Marijuana Use During Pregnancy Linked to Autism
A new Canadian study which examined 500,000 births in Ontario between 2007 and 2012 found that .6% of pregnant mothers used Cannabis while pregnant. Of the total birth cohort of 500,000, 1.4% of children later received an autism diagnosis. That number increased to 2.2% for children whose mothers used marijuana during pregnancy. Public health institutions in Canada and the United States have long warned pregnant women to abstain from Cannabis while pregnant.
New Study Links Autism and Melatonin System Disturbances
The majority of individuals with autism have low melatonin levels which can lead to a myriad of conditions including sleep disturbances, emotional regulation disorders, sensory processing dysfunction, inflammation throughout the body and gastrointestinal disorders. A new study out of China believes that understanding the interplay between abnormal melatonin levels and symptoms and conditions experienced at the onset of autism is associated and could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
The Sluggish Pace of Autism Response by the Feds
On August 11, the Office of Autism Research Coordination (OARC) of the National Institute of Mental Health announced the release of its 2018-2019 Update to the IACC Strategic Plan For Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, or IACC, is the primary advisory body designated by Congress to address activities related to autism by the Federal Government. It was reauthorized and funded under the Autism CARES Act passed in 2019 and is charged with drafting and updating the autism strategic plan each year.
Young Adults with Severe Autism Need Fewer Supports if Competitively Employed
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University published an additional analysis of an on-going study of employment outcomes using the Project SEARCH model for young adults who are significantly impacted by autism. The model is a partnership of local hospitals, schools, and the departments of vocational rehabilitation.
Recommended Autism Screenings Occur About 50% of the Time Per AAP Guidelines
A new study published in Pediatrics reported that autism screenings recommended at 18 and 24 months per American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines take place only 54% of the time. This lower-than-predicted percentage rate may be due to screening gaps found in two populations: Hispanic children and children who see family practice physicians instead of pediatricians.
Could Oxytocin be the Key to Normalizing Social Behavior in Autism?
Swiss researchers have discovered that a mutation of the neuroligin-3 gene disrupts the hormone oxytocin’s signaling pathway in the brains of mice causing reduced social interactions in the rodents. When the study’s authors repaired the oxytocin system of the mice using a pharmacological treatment their social behavior normalized. This exciting new finding may point to new pharmacological treatments focusing on improved social behavior for individuals with autism.
