Sensory Sensitivities Linked to Sleep Disturbances in Preschool Children with ASD
Study Finds Sleep Quality Related to Sensory Issues, Not Cognitive Abilities or Autism Severity An Israeli autism sleep study focusing on young children has come to a surprising conclusion. Sleep disturbances experienced by preschoolers are tied to sensory sensitivities and not linked to their cognitive abilities or even the severity of their autism symptoms. Previous […]
Age 6 Could Represent a Key Developmental Point for Kids with Autism
Study Finds 2 Trajectories: Continuously Improving & Improving then Plateauing Researchers from McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada have recently found that the severity of autism traits decrease for most children on the spectrum from age 3 to 6. Sadly, their new long-term study also shows that this positive developmental trajectory does not hold steady. Progress […]
Therapeutic Horseback Riding Programs Prove Beneficial for Children on the Spectrum
Improvements Detected in Social Interactions and Communication Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have been viewed as an alternative therapeutic approach for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous research has recognized AAI as a structured and goal-directed intervention that connects kids on the spectrum to nature, the environment, and animals. Now, a new study out of China […]
Early Acetaminophen Exposure May Damage the Endocannabinoid System, Leading to ASD
Can Cannabinoid Treatment Help Fix the System and Lessen Autism Symptoms? An international team of scientists recently published a mini-review article which examined the relationship between dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Through a system of complex cell signals, the ECS assists in regulating sleep, mood, appetite, […]
Prenatal Environmental Exposures Linked to Long-Term Mitochondrial Changes in Children with Autism
Mitochondrial Dysfunction May Be Worst Offender of 3 Prenatal Physiological Abnormalities Linked to ASD A new review published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction is the main source associated with prenatal physiological abnormalities related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There are three highly recognized prenatal physiological abnormalities affiliated with autism. The […]
Physically Fit Children Have Bigger Brains
Greater Amount of White Matter Linked to Superior Cognitive Performance An intriguing new Spanish study featured in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports has found that children with better physical fitness have larger brains than overweight or obese children. This discovery was made by a team of researchers from the University of […]
