug rapamycin on mice models of TSC; rapamycin is well-known for targeting an enzyme involved in creating proteins needed for memory. The same enzyme is also regulated by TSC proteins.

“This is the first study to demonstrate that the drug rapamycin can repair learning deficits related to a genetic mutation that causes autism in humans. The same mutation in animals produces learning disorders, which we were able to eliminate in adult mice,” said lead investigator Alcino Silva, professor of neurobiology and psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “Our work and other recent studies suggest that some forms of mental retardation can be reversed, even in the adult brain.”

The researchers studied mice bred with tuberous sclerosis complex and confirmed that the animals suffered from the same severe learning disabilities as human patients. The learning problems were tied to biochemical changes and abnormal functioning of the hippocampus, a brain structure that plays a vital role in memory.

“After only three days of treatment, the TSC mice learned as quickly as the healthy mice,” said first author Dan Ehninger, postgraduate researcher in neurobiology. “The rapamycin corrected the biochemistry, reversed the learning deficits and restored normal hippocampal function, allowing the mice’s brains to store memories properly.”

Source: rapamycin

As mentioned previously, autism is a disorder that normally manifests itself when a child has extreme difficulty in interacting and communicating with others in a manner that we have come to consider as ‘normal’ behavior. This is usually accompanied by a pattern of repetitive stereotypic activities. This is motor behavior that seems driven and doesn’t seem to serve any particular purpose. It may even be a cause for self-injury.

If a child is having difficulty in these areas a parent may wish to give attention to other aspects of their child’s growth and development. Most certainly, anyone who is involved with children may spot some of these signs and be able to voice their concerns. An early diagnosis can be so important in helping a child with autism to learn to cope with their disorder and in finding the best possible route for them to achieve their potential in life.

Some of these conditions may seem to overlap but need to be assessed together. They include such things as language skills being slow to develop and there being an inability to express their needs or desires. In turn they may appear to not ‘hear’ you and may not even seem to respond to their own name. There is a lack of interest in what is happening around them as if they are absorbed in a completely different world of their own. They may prefer to walk on their toes or exhibit other odd awkward movements that are more than just an occasional occurrence.

Other vivid indicators seem to tend toward hyperactive, resistant and uncooperative behavior that is not easily controlled by a parent’s interest and admonishment. Their inability to socially interact could include not making eye contact and preferably trying to keep by themselves. Not even being slightly interested in what other children may be doing near by. There may also seem to be the need for them to compulsively line or arrange things in a particular order.

On the other side of the developmental coin - many autistic children show skills that appear to be more advanced than other children of their age. In fact, some autistic children can shine at a skill few adults could master.

Keep in mind that every child, whether ‘normal’ or with challenges, is unique. They will develop at different rates and if some of these signs are evident it is not necessarily a diagnosis of autism. But all of these conditions warrant some concern and care. And because children vary it may be that a diagnosis of autism takes some time. It is good to know that the growing awareness of this disorder can speed things up however, and a parent or doctor that is interested and aware can pick up some indicators while the child is only a year old.

Tags: signs of autism, autism

Source: autism

I grew up a “Military Brat” and always figured I must have been one of the most vaccinated kids of the 1970s. Born in May of 1969, I lived in Singapore (where I was born), Laos, Mexico, and Korea before I was ten and also traveled to Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, and the Philippines during this same time period.

If you took a travel itinerary like that to your pediatrician today, he’d back up the vaccine truck and start pumping you and your child full of every vaccine he had in inventory and probably special order some unique ones, too.

I often heard my own son’s pediatrician talk about “deadly foreign diseases” being “only a plane ride away” as he sought to allay our concerns over the volume of vaccines being given to our own kids in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

David Kirby’s Huffington Post article (HERE) about vaccines in the military and the incredibly high rate of adverse events spurred me to write about something I recently unearthed: my own shot records.

As a reminder, the CDC recommends that today’s children, by the age of 6, receive 36 vaccines. You can see a chart HERE that also compares today’s 36 to the 10 children received in the early 1980s.

But what about the 1970s? I’ve never been able to find a vaccine schedule before 1983, but you’d sure think my own experience would be at the extreme upper end of vaccines given to a child. Not only did I live in multiple foreign countries, but I was also part of the tight military healthcare system where mandatory doctor visits are part of any overseas travel protocol. They could never miss me!

So, here’s my schedule.

To keep it simple, I am only listing my vaccines from birth to age 6 so I can compare it to today’s schedule:

March 1970: Oral Polio
July 1970: Measles (Rubeola)
Sep. 1970: DPT
April 1974: Oral Polio
April 1974: Typhoid

That’s it. I got 5 vaccines. Today’s kids get 36 in the same time period. And, these are typical American kids who may never leave this country. I had lived in or visited nine countries, a number of them third world!

