Simons Foundation News http://www.simonsfoundation.org/ Latest news and articles from Simons Foundation Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:05:00 -0400 en New study casts doubt on autism mouse model http://feeds.simonsfoundation.org/~r/SimonsFoundation/~3/369126526/new-study-casts-doubt-on-autism-mouse-model <p>Directly contradicting a report of a promising autism mouse model, mice carrying a mutation in the neuroligin-3 gene show no signs of the disorder, according to a study published in <em>Autism Research</em> <sup>1</sup>.</p><p>The study, published in June, has left researchers in the field struggling to reconcile the results with those</p> Directly contradicting a report of a promising autism mouse model, mice carrying a mutation in the neuroligin-3 gene show no signs of the disorder, according to a study published in Autism Research 1.

The study, published in June, has left researchers in the field struggling to reconcile the results with those

]]> http://sfari.org/news/new-study-casts-doubt-on-autism-mouse-model Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:05:00 -0400 http://sfari.org/news/new-study-casts-doubt-on-autism-mouse-model http://sfari.org/news/new-study-casts-doubt-on-autism-mouse-model Papers that defined diagnostic tools for autism research: Commentary by Isabelle Rapin and Sylvie Goldman http://feeds.simonsfoundation.org/~r/SimonsFoundation/~3/364785439/papers-that-defined-diagnostic-tools-for-autism-research-commentary-by-isabelle-rapin-and-sylvie-goldman <p>It took 50 years for scientists to develop instruments reliable enough to be considered the gold standards for diagnosing autism.</p><p>Autism has always been around, but it was not until the mid-1940s that Leo Kanner in the United States and Hans Asperger in Austria, both physicians, independently described children with what we</p> It took 50 years for scientists to develop instruments reliable enough to be considered the gold standards for diagnosing autism.

Autism has always been around, but it was not until the mid-1940s that Leo Kanner in the United States and Hans Asperger in Austria, both physicians, independently described children with what we

]]> http://sfari.org/news/papers-that-defined-diagnostic-tools-for-autism-research-commentary-by-isabelle-rapin-and-sylvie-goldman Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:10:00 -0400 http://sfari.org/news/papers-that-defined-diagnostic-tools-for-autism-research-commentary-by-isabelle-rapin-and-sylvie-goldman http://sfari.org/news/papers-that-defined-diagnostic-tools-for-autism-research-commentary-by-isabelle-rapin-and-sylvie-goldman Grouping similar traits in autism uncovers new genetic culprits http://feeds.simonsfoundation.org/~r/SimonsFoundation/~3/361946084/grouping-similar-traits-in-autism-uncovers-new-genetic-culprits <p>Sorting diverse autism cases into subgroups that share similar traits — such as language delay or intelligence quotient (IQ) — reveals two genomic regions associated with the disorder, researchers have found.</p><p>The study, published online in July, is the second from the Autism Genome Project, a multisite effort to identify autism-related genes<sup></sup></p> Sorting diverse autism cases into subgroups that share similar traits — such as language delay or intelligence quotient (IQ) — reveals two genomic regions associated with the disorder, researchers have found.

The study, published online in July, is the second from the Autism Genome Project, a multisite effort to identify autism-related genes

]]> http://sfari.org/news/grouping-similar-traits-in-autism-uncovers-new-genetic-culprits Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:10:00 -0400 http://sfari.org/news/grouping-similar-traits-in-autism-uncovers-new-genetic-culprits http://sfari.org/news/grouping-similar-traits-in-autism-uncovers-new-genetic-culprits The evil Internet http://feeds.simonsfoundation.org/~r/SimonsFoundation/~3/359433638/the-evil-internet <p>I’m a journalist and a blogger — stands to reason that I think all things Internet are generally good. It’s a lot easier to find out what I should write about, whom I should interview about it, how I can reach them… you know the drill. Life is just easier.</p><p>Apparently, though,</p> I’m a journalist and a blogger — stands to reason that I think all things Internet are generally good. It’s a lot easier to find out what I should write about, whom I should interview about it, how I can reach them… you know the drill. Life is just easier.

Apparently, though,

]]> http://sfari.org/autism-blog/title/the-evil-internet Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:10:00 -0400 http://sfari.org/autism-blog/title/the-evil-internet http://sfari.org/autism-blog/title/the-evil-internet Experts quibble over brain regions involved in emotion and empathy http://feeds.simonsfoundation.org/~r/SimonsFoundation/~3/357724468/experts-quibble-over-brain-regions-involved-in-emotion-and-empathy <p>Emotional self-awareness and empathy, two related qualities that those with autism often lack, are associated with activity in the anterior insula, a region of the brain thought to regulate feelings, researchers have found<sup>1</sup>.</p><p>The results, published in the June issue of <em>Social Neuroscience</em>, are at odds with other findings in the</p> Emotional self-awareness and empathy, two related qualities that those with autism often lack, are associated with activity in the anterior insula, a region of the brain thought to regulate feelings, researchers have found1.

