The Incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder

By William Jones

The incidence of autism may be much higher than previously thought in the United States and elsewhere in the world, according to a recent rigorous, comprehensive study of the autism condition, conducted in South Korea. In the first ever attempt to take a broad-based look at an entire population for the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders - and all types of autism ranging from severe symptoms to the milder Asperger's syndrome - researchers found a rate of 2.64% among South Korean children. That's an incidence rate of 1 in 38 children, a rate far higher than the estimate of 1 in 110 children for the U.S., published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A five-year study,("Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders in a Total Population Sample", published in the American Journal of Psychiatry by Y.S. Kim et al., May 9, 2011 [doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.10101532]) funded partly by Autism Speaks, and led by Dr. Young Shin Kim of the Yale Child Study Center, differed significantly in methodology from earlier autism-prevalence studies. Because of the different methodology used, different findings on ASD were obtained, and this likely accounts for the dramatically different findings, compared to other epidemiological studies, Dr. Kim said.

In recent years, studies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the U.S. have reported a steady increase in incidence, from 1 in 5,000 in 1975 to 1 in 110 in 2009. Since autism was first identified, ideas about its cause have swung to and fro between genetics and environment as the prime causative factor. Quite recently, several major federally funded trials have been started, together with other research studies, now under way in the United States to attempt to finally determine what the determining factor is in making a child autistic.

In the meantime, epidemiological studies of ASD have been conducted, in an attempt to determine if the observed incidence of ASD is steady year after year, or is climbing due to some unknown environmental or cultural factor. No definitive answer on the ultimate origin of ASD has yet emerged. Although this may be an intractable question, it is important to attempt to find an answer as to why ASD incidence rates keep rising. Several environmental risk factors have been proposed to support the hypothesis that the actual frequency of autism has increased. These include: certain foods, infectious disease, pesticides, MMR vaccine, and vaccines containing the preservative thiomersal, formerly used in several childhood vaccines in the U.S. Although there is overwhelming scientific evidence against the MMR hypothesis, and no convincing evidence for the thiomersal hypothesis, other as-yet-unidentified environmental risk factors cannot be ruled out. Thus there is a need for accurate epidemiological studies to pin down what is the genesis of childhood ASD.

Previous studies assessing population-wide autism rates typically focused on high-risk populations - such as classrooms of special education students. In contrast, the South Korean study assessed more than 55,000 children, ages 7 to 12, not only from mental health service organizations and special education classrooms, but also regular schools. In the study's conclusion, it was stated: "Two-thirds of ASD cases in the overall sample were in the mainstream school population, undiagnosed and untreated. These findings suggest that rigorous screening and comprehensive population coverage are necessary to produce more accurate ASD prevalence estimates and underscore the need for better detection, assessment, and services."

Previous studies assessing population-wide autism rates typically focused on high-risk populations - such as classrooms of special education students. In contrast, the South Korean study assessed more than 55,000 children, ages 7 to 12, not only from mental health service organizations and special education classrooms, but also regular schools. In the study's conclusion, it was stated: "Two-thirds of ASD cases in the overall sample were in the mainstream school population, undiagnosed and untreated. These findings suggest that rigorous screening and comprehensive population coverage are necessary to produce more accurate ASD prevalence estimates and underscore the need for better detection, assessment, and services."

"This study clearly confirms that autism is a significant, global, public health concern that transcends cultural, ethnic and geographic boundaries," Dr. Kim said. "We do need to do this type of study in the U.S. ... Until we do, we won't know what the population prevalence is."

More children than ever before are being diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is unclear how much of this increase is due to a broader definition of ASDs and better efforts in diagnosis. However, a true increase in the number of people with an ASD, likewise cannot be ruled out. Probably the observed increase in ASD diagnosis is due to a combination of these factors.

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Fact or Fiction? Facts About Autism Treatment with Stem Cells

By Preston Dziedzic

Part of the difficulty with using stem cell treatment for Autism is that we don't know what we are treating. Regardless of the positive promotion of various "theories" about what causes autism, there's no generally agreed upon pathology or "lesion" to treat. Even genetic studies fail to show one single genetic reason for autism, recommending that what we call "autism" is a number of different disorders with a similar (or not so similar) appearance. Injecting stem cells in the imprecise hope that they are going to find the problem and fix it is stupid. Stem cells have no more notion of the easy way to "fix" autism than we do - which is to point out, "none".

The "good reports" I referred to above is that, based primarily on the outlines of what they are doing, the hospitals where folks are taking their autistic kids for "stem cell therapy" are using - at best - multipotent blood stem cells. The descriptions are far more promotional than informative, so it is totally possible that their "techniques" are yielding no stem cells whatsoever. This is "good" because infusing real pluripotent stem cells into the blood or (worse yet) into the spinal liquid carries the chance of creating cancers without any known (or suspected) potential for benefit.

A major consideration is that claimed "stem cell" cures might or might not involve tangible stem cells. This is a particularly arguable technology (at the very least on this side of the pond), and so far as I can tell even the advocates don't think it is anywhere near ready to be used as a treatment.

