October 25, 2021
- The biotech company, Axial Therapeutics, has just added $37.25 million towards their effort to treat autism through the gut. In total, the company has raised over $90 million for its gut-brain axis research. These new funds will be used to conduct a Phase II trial of the company’s lead program, a gut-restricted molecular therapy for irritability in children with ASD called AB-2004.
- Omalizumab, an anti-inflammatory drug, was used to treat rhinitis in a 6-year-old boy with ASD and Hashimoto’s disease. The boy received 300 mg/month via subcutaneous injection for a total of 6 months. At the 2 month mark, improvements in allergic symptoms were observed. At the conclusion of the treatment period, not only had his rhinitis been ameliorated but substantial improvements of his ASD-related behaviors were recorded from multiple behavioral questionnaires.
- A new study has shown that children with autism receive their first diagnosis, intervention plans, and developmental services at earlier ages than in the past seventeen years. The research also demonstrated that demographic shifts in early identification have reduced disparities. For instance, more Latino and less Caucasian children are being diagnosed relative to their proportions in the overall population. The study ended by highlighting the need for additional research to gather more data on the diagnostic journey so that all children can achieve their full potential.
- A paper published last January reports that gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) are more common in preschool-aged children with ASD than other same-aged children with developmental delays and same-aged typically developing children. The ASD group was over 3 times more likely to have parent-reported GIS than typically developing children and 2 times more likely than the children with developmental delays. Within the ASD group, the preschoolers with developmental regression had more GIS than those without. However, there were no differences in autism severity scores between children with and without GIS.
- An original investigation has examined the rate of obesity in adolescents with and without ASD. The researchers discovered that the odds of obesity were higher in adolescents with ASD than those without. The paper additionally reported that the odds of obesity were higher for all adolescents who were Hispanic or Black, as well as those with lower household incomes. The research team calls for greater attention to nutrition, physical activity, and co-occurring conditions among adolescents with ASD. They also suggest finding effective interventions to reduce the risks of obesity among racial/ethnic minority adolescents and adolescents with lower household incomes.
- According to a new systematic review and meta-analysis, adults and children with ASD have substantially increased odds of self-injurious behavior and suicidality. The paper’s authors encourage further research to examine the role of primary care screenings, increased access to preventative mental health services, and lethal means counseling in reducing self-harm in this cohort.
