Copyright 2008 Medical News Today Latest Autism News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/autism/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124911.php Related to perceived threats and to autism A hand moves forward, but is it a friendly gesture or one meant to do harm? In an instant, we respond -- either extending our arm forward to shake hands or raising it higher to protect our face. But what are the subtle cues that allow us to interpret such movement so we can properly respond to others? In research projects designed to assist the U.S. Autism Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124376.php Angela Browning MP is urging fellow MPs to ensure a brighter future for people with autism by backing a draft Private Members' Bill, launched by The National Autistic Society (NAS) in the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 7th October. Autism Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124264.php Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has been awarded $26 million in funding to participate in The National Children's Study, the National Institutes of Health's comprehensive study on the interaction of genes and the environment on children's health. At a briefing today, NIH officials named Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine as one of 36 new and existing study centers which would recruit study volunteers from a total of 72 locations. Pediatrics / Children's Health Sat, 04 Oct 2008 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124051.php The Temporal Dynamics of Learning Center, founded at UC San Diego in 2006 as one of six National Science Foundation Science of Learning Centers, has just been awarded an additional $12 million for the next three years to expand its important work studying the role of time and timing in learning. IT / Internet / E-mail Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124215.php A UC Riverside-led team of biomedical scientists has found that a readily available drug called minocycline, used widely to treat acne and skin infections, can be used to treat Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited cause of mental impairment and the most common cause of autism. The study's findings have already impacted future therapies, with the approval of a new clinical trial in Toronto, Canada, that will test minocycline in patients with Fragile X. Biology / Biochemistry Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124220.php The first national survey of attitudes toward autism reveals that a small but significant percentage of people still believe the disease is caused by childhood vaccines. The survey of 1000 randomly selected adults was conducted for the Florida Institute of Technology. Nearly one in four (24 percent) said that because vaccines may cause autism it was safer not to have children vaccinated at all. Another 19 percent were not sure. Autism Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124209.php Brown University, with lead partner Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, has been awarded a $12-million, five-year contract to expand its participation in the National Children's Study, a groundbreaking research project aimed at improving child health. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), one of the 27 Institutes and Centers at the National Institutes of Health, announced the award today. Pediatrics / Children's Health Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124210.php The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has added three more areas of North Carolina and is expanding the role played by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in a long-term, wide-ranging study of the nation's children. Pediatrics / Children's Health Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124035.php To date, few studies have focused on the viewpoints of autistic persons themselves despite an increasing number of published autobiographies. The aim of this study is to highlight their personal experiences, and to compare them to scientific and medical knowledge and representations. Adopting an anthropological approach, the Authors analyzed 16 autobiographical writings and 5 interviews with autistic persons. Autism Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123680.php Children born to older fathers are at increased risk of having an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), according to new research published in the October issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry. But the researchers found no link between increased maternal age and the risk of ASD. The study, which was carried out in Japan, involved 84 participants with 'high-functioning' ASD. Autism Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123695.php A clear and easy to understand DVD guide to The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005, has been produced by national charity for people with learning disabilities, HFT, for the Department of Health and Social Care Institute for Excellence, as part of a programme of work on implementing the MCA 2005. Mental Health Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123580.php Today's autism research draws on a variety of scientific disciplines, from genetics to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to neural development. At the 35th Carnegie Symposium on Cognition, "Development and Brain Systems in Autism," 16 of the world's most prominent autism researchers will present their latest groundbreaking findings on the disorder and discuss the direction of future study that will continue to improve scientists' understanding of autism. Autism Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123484.php We are all capable of the extraordinary savant skills displayed by people with autism according to Professor Allan Snyder, speaking at the Royal Society today. Snyder argues that it is our inbuilt expectations of the world that stop us from using them. Prof Snyder spoke on the savant syndrome and his efforts to 'turn on' autistic savant skills in people who don't have autism at a discussion meeting jointly organised by the Royal Society and the British Academy. Autism Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123389.php The University of Pittsburgh's Clinical and Translational Science Institute Community PARTners Program and the Research Network Development Core at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC will host a Mental Health and Wellness Lecture Series to inform the public of new discoveries into the causes and treatments of mental health illnesses. The series is free and open to the public. Programs will be held at Carnegie Libraries throughout the area. Mental Health Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123391.php Scientists at Yale School of Medicine have found that two-year-olds with autism looked significantly more at the mouths of others, and less at their eyes, than typically developing toddlers. This abnormality predicts the level of disability, according to study results published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Autism Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123327.php The Rett Syndrome Research Trust, a newly established nonprofit organization, is pleased to announce the launch of our operations and website (http://www.rsrt.org). In the wake of last year's dramatic pre-clinical reversal of Rett symptoms, the Trust has been formed to pursue the next steps toward treatment and cures for Rett Syndrome and the increasing range of MECP2 spectrum disorders. Autism Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123328.php Scientists at Yale School of Medicine have found that two-year-olds with autism looked significantly more at the mouths of others, and less at their eyes, than typically developing toddlers. This abnormality predicts the level of disability, according to study results published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Autism Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123063.php Autism Speaks, in partnership with the Ad Council and Autism Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123029.php A link between certain behaviors and the lack of the protein associated with Rett Syndrome - a devastating autism spectrum disorder - demonstrates the importance of MeCP2 (the protein) and reveals never-before recognized functions associated with aggression and obesity, said researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in a report in the current issue of the journal Neuron. "This protein is critical for the proper function of majority of neurons," said Dr. Huda Y. Autism Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123031.php A new study describes an exciting approach for mapping the specific neuronal origins of complex and varied behaviors characteristic of Rett syndrome (RTT), an autism spectrum disorder. The research, published by Cell Press in the September 25th issue of the journal Neuron, also uncovers a novel and unexpected role for the gene that causes RTT. Autism Thu, 25 Sep 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/122921.php The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), is pleased to announce that Bennett L. Leventhal, M.D., is the recipient of the AACAP George Tarjan Award for Contributions in Developmental Disabilities. The annual award recognizes a child and adolescent psychiatrist who has made significant contributions in a lifetime career to the understanding of mental retardation or developmental disabilities. Psychology / Psychiatry Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/122833.php On Friday, September 26 and Saturday, September 27, 2008 at The Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, The Help Group will host its Summit 2008, Advances and Best Practices in Autism, Learning Disabilities and ADHD. Autism Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/122753.php A rare genetic disorder called tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is yielding insight into a possible cause of some neurodevelopmental disorders: structural abnormalities in neurons, or brain cells. Researchers in the F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center at Children's Hospital Boston, led by Mustafa Sahin, MD, PhD, and Xi He, PhD, also found that normal neuronal structure can potentially be restored. Neurology / Neuroscience Thu, 18 Sep 2008 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/121910.php Curemark, LLC announced that Founder and CEO Dr. Joan Fallon has presented Curemark's most recent findings on autism at the Gordon Conference on Neurobiology and Brain Disorders which took place August 24-29 at Magdalene College in Oxford. This 5-day conference brings together some of the greatest research minds from around the world in the field of neurobiology both from academia and industry. Dr. Autism Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/121779.php According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of children diagnosed with autism is rising, creating concern and greater interest in the disorder. Addressing this need for information, the Florida Institute of Technology School of Psychology will host the second annual Autism Conference, "The Many Faces of Autism," on Oct. 3 and a series of workshops on Oct. 4. Autism