It occurs to me that quacks getting hold of actual stem cells could be an accidental consequence of Bush's denial of Fed. funding in the area. When legitimate research is underfunded, it is a foreseeable outcome that shady ventures will snatch up surplus resources.

stem cells are being used in a few sicknesses previously considered to be "degenerative" without cytotoxic therapy e.g. Coronary arrest and Parkinson's disease which are starting to be recognised as inflaming diseases.

We aren't searching for astonishing and simple progress where we just inject cells and poof, wizardry happens, just more understanding. We don't see that getting said in public fairly often.

More generally we also wish to know how organs (like adrenal glands) get made, which again impacts our considering the genes involved, and yes, there are some people out there who 'just ' need to be well placed to make new parts like heart valves from your own stem cells.

The crucial genes/proteins/processes in stem cells are heavy hitters, and we are able to hardly imagine more understanding of them failing to be crucial. Perhaps that is hard to sell without going deep into precise examples though.

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Autism Symptoms And Important Facts

By Valerie Harrison

Even though autism is a disorder that's commonly heard about in movies, TV, books, or in general, a surprising number of people are still unaware of what it is and what can typically be expected from a person who who has it. Because of this, it tends to be something that's misunderstood more often than not, as well as something that's sometimes feared in some cases and due to various different reasons. However, understanding the disorder and its common symptoms may help one to prepare for such situations and to understand it more all together.

Autism is a severe disorder that typically develops at birth and shows signs around the first two or so years later. It is often noticed more so in boys than girls, with an increasing number of cases as time passes, statistically showing to affect about every 1 child per 110 births. However, since most autistic children appear quite normal, they're also harder to identify, short of their actual behavior, which can often vary on a case-by-case basis.

It quite common for the disordered to be compared to or diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and/or Pervasive Developmental Disorder. These disorders often include someone who speaks normally, but may show severe behavioral symptoms or social awkwardness that can often be attributed to an autistic person.

It was once believed and widely-accepted for an autistic person to have simply suffered from a twist of fate when it came down to their disorder. However, these days, there are fortunately numerous treatments that might help. Such treatments will vary on the person and their condition, with some seeing a good amount of improvement, while others may see little to none at all. It is also believed that the earlier one gets treatment, the more likely that they're expected to see positive results.

In many cases, what is known as an E-2 checklist is used by parents and professionals in order to diagnose the spectrum of autism that a child may have. This checklist is a method that was created by Dr. Bernard Rimland, though it was originally designed to help diagnose that of classroom autism, or Kanner's syndrome. The spectrum, or checklist, is generally looked over by a professional who specializes in autistic cases in order to see the best course of action to take for that individual.

The actual symptoms can vary from person to person, though signs may include a person rejecting cuddling or hugging, not responding to their name, poor habits in not keeping eye contact, or appearing aloof and in their own world. At other times, symptoms may involve the person being unaware of another's feelings, learning to talk much later than others do, speaking in a manner that's repetitive or verbatim, as well as forgetting previously-learned phrases or words.

An autistic person may very well show signs of speaking in a singsong manner, or one that has abnormal rhythms and tones. Body language may be repetitive in gestures or movements, and they may also appear to be excessively hyper. They may develop certain routines and rituals, which, when disturbed, may cause them to be upset. Often enough, they may be prone to sound, light, or touch sensitivity, and can often show signs of extreme fascination with certain objects.

If you suspect that a loved one may have autism, then researching further symptoms, causes and so forth may be a good place to start. In the end, however, seeing a professional who specializes in the disorder may be able to offer you some assistance with treatment and coping with the situation more effectively.

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The First Couple Of Steps To Acquire The Best Autism Treatments

By Venus P. Gilmore

Seeing your child's mind unravel straight into autism is probably among the worst things you will ever have to experience being a parent. Learning how to look after an autistic child is hard enough, employing effective autism treatments is also more challenging. Nonetheless it is achievable, though it might take a great deal of patience through the entire process. And more likely than not, you would be at it for some time.

The challenge with autism is that it has effects on the kid's learning and also behavioral skills. A few youngsters acquire it in early stages just before their personalities receive the opportunity to manifest, while several may be both active and socially interactive, and then out of the blue have their behaviors break down so much that they are unresponsive to whatever you may try to call up their focus with. The first step to getting your kid effective autism treatments would be to get a real diagnosis of autism coming from a professional, typically known by your child's doctor.

Your kid will have a series of exams to determine if they're really autistic, and also the intensity of the autism and how it is going to have an effect on your child's behavior as well as learning practices down the road. Luckily, many of the assessments are included in medical insurance. Assessment is essential because it will decide the certain aspects of your child's mental ability that have been afflicted, as well as those that continue to be one of your child's strengths.

Once your toddler has a diagnosis of autism, the following step is to deal with your kid's learning abilities and give them with efficient ongoing autism treatment. A good thing is that school districts is going to be compelled to provide suitable autism treatment to kids who have been diagnosed with autism. They could help plan an alternative which will include learning plans and referrals to an affiliated or recommended autism clinic. You could expect your youngster to be able to take advantage of an array of treatments which are appropriate for the nature and also harshness of their autism.

One thing that is very important for you being a parent is that you needs to be as involved in your child's treatment method as you possibly can. Your autism clinic will typically enable you to interact and even take part in the remedies being offered to your child. Probably the most important things is to become knowledgeable as much as possible about autism, as this will help you better grasp any plans of action which might be put into effect to assist in treating your child.

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