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It’s no secret that being different can often cause isolation, and feeling isolated can lead to depression, but a shocking study shows that children with autism spectrum disorders are 28 times more likely to be suicidal. More
What does schizophrenia have to do with depression? Or bipolar disorder with autism and ADHD? Sure, they’re all psychiatric disorders, broadly defined; but depression and bipolar are mood disorders, autism is considered a developmental disorder, ADHD a neurobehavioral problem and schizophrenia a good, old-fashioned “mental illness.” it sure shakes things up a little bit to note that all five mental health issues may stem from a common genetic variation. More
Some children diagnosed as autistic seem to ‘grow out of it’ as they get older, according to a new National Institutes of Health study — adding to evidence that autism may not be a mental health issue at all. More
Say what you will about the Miss America pageant (like how it sexualizes women and perpetuates our society’s unhealthy obsession with body image), but they are doing something really awesome right now: They have announced their first-ever contestant with autism.
Meet Alexis Wineman. The 18-year-old recently entered the pageant and became not only the first autistic competitor, but a really healthy role model at the same time. It’s something that is a dream come true for her:
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A new study from the University of North Carolina found that brain changes linked to disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, bipolar disorder and autism can be seen in MRI scans of newborn babies with certain gene variants. More
I once went out with a guy who had Asperger’s syndrome, something I knew because he told me, on our first date, by way of warning me that he might not always pick up on things like sarcasm. Had he not disclosed this, I don’t think I would have picked up on anything (I’ve seen much less ability to pick up on intonation or social cues from plenty of non-autistic people). But that’s the thing about Asperger’s — people with the disorder often seem fairly “normal” and are capable of living relatively normal lives. Which is why there’s been an uproar about new mental health guidelines reclassifying Asperger’s patients as part of the “autism spectrum.” More
A new study about autism says that air pollution–including car exhaust and smog–could be seriously linked to the disease. Authors found that autistic children are two to three times as likely to have been exposed to pollution during their earliest days, drawing even stronger links to certain environmental causes of autism…and making Kelly Preston‘s ideas about environmental autism causes sound just a little more sane. More
Kelly Preston is speaking out about autism and the death of her son, Jett Travolta, for the first time in a segment on the show The Doctors. She says environmental factors and chemicals are a major cause of rising autism rates, and believes that they’re one of the thing’s responsible for Jett’s autism. While we’re probably all a little scarred by Jenny McCarthy’s crusade against vaccines, but this celebrity is worth hearing out: Not only is there real research and science behind her claims; she’s also promoting a lifestyle that’s generally pretty safe and healthy. Which is a much more appealing option than taking a gamble with vaccines. More
A new study says that old dads‘ sperm could account for as many as 30% of autism cases, and increased risk of other diseases, included schizophrenia. This is important in the field of autism research, certainly, but it also indicates that men’s “eggs”–i.e. their sperm–are not totally immune to the sands of time. Obviously, increased autism and schizophrenia rates aren’t cause for celebration, but admit it: A tiny voice in the back of your mind is cheering for the fact that women might not be the only ones who have to worry about a biological clock, after all. More
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Autism rates are climbing in the U.S.–which is leading scientists to look for some of the genetic and environmental factors which may be leading to the spike. So far, they’ve identified the age of the father and the weight of the mother, just to name a few. But a new peer-reviewed study, which specifically compared known metabolic causes of autism with environmental factors like high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has found some pretty disturbing preliminary findings–including the conclusion that HFCS may not be as harmless as the corn industry would like you to think. More
Children born to obese, hypertensive or diabetic mothers are 60% more likely to be autistic or have other developmental delays, according to a new study. This adds to a wealth of evidence linking maternal obesity with unhealthy or impaired children. Yet whenever the issue of pregnancy and weight gets attention—ahem, Jessica Simpson—everyone still acts like it’s mostly a matter of looks, or how it will affect post-pregnancy weight loss.
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According to a new study, autism is on the rise. The CDC previously estimated that one out of every 110 kids in the U.S. has the disorder, but now they are saying that it’s as many as one out of every 88. That’s a 25% increase that is leading people to want to know why. More
“Recent data and my own personal experience suggest it’s time to start thinking of autism as an advantage in some spheres, not a cross to bear,” says Dr. Laurent Mottron, MD, PhD, a professor at the University of Montreal’s department of Psychiatry and the director of the autism program at Rivière des Prairies Hospital in Montreal. According to his research, individuals with autism have certain qualities and abilities that could be superior to those without it. More
Newsrooms were slow over the holiday, but one headline that stood out this weekend was all about a new study linking autism to environmental factors. Before you close this window because you’re not autistic, don’t know anyone who’s autistic, or don’t have kids who could be autistic, continue reading: You should have more than a passing interest in this study. It’s caused a big shift in thinking about factors that cause autism, convincing many that it’s not just genetics, but environmental factors that could be at fault for the disease. While they aren’t sure exactly which environmental factors are linked to autism, I think the study provides a modicum of hope for anyone who faces health problems (which means all of us, at some point or another). More