Notable that my first vaccine was given when I was 10 months old. Once, I got 2 vaccines in the same visit. Otherwise, they were a minimum of 4 months apart, and in some cases YEARS apart.

What can we learn from one kid’s vaccine schedule?

We can learn that the US Military is learning the same things we parents are: the insane US vaccine schedule is something very, very new.

We are witnessing a medical experiment being done on our kids and servicemen and women every day without precedent, without proper testing, and without acknowledgment for the extreme consequences of the insane number of vaccines we are giving our citizens.

This insanity is the product of a CDC that is corrupt and has let vaccine manufacturers make most of the rules. The question now is how this all will end. Who will step in and have the courage to reform a vaccine schedule that has clearly gotten out of control?

If a child of the 1970s can survive nine foreign countries with 5 vaccines, surely we can reduce the number of vaccines being given without putting our children and military at risk.

JB Handley is co-founder of Generation Rescue and Editor at Large for Age of Autism.

Source: vaccine schedule

GFCF diet is getting attention and research at UT’s Health Science Center at Houston, Texas. I’m happy to see the study underway, since without proof on paper by scientists at a university, pediatricians will continue to turn around during the exam and roll their eyes when we mention the diet. Just as they did to parents who swore by the Feingold Diet before a study illustrating the adverse effects of artificial colors and flavors on behaviors proved what Mom and Dad had known for years. To its credit, the AAP did put out a statement about the success of the Feinfold diet for some children. It’s a shame American kids aren’t put onto this diet as a matter of course and “prescription” from a doctor (the only way many parents will try the diet) before ADHD drugs.

I have a couple of questions about this GFCF diet study.

1) Who is funding this study? 2) Why only four weeks long? Many of us did not see changes within this short time period. 3) How do they plan to ensure that there is no “cheating?” Will they give the families all of their food for the four weeks? It’s very hard to ferret out all sources of gluten and casein when you’re new to the diet and even as a veteran. 4) Who is funding this study? (Yes, I realize that one repeats.)

(HealthNewsDigest.com)- HOUSTON — Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston have embarked on one of the first double-blind, clinical studies to determine whether gluten and dairy products play a role in autistic behavior as parents have anecdotally claimed.

The pilot study is one of seven current studies on autism in the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

“There’s a lot of misinformation, so that’s why this study is so important,” said Fernando Navarro, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at the medical school and lead investigator of the study. “Hundreds and hundreds of parents think this works but we need serious evidence.”

Read the full article HERE.

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of Age of Autism. She just ate two pieces of birthday cake. One she baked for her husband’s birthday, loaded with gluten and casein. The other she baked for her children, GFCF. Which tasted better? Only her hairdresser knows… (and if you’re too young to get that line, my apologies. Google it.)

Source: Autism News

“There’s a lot of misinformation, so that’s why this study is so important,” said Fernando Navarro, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at the medical school and lead investigator of the study. “Hundreds and hundreds of parents think this works but we need serious evidence.”

Autism is a complex neurobehavioral disorder linked to early abnormalities of brain development. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, it affects up to six of every 1,000 children and is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication and unusual, repetitive or severely limited activities and interests.

Researchers have discovered that there are differences in the central nervous system’s anatomy and function in those diagnosed with autism, but the cause of the disorder is unknown. Experts theorize it may be a combination of genetics and environment.

“A lot of children with autism have gastrointestinal problems such as constipation and diarrhea. Whether these problems are related to brain development is open to question,” said Katherine Loveland, Ph.D., co-investigator and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, pediatrics and biomedical sciences at the health science center. “There are neurotransmitters and neuroreceptors in the gut that correspond with those in the brain. There are some scientific reasons to think that some kids may benefit from this diet.”

For the double-blind study, funded in its initial phase by supplemental funds granted by the Department of Pediatrics, researchers will enroll 38 autistic children ages 3 to 9. They will look at the influence of gluten and milk proteins in the intestinal function. Gluten is a protein in wheat; casein and whey are proteins in milk. Casomorphin, a peptide in milk; and gliadomorphin, a peptide in gluten, are thought to be related to changes in behavior in these children. Children will be taken off gluten and dairy products before the four-week study and then half will be given gluten/milk powder and half will be given a placebo powder.

Researchers will study intestinal permeability (leaky gut) through urine collection and behavior through psychometric testing.

Co-investigators for the study are J. Marc Rhoads, M.D., professor and director of gastroenterology at the medical school, and Deborah A. Pearson, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.

