May 15, 2022
Community Shares:
- A new article featured in MedPage Today reports that teen boys who had greater exposure to serum perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemical groups saw lower bone mineral density scores. PFOA and PFAS are chemicals used in non-stick and heat-resistant coatings in some types of cookware. Surprisingly, the same research discovered that the association was not found in teenage girls.
- Two U.S. Senators have introduced legislation to increase the amount of money that SSI beneficiaries can save without being disqualified. The bipartisan bill, known as the Savings Penalty Elimination Act, would increase the current caps, which are set at $2000 in assets per individual and $3000 for married couples to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples. These current limits have not been increased since 1984.
- A new systematic review has shown that people on the spectrum are at an increased risk of experiencing victimization. The meta-analysis discovered a pooled prevalence rate of victimization of 44% for people with autism. When investigating further into the specific types of abuse, the research team found the pooled prevalence rates for bullying to be 47%, 16% for child abuse, 40% for sexual victimization, 13% for cyberbullying, and 84% for multiple forms of victimization. The study’s authors believe their findings show that there is a need for strategies and interventions to reduce the incidence of victimization in the autism population.
- More than 24 leading health professionals and experts have come together for a complimentary two-week training series that teaches parents how to feed their children for the greatest developmental benefits. This online video series will focus on using healthy and enjoyable food to improve children’s health, concentration, moods, and behaviors.
- The Brain Foundation has opened up their Research Funding Proposals for research grants that will benefit the health, well-being, and independence of individuals with autism. The deadline for these proposals is May 31, 2022. The foundation’s primary focus is fostering basic and interdisciplinary translational research which could lead to effective therapeutic interventions to mitigate the core symptoms of autism and improve the functioning of people with the disorder.
