November 11, 2024
- A pioneering study from China has investigated the prevalence, incidence, and associated conditions of ASD among preschool-aged children in Beijing. By analyzing data from the Beijing Municipal Health Big Data and Policy Research Center, researchers found that in 2021, the prevalence of ASD among 6-year-olds was 10.5 per 1,000, with a male-to-female ratio of 4.3. About 40-43% of children with ASD had at least one other co-occurring condition, and the incidence rate rose from 0.11% in 2019 to 0.18% in 2021, suggesting an increase over time. These findings align with rates in developed countries, underscoring the growing public health concern around ASD in China and the importance of early diagnosis initiatives in major urban centers.
- A follow-up analysis on hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in children with autism confirms earlier findings of notable improvements in verbal milestones when HBOT is combined with ABA therapy. Using MANOVA, a more detailed statistical method, researchers found consistent results with previous tests, especially in verbal behaviors measured by VB-MAPP, showing significant differences and substantial effect sizes between groups. However, differences were less apparent for other skill measures (ABLLS) due to small sample sizes, limiting statistical power. Overall, this analysis supports the potential of HBOT as an effective addition to ABA therapy for verbal development in children with autism, and it highlights MANOVA’s value in strengthening and broadening the original study’s conclusions.
- New research has evaluated the REACT system, a real-time multimodal machine learning (ML) model designed to detect early signs of agitation—called “agitations”—in children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Using wearable technology, the system captures behavioral and physiological data that can identify subtle signs of distress often missed by the human eye. Tested with children aged 6 to 9, the REACT model achieved a high accuracy, with an F1 score of 78.69% at the time of agitation and 68.20% when predicting 20 seconds in advance. By providing caregivers with proactive, real-time insights, this technology offers a crucial opportunity to intervene early, potentially preventing challenging behaviors like self-injury and aggression. The REACT system holds promise for improving safety, autonomy, and quality of life for individuals with IDD, aligning with broader goals of enhancing self-determination and inclusion in care settings.
- Join Technology Networks for an informative webinar about glial cells’ vital role in neurodegenerative diseases affecting the brain and nervous system. New techniques have made it possible to create human glial cells in a lab setting, which support and communicate with neurons. These models help scientists understand how glial cells may drive disease-related inflammation and degeneration. In this session, participants will discover how glial cells contribute to nervous system diseases, methods for creating human glial cell models, insights into how multiple sclerosis affects cells, and how advanced cell models can be used to study neurodegeneration.