Children will be enrolled through the UT Physicians pediatric gastroenterology clinic and The University of Texas Mental Sciences Institute. Navarro and Rhoads are attending physicians at Memorial Hermann hospitals. For more information on the study, call 713-500-5669.

Source: General

My son was diagnosed with ASD in July 2006 at the age of 4. He had always been called “quirky” by his pre-school teachers, but I knew in my heart that there was much more to his tantrums, speech delay, behaviors and massive gut issues than was being addressed.

So, the official diagnosis came of no real surprise. However, hearing the word “autism” sent a jolt through my soul that empowered me to get busy doing everything and anything I could to help my sweet, darling boy.

Immediately, we began with the traditional modalities: ABA, speech and occupational therapy. Slowly, I began to engulf myself in research. Thank Heaven for the internet! I enrolled him in a social skills group at the local University, a swim therapy group with his ST and OT; I started my own social skills program for other families with ASD children; but he was still struggling for control of himself.

So, I began reading about the integrative approach and the DAN! protocol. I just knew that this was our answer. I found an integrative pediatrician to supervise my GF/CF diet. We immediately began a mutli-vitamin, probiotic, L-Carnosine and DHA. Within three months, it was like I had a totally different child. He could have a conversation! He began to engage others in play rather than just parallel play. He was not fixated on certain toys. (His happened to be Thomas the Train). He became potty trained and was having more normal BM’s.

The true testament to my son’s recovery was my husband’s return from a four month military deployment. I began the diet and intervention when my husband left. When we picked my husband up at the airport, he tearfully shared, “I finally have my little boy”. It was the most dramatic thing he’d ever seen.

Prior to his witnessing it, he didn’t really believe that it would work, but he stands by the diet and supplements as the tools that turned our son around.

My son no longer meets the diagnostic criteria for autism; and we are ecstatic to share our story through our support group (and everywhere else) of our success. I diligently seek to help others initiate their GF/CF programs, eliminate toxins from their diet, as this is a massive undertaking; but it is SO worth the effort.

And so to my beautiful and special son, Evan, I say—shine on my love, shine on!

Kelli
Mother of Evan, age 6
Previously diagnosed with Autism

Source: toxins

One particular medical project with the aim to find better autism understanding by identifying the gene that causes autism, is the 5 year Autism Genome Project (AGP).  So far, phase I of the AGP has identified a gene and parts of a chromosome to be linked with the occurrence of autism.  The findings of this particular autism study was published online in the Nature Genetics February 18, 2007 issue.

The Autism Genome Project is a global research consortium that is funded by Autism Speaks and the National Institute of Health.  Autism Speaks is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to raising the awareness of autism and raising funds to help research it.

The AGP involves more than 120 scientists from 50 institutions in 19 countries around the world.  The researchers who have collaborated on the project combined their autism expertise, and shared all of the data and samples they had to help identify autism-related genes.

As was mentioned, phase I of this project began 5 years ago in 2002, and it allowed the team of medical experts to gain autism understanding by identifying a single specific gene known as neurexil 1, and part of chromosome 11 which could likely be the cause of autism in children.  These findings are based on the largest autism genome scan that has ever been done.

Scientists have known for many years that autism is a genetic disorder, but only until the AGP have they been able to use special “gene chip” technology to search for genetic similarities in autistics.  Genetic similarities were found in practically all of the autistic individuals within each of the twelve hundred families that that were made part of the project.  The scientists also checked the DNA of each family to look for copy number variations that are believed might be connected to autism and similar disorders.

What the researches discovered in their study was that one particular gene known as neurexin 1 plays a significant role with glutamate; a neurotransmitter that has been formerly linked to autism. Researchers also uncovered an area of chromosome 11 that is suspected to contain a gene that may be involved in the occurrence of autism.   However, this particular gene in chromosome 11 has yet to be identified which is required for further autism understanding.

Based on previous research, and the research that has been uncovered by the study so far, scientists speculate that there may be as many as 6 main genes and 30 additional genes linked to autism.  However, these numbers are only theories, as scientists point out that the actual number of genes could exceed their theory.  Nevertheless, despite the number of genes that may be involved, researchers admit that it is still far too early to dictate how these genes may be responsible for autism.

Currently, phase II of the Autism Genome Project has been announced.  The promising discoveries found in phase I makes scientists hopeful that discovering the genes that cause autism will provide new steps toward autism understanding.  With greater understanding, more effective methods of diagnosis, preventing and treating the disorder can be taken.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/autism-understanding-furthered-by-international-genetic-study-118074.html

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