MIND Institute Study Finds Higher Autism Risk for Siblings of Children with ASD
A new study by the UC Davis MIND Institute and the Baby Siblings Research Consortium, published in Pediatrics, found that approximately 20% of siblings born after a child with autism are diagnosed with the disorder. This rate is seven times higher than the general population’s 2.5%.
Siblings of Children with Autism Face a 20% Higher Risk of ASD, 7 Times Higher Than Those Without a Sibling on the Spectrum
New research from the UC Davis MIND Institute and the Baby Siblings Research Consortium has revealed that siblings of children with autism face a significantly increased risk of autism themselves, approximately 20%.
Community Shares | June 3rd 2024
This week’s articles: Researchers have identified significant differences in brain development between boys and girls with autism aged 2-13; Gastrointestinal (GI) distress can reduce social behaviors in mice, suggesting a potential link between GI problems and ASD; Importance of moving from categorical diagnostic systems to a transdiagnostic dimensional approach for assessing childhood mental health disorders, particularly neurodevelopmental disorders, in early childhood; Autism Research Institute is hosting a webinar titled “Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction in Pediatric Acute Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS).
Community Shares | May 6th 2024
This week’s articles: Study highlights the pivotal role of early antibiotic use in reducing fatalities from infectious diseases, juxtaposed with the concerning trend of overuse leading to microbial resistance and potential harm to mental health; New research has examined the association between maternal migration background and traits of autism in children from early pregnancy to middle childhood; A federal grant has been awarded to UC David MIND Institute researchers Alex Nord and Diasynou Fioravante that will enable the team to delve into how an autism-linked gene called Chd8 impacts the cerebellum’s function and drives autism-like behaviors; The Autism Research Institute (ARI) has just announced that they are expanding access to their award-winning Autism Research Review International (ARRI) quarterly journal.
UC Davis Creates 4-Year Program for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
Through a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, UC Davis’ MIND Institute and Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is establishing a four-year college program for students with intellectual disabilities. This new program is expected to start in the fall 2021 with 12 students who hold diagnoses such as autism, Down’s syndrome, fragile X syndrome and other neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Immune System Dysfunction in Pregnancy Tied to Behavioral and Emotional Issues in Children with Autism
Children on the spectrum whose mothers experienced immune system irregularities during pregnancy have a greater risk of behavioral and emotional problems according to a study from UC Davis’ MIND Institute. This new research reviewed maternal immune history and used it as a predictor of autism symptoms in children. Immune system conditions recognized in this study included asthma, hypothyroidism, Raynaud’s disease, alopecia, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Autism Severity Can Change During Childhood
Does the degree of severity of autistic symptoms remain static during preschool and early elementary school years? If a change in severity is experienced, could the degree of variation be influenced by initial severity levels, sex, IQ or level of adaptive functioning? These thought-provoking questions were recently posed by a new study out of the MIND Institute at UC Davis.
Association Between Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Autism
Neurological research from the past decade has produced several studies investigating a possible relationship between autism and malfunctioning mitochondria. A 2010 UC Davis MIND Institute study, a 2016 British study, as well as other research, have consistently found mitochondrial disorders commonly linked to autism. At the conclusion of such studies, a call for more research is typically made by the authors.
