Altered Gut Microbiota in Children with Autism
New Study Provides Further Evidence that Gut Microbial Dysbiosis is Linked to ASD New research from China demonstrates that children with autism carry altered gut bacteria compared to children without the disorder. The authors of this new study started their research by recognizing many previous works have already tied altered gut microbiota to autism spectrum […]
U.S. Senators Call for a Social Security Beneficiary Advocate
Legislators Suggest Modeling Proposed Role After Existing Taxpayer Advocate Position Senators Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Ron Wyden, D-Ore, and Bob Casey, D-Pa recently sent a letter to President Joe Biden requesting a beneficiary advocate to champion the needs for Social Security participants, including those with disabilities. The senators propose that the advocacy role be modeled on […]
Prenatal External Environmental Exposure Linked to Increased Risk of ASD in Offspring
Study Finds That Valproic Acid Exposed Children Had a Higher Risk of Disorder than Non-Exposed Children Valproic acid (VPA) is a clinical drug used to treat epilepsy and mood disorders. Pregnancy exposure to the medication has been previously associated with a significant increase of autism risk in offspring. This previous research also showed that children […]
MIND Institute Reports ASD Characteristics Can Change Significantly Between Ages 3 to 11
About 50% of Children with Autism Had a Notable Change in the Severity of Their Symptoms The Autism Phenome Project (APP) was started in 2006 at UC Davis’s MIND Institute by Research Director David Amaral. The project includes a collaboration of numerous MIND Institute faculty and staff. It is intended to gather biological and behavioral […]
A Crisis Within a Crisis: How Individuals with ASD are Faring in War-Torn Ukraine
The Brain Foundation is Raising Money to Support Ukrainian Families Unable to Flee War Zone According to European Disability Forum estimates, there are roughly 260,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities, including autism in Ukraine. Approximately 30,000 of these individuals are in residential care homes. While women and children received priority evacuation from Ukraine at the beginning […]
COVID-19 Pandemic Caused Heartbreaking Delays in ASD Diagnoses and Treatment
Lockdowns Made an Already Difficult Situation Even Worse for At-Risk Children A recent CNN health article has investigated the distressing effects that COVID lockdowns had on children suspected of having ASD. The piece reported that even prior to the pandemic, children across the country often waited months and, in many cases, more than a […]
