Lower Levels of Serotonin Transporters Found in Brains of Individuals with ASD
Scientists from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published a paper last month in Molecular Psychiatry which shows that people with autism have lower levels of a protein which regulates the amount of serotonin in the brain.
Researchers Call for More Insight Concerning Self-Harm, Suicidal Thoughts For Those with Autism
An editorial published this month in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders written by several leading autism researchers requests further exploration into the field of self harm and suicidal thoughts in individuals with autism.
COVID-19 Disproportionately Impacting Those With Developmental Disabilities
A letter published recently in the American Journal of Psychiatry on behalf of the directors of the nation’s 13 intellectual and developmental disabilities research centers — which are funded by the National Institutes of Health — is sounding the alarm about the devastating impact the pandemic has had on an already vulnerable population.
Probiotics Beyond Yogurt
As we wrote in an earlier SafeMinds Shares article, taking probiotics may help with some symptoms of autism. Probiotics are also considered a healthy addition for anyone’s diet. BiomeHealth, a maker of probiotic products, has produced a handy list of probiotics beyond those containing dairy such as yogurt.
BYU Develops Special Glasses to Increase Eye Contact for Kids with ASD
Making eye contact is challenging for many children with autism. The inability to maintain eye contact can prevent children from developing meaningful social relationships. To assist with this dilemma, an engineering team at Brigham Young University (BYU) developed a unique pair of eyeglasses which display animated images on eyeglass lenses to increase engagement and ease children’s tension as they work on eye contact skills.
Disability Programs in Danger of Closing Due to COVID-19
Data collected in July by the American Network of Community Options and Resources or ANCOR showed that 77% of organizations serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have reported shutting down and discontinuing programs due to COVID-19. Unfortunately, 16% of those programs are never expected to reopen again.
