November 20, 2023
- According to new research, the exposure of pregnant women to insecticides during the first trimester may negatively affect their offspring’s neurodevelopment, particularly in boys. The current study also discovered that the mixture effect (e.g., when two or more compounds in a mixture interact that affect each other’s toxicity) was mainly influenced by trans-DCCA and TCPy. These findings suggest that apart from the usual factors that are known to impact child neurodevelopment, such as the pregnant woman’s nutrition, socio-economic status, and genetics, there is a pressing need for public health and policy measures to limit pesticide exposure among pregnant women.
- Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have used artificial intelligence (AI) to uncover a potential connection between sleep, gastrointestinal health, self-injury and aggression in people with profound autism. The study found that gastrointestinal issues could predict next-day challenging behaviors with over 80% accuracy for one-fifth of the participants. Also, poor sleep quality was a significant factor in predicting such behaviors. Using AI and machine learning on an extensive collection of data could help caregivers better anticipate and manage these challenging behaviors in individuals with autism, enhancing their care.
- A former Amazon employee with Asperger’s syndrome sued the company, alleging that he was bullied and abused by co-workers at a warehouse in San Bernardino, California. The employee claimed that Amazon did nothing when he reported the harassment. A jury awarded him $1.2 million after finding that Amazon intentionally inflicted emotional distress on the former employee when its human resources department failed to stop the harassment. During his tenure, the employee was called derogatory names, and one person asked why he was working there: “If you can’t do the job?” The lawsuit was filed in February 2021 and claimed that Amazon intentionally inflicted emotional distress and allowed the behavior to continue.
- Join Julie Matthews, MS and James Adams, PhD, for their webinar “Latest Research on the Benefits of Therapeutic Diets for Autism.” This live event takes place on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. PST. The researchers will cover their newly published study, which shows the benefits of therapeutic diets in reducing symptoms and autism severity in over 800 individuals. Registration for this webinar is required.
