Special Needs Planning

Another study: Genetic Autism Link

Coming just days after a major study on Autism was released by the CDC (see previous blog post), the results of another autism study were announced today.

Read about the study here.  The study found a link between Austim and a specific gene: neurexin 1.  "A previously unidentified area of chromosome 11" was also implicated.  Neurexin 1 is involved with glutamate.  I did a very basic search on google "neurexin 1 gluten" to see if this gene could be linked to the success some people with autism have had on gluten-free diets.  I invite comments from readers who did better in High School Chemistry than me.  Please decipher the google results.  Until then I am encouraged by the number of links,  suggesting there is some connection.

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the non-profit, Autism Speaks.

Autism Speaks is also behind the arresting ad you may have seen recently:

I am thrilled by the dramatic potential to use these results in therapies someday.   I am warmed by the devotion shown by the 120 scientists in Europe and America who collaborated to complete the five-year study that included more than 1,000 families. 

Kudos to everyone involved.  Bravo!

Largest Autism Study to Date Released

Today's USA Today released the initial results of the largest study of autism to date.  The study was also discussed in the Los Angeles Times and other major newspapers.  It was funded and conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control, a controversial player in the debates over autism and vaccines.

The key points:

* The study has found that autism spectrum disorders (defined in the study as including PDD-NOS - pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified) are being diagnosed at the astonishing rate of 1 in 150 children.  (The L.A. Times notes that since the study parameters were different from previous studies it is possible that this does not indicate an increase in autism.)  It is, however, the largest and perhaps most persuasive study conducted to date on the prevalence of autism.