Autism Archives - Today's Practitioner

Prenatal Vitamin Intake May Reduce Autism Recurrence Risk in Siblings

Maternal use of folic acid supplements has been inconsistently associated with reduced risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the child. This study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, examined whether prenatal vitamin use by mothers was associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) recurrence in high-risk families. This prospective cohort study analyzed dataRead …

Microbiota-Mediated Regulation of the Immune System in a Prenatal Immune Activation Model of Autism

In what is being described as cutting-edge research, published in the Journal of Immunology, scientists from the University of Virginia School of Medicine suggest that a mother’s microbiome during pregnancy plays a critical role in determining the child’s risk of developing autism-spectrum disorders. The study raises the possibility that autismRead …

Omegas and Autism: 3 Studies Show Promise for Some Spectrum Disorder Symptoms

As parents and pediatricians struggle to find effective therapies for children with autistic spectrum disorders, researchers are honing in on the mechanisms of Omega fatty acids in brain development for this complex systemic condition. We’ve collected some recent studies on Omegas and autism that show promise.

Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Deficiencies & Potential Mechanisms in ADHD

In this study, published in Neuropsychopharmacology, researchers concluded that there is strong evidence supporting a role for n3-PUFAs deficiency in ADHD, and for advocating n-3 PUFAs supplementation as a clinically relevant intervention in this group, especially if guided by a biomarker-based personalization approach.

Are You in There? What’s Behind Autism?

All of our children are gifts, and this includes those with autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. In this video, from a previous Clinical and Scientific Insights CASI conference, Nancy O’Hara MD says, “these children may be wrapped in many layers of wrapping paper. It is our job to try toRead …

Newly Found Lymphatic System Connects Brain & Immunity

You can forget everything you learned in medical school about the lymphatic system (well, not everything). But researchers at the University of Virginia found undiscovered vessels that directly connect the brain and lymphatic system, as published in Nature. Despite decades of contrary opinions they did not exist, this changes everythingRead …

Pesticides: Our Children in Jeopardy

The recently released Pesticide Action Network North America report “A Generation in Jeopardy” is replete with information and over 200 citations.1 This is a synopsis of some of the points made in this report…

Nutritional Factors and Management of Autism

Autism is thought to have a multifactorial etiology that includes hereditary and environmental triggers accompanied by gastrointestinal disorders, such as chronic duodenitis, gastritis, reflux esophagitis, intestinal lymphoid…