2 October 2012

A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative

NEWS Proposed guidelines won't miss autism cases, study says Regression may mark one-third of autism cases VIEWPOINT Placenta plays potent role in autism risk IN BRIEF Cognition and behavior: Bilingualism aids people with autism Genetics: Early seizures define Rett-like syndrome Clinical research: Arthritis drug improves autism treatment TOOLBOX Human stem cells generate miniature brain regions BLOG Language boost Guest blog: Utah, revisited

NEWS

Proposed guidelines won't miss autism cases, study says

The proposed changes to the diagnostic criteria for autism are unlikely to exclude many people currently diagnosed with Asperger syndrome or pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified, according to a large analysis published today in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

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Regression may mark one-third of autism cases

About one in three children with autism abruptly lose language, social or other developmental skills in their second year of life, according to a meta-analysis published 2 August in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

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VIEWPOINT

Placenta plays potent role in autism risk

As the central organ regulating maternal-fetal interactions, the placenta is perfectly positioned to mediate environmental and genetic risk factors during prenatal development. It may also relay risk factors for autism to the fetus, says Paul Patterson.

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IN BRIEF

Cognition and behavior: Bilingualism aids people with autism

Being fluent in both English and Spanish may boost the use of communicative gestures in children with autism, according to a study published 1 August in the Journal of Child Neurology.

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Genetics: Early seizures define Rett-like syndrome

Mutations in the CDKL5 gene lead to developmental delay starting at birth, seizures that begin before 3 months of age, and subtly atypical facial features, according to a study published 8 August in the European Journal of Human Genetics.

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Clinical research: Arthritis drug improves autism treatment

The anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib, sometimes marketed as Celebrex, improves the effectiveness of risperidone for treating irritability in people with autism, according to a study published 11 July in Psychopharmacology.

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TOOLBOX

Human stem cells generate miniature brain regions

Researchers have induced stem cells to form three-dimensional clumps of neurons that resemble miniature brains, according to a study published 31 July in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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BLOG

Language boost
The antidepressant sertraline may improve language deficits in children with fragile X syndrome, according to a small study in the annual issue of Autism Research and Treatment.

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Guest blog: Utah, revisited

New analysis of an in-depth study of autism rates in Utah in the 1980s highlights how changing diagnostic guidelines may be contributing to the rise in prevalence.

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