Top Ten Autism Research Stories of 2014

By Lee Wilkinson from examiner.com

The following are Autism Speaks’ “Top Ten” 2014 stories in autism research based on readership and social media shares.

#1 New Meta-analysis Affirms No Association Between Vaccines and Autism
A meta-analysis of ten studies involving more than 1.2 million children affirmed that vaccines don’t cause autism. The analysis found that immunization with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine was associated with a slight decrease in risk.

#2 Physical Evidence that Autism Starts During Prenatal Development
Researchers found a common pattern of disruption in the prenatal brain development of children who had autism. Their study, supported in part by Autism Speaks, analyzed the donated post-mortem brain tissue of 11 children with autism and of 11 unaffected children. In 10 out of the 11 ASD cases, they found recurring patches of abnormal development in layers of the cerebral cortex that form during prenatal development. By contrast, they found these patches in just 1 of the 11 children unaffected by autism. The researchers propose that early intervention may help the brain "rewire" around these disturbed areas.

#3 MSSNG: Changing the Future of Autism with Open Science
This historic collaboration between Autism Speaks and Google is queueing up 10,000 anonymous autism genomes and making the data freely available for research anywhere, anytime. “We don’t know enough about autism. MSSNG is the search for the missing answers.”

#4 Broccoli-Sprout Extract Shows Promise for Easing Autism Symptoms
In a small placebo-controlled trial, sulforaphane supplements eased autism symptoms in nearly half of 29 participants affected by autism. Experts called the results “promising” but cautioned that larger studies were needed to determine effectiveness and safety.

#5 Studies Implicate Early Injury to Cerebellum as Major Cause of Autism
In a review of published studies, Princeton researchers said they found strong evidence that injury to the cerebellum during pregnancy or birth may be the leading nongenetic cause of autism. A small but crucial brain region, the cerebellum sits near the base of the skull and is best known for coordinating movement. During brain development, it plays a crucial role in directing cross wiring to other brain regions.

#6 Brain Study Suggests that Autism Involves Too Many Synapses
Researchers analyzing donated postmortem tissue from children affected by autism found that their brains had a significant surplus of connections between brain cells. These excess synapses appeared to result from a slowdown in the normal pruning process that occurs during brain development. The investigators then used a mouse model of autism to show that they could restore normal synaptic pruning and reduce autism-like behaviors with an experimental medication. They called for further research that might advance to a clinical trial involving people with autism.

#7 Study Links Specific Gene to Autism Subtype
Researchers linked a specific gene mutation to a newly identified subtype of autism. Experts hailed the finding as a crucial step toward using genomic testing to develop individualized treatments for autism spectrum disorder.

#8 Autism's Subtle Early Signs: More Findings from Infant Eye Tracking
Another Autism Speaks “Baby Sibs” study found that even earlier differences in social attention – this time at 6 months – flag high risk for autism. The researchers called for the development and testing of very early interventions that engage at-risk babies in enjoyable activities that involve shared attention.

#9 Autism ‘Baby Sibs’ Study Identifies Another Early Red Flag
Researchers with the Autism Speaks Baby Sibling Research Consortium used eye-tracking technology to discover that babies who begin showing decreased interest in facial expressions at 8 months go on to develop more-severe autism symptoms by age 3. The authors expressed hope that this early red flag signaled an important window of opportunity for early intervention that improves outcomes.

#10 Autism and GI Disorders: Largest-Ever Analysis Confirms Strong Link
The first meta-analysis of all peer-reviewed research on autism and gastrointestinal conditions showed that children with autism have four times the rate of GI problems as do other children. At the forefront of this research, Autism Speaks launched an unprecedented initiative funding major investigations into autism’s gut-brain connect

Readers will find autism research news at: http://www.autismspeaks.org/research.

Lee A. Wilkinson, PhD, CCBT, NCSP is author of the award-winning book, A Best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention for Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Schools, published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. He is also editor of a recent volume in the APA School Psychology Book Series, Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children and Adolescents: Evidence-Based Assessment and Intervention in Schools and author of the new book, Overcoming Anxiety and Depression on the Autism Spectrum: A Self-Help Guide Using CBT.

Article HERE.

What The Shutdown Means For Disability Services

As the first U.S. government shutdown in more than 17 years takes hold, some programs benefiting people with disabilities will continue with business as usual while others grind to a halt.

The shutdown, which began Tuesday, comes after Congress failed to reach a deal to fund the federal government for the new fiscal year starting in October. Under a shutdown, some services considered “essential” will continue operating while many other government activities will come to a standstill as 800,000 federal workers are sent home until a new budget takes effect.

Here’s a look at how the shutdown will impact programs that people with developmental disabilities rely on:

SOCIAL SECURITY Benefit payments will continue to be distributed on schedule to individuals receiving Social Security and Supplemental Security Income. Local offices will be open, but only to perform select services.

MEDICAID Services provided by Medicaid will largely proceed as usual since an advance appropriation ensured that states receive funding for the program on Oct. 1. However, disability advocates say they are worried that the shutdown could exacerbate payment delays that providers of long-term services and supports are already facing. “The long delays have put many of our affiliates in almost untenable cash flow positions and further delays may cause some to cease Medicaid services,” said Katy Neas, senior vice president of government relations at Easter Seals.

Read more of Michelle Diament's Disability Scoop article HERE.

Students With Disabilities Often Targeted by Bullies

By Nirvi Shah from On Special Education

A new report based on interviews and statistics concludes that children who are especially vulnerable to bullies, kids with disabilities, have few resources to deal with the problem.

The report, which includes testimonials from parents and students, provides a few heart-breaking glimpses into the taunts and terrors faced by children with a variety of exceptionalities. In one case, classmates of a boy with cerebral palsy tied the arms of his sweatshirt to a fence. They watched as he struggled to break free and put pictures of the episode on Facebook.

While 45 states have adopted laws related to bullying in the last five years, the report notes, few address the bullying of students with special needs in particular. California schools chief Tom Torlakson told the Bay Area News Group he wants to work with legislators on ways to incorporate special-needs concerns into existing anti-bullying legislation.

Compiling research from a number of sources, the report concludes that children with disabilities are more likely to be bullied for a variety of reasons, but in particular, they may become easily frustrated, which makes them stand out; students with developmental disabilities may have difficulty paying attention to more than one piece of information and may get "stuck" in a conversation, making it difficult to make friends; children with motor skill difficulties may be the target of teasing on the playground or classroom because they can't do the same age-appropriate things—like kicking a ball or coloring in the lines—as peers; they carry special devices that make other kids view them as "weird."

The report said that all studies found that children with disabilities were two to three times more likely to be victims of bullying than their nondisabled peers. It offers steps parents can take, and recommends Social and Emotional Learning curricula, like one used in Illinois schools, to address the problem.

AbilityPath.org, which provides an online community for professionals and parents of children with special needs and is led by a California nonprofit that provides services for people with disabilities, offers several ways to address the issue, including sharing your stories at the AbilityPath.org blog, joining a campaign to end use of the R word—retard—and posting a video of Glee actor Lauren Potter, who has Down syndrome, on Facebook.

See Article HERE.