A researcher from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has defined a new, integrated interpretation of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), which makes it easier to understand both the commonalities and differences between ASD and other conditions. In an article published in the December 2009 issue of The Neuroscientist titled: "The Medial Prefrontal Cortex and Integration in Autism," Dr. Dorit Ben Shalom recomme ...

Autism and related development disorders are becoming more common, with a prevalence rate approaching 1 percent among American 8-year-olds, according to new data from researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study is a partnership between UAB, the CDC and 10 other U.S. research sites. It shows that one ...

Children who received 40 1-hour sessions of hyperbaric oxygen over 4 weeks realized significant improvements across a number of different outcomes measures, such as receptive language, social interaction, stereotyped behaviors, and hyperactivity. Readers may be somewhat surprised to see a review of hyperbaric oxygen on this website. Obviously, this type of treatment does not fall under the purview of Clinic ...

Researchers* claim to have finally ruled out that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine contributes to the development of Autism in children with secondary gastrointestinal (GI) problems. Hornig et al. detail how a study in 1998 found GI abnormalities in children with Autism combined with parental reports of child behavioral problems following the MMR vaccine led to public fears that this vaccine mi ...

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) News service recently announced in a press release* that approximately $60 million will be committed to future Autism research. Funds are being received through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The grants will be issued under the name, "Research to Address the Heterogeneity in Autism Spectrum Disorders," to encourage research from diverse perspective ...

Roulette William Smith, Ph.D. details a potentially ground breaking theory that purports to unravel the mystery surrounding the underlying causative factors of autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and a host of other mental and physical illnesses in his paper entitled, "Inferring an Autovirulent Epigenetic Etiology for the Autism Spectrum and Schizophrenia*." Dr. Smith's theory originated from insights ...

Autism Speaks and the Autism Clinical Trials Network report that a new low dose, melt-in-your-mouth version of Fluoxetine failed to reduce repetitive behaviors in children and adolescents diagnosed with Autism. Physicians' clinical observations that Fluoxetine controlled these behaviors spurred this research. Fluoxetine is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that is commonly referred to as a "anti ...

I am very pleased to provide the response of our first invited guest commentator, Mirjam Kouijzer, lead author of the research discussed in the recent BMED Report article, Neurofeedback For Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Promising Results In A Small Sample.  The BMED Report extends a warm thanks to Mirjam Kouijzer and Hein van Schie for this response. Mirjam Kouijzer’s Response: Investigating effects of neuro ...

This current report extends the initial findings of  “Neurofeedback For Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Promising Results In A Small Sample” to a 1 year follow-up of the same participants with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).  Recall from the initial study that participants with ASD experienced statistically meaningful improvements in a variety of executive functioning, social, and behavioral areas following 4 ...

Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are characterized by significant deficits in social skills, attention/concentration, and communication, as well as emotional, cognitive, and behavioral impairments. Examples include Autism, Asperger's Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. I am not aware of any treatment that can "cure" ASD. Current therapies focus on symptom reduction, beha ...