The results, published in the June issue of Social Neuroscience, are at odds with other findings in the

]]> http://sfari.org/news/experts-quibble-over-brain-regions-involved-in-emotion-and-empathy Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:50:00 -0400 http://sfari.org/news/experts-quibble-over-brain-regions-involved-in-emotion-and-empathy http://sfari.org/news/experts-quibble-over-brain-regions-involved-in-emotion-and-empathy In quest for autism's origins, pesticides and pet shampoos also candidates http://feeds.simonsfoundation.org/~r/SimonsFoundation/~3/352891232/in-quest-for-autism-s-origins-pesticides-and-pet-shampoos-also-candidates <p>In the past year, there have been numerous reports linking autism and exposure to, among other things, pesticides<sup>1</sup>, power plants<sup>2</sup> and pyrethrin-based pet shampoos.</p><p>Statistical associations, however, are just the first step toward implicating risk. Connecting exposure to an autism-relevant biological pathway bolsters the evidence that environmental risk factors play</p> In the past year, there have been numerous reports linking autism and exposure to, among other things, pesticides1, power plants2 and pyrethrin-based pet shampoos.

Statistical associations, however, are just the first step toward implicating risk. Connecting exposure to an autism-relevant biological pathway bolsters the evidence that environmental risk factors play

]]> http://sfari.org/news/in-quest-for-autism-s-origins-pesticides-and-pet-shampoos-also-candidates Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:34:00 -0400 http://sfari.org/news/in-quest-for-autism-s-origins-pesticides-and-pet-shampoos-also-candidates http://sfari.org/news/in-quest-for-autism-s-origins-pesticides-and-pet-shampoos-also-candidates Signals of schizophrenia http://feeds.simonsfoundation.org/~r/SimonsFoundation/~3/350893547/signals-of-schizophrenia <p>People with schizophrenia have a much higher frequency of duplications and deletions in their DNA, two independent teams of researchers are reporting today. The teams have both found that schizophrenia is associated with genetic changes in regions of chromosomes 1, 15 and 22.</p><p>This isn’t entirely surprising — several other teams have</p> People with schizophrenia have a much higher frequency of duplications and deletions in their DNA, two independent teams of researchers are reporting today. The teams have both found that schizophrenia is associated with genetic changes in regions of chromosomes 1, 15 and 22.

This isn’t entirely surprising — several other teams have

]]> http://sfari.org/autism-blog/title/signals-of-schizophrenia Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:07:00 -0400 http://sfari.org/autism-blog/title/signals-of-schizophrenia http://sfari.org/autism-blog/title/signals-of-schizophrenia Experts slam NIH study on chelation therapy http://feeds.simonsfoundation.org/~r/SimonsFoundation/~3/348609955/experts-slam-nih-study-on-chelation-therapy <p>Researchers and bioethicists are reacting with anger to reports of a US National Institutes of Health study, intended to investigate the controversial chelation treatment for children with autism.</p><p>The protocol is under ethical review at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Once approved by the institute, the researchers plan to submit</p> Researchers and bioethicists are reacting with anger to reports of a US National Institutes of Health study, intended to investigate the controversial chelation treatment for children with autism.

The protocol is under ethical review at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Once approved by the institute, the researchers plan to submit

]]> http://sfari.org/news/experts-slam-nih-study-on-chelation-therapy Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:01:00 -0400 http://sfari.org/news/experts-slam-nih-study-on-chelation-therapy http://sfari.org/news/experts-slam-nih-study-on-chelation-therapy An illness by any other name http://feeds.simonsfoundation.org/~r/SimonsFoundation/~3/346002793/an-illness-by-any-other-name <p>Earlier this week, at a staff meeting at the foundation, we were talking, as we often do, about the relationship between genes and autism, and the tenuous, ill-understood connections between the two.</p><p>We’re a diverse bunch here, with diverse educational backgrounds — spanning all the way from director Gerry Fischbach to admin</p> Earlier this week, at a staff meeting at the foundation, we were talking, as we often do, about the relationship between genes and autism, and the tenuous, ill-understood connections between the two.

We’re a diverse bunch here, with diverse educational backgrounds — spanning all the way from director Gerry Fischbach to admin

]]> http://sfari.org/autism-blog/title/an-illness-by-any-other-name Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:05:00 -0400 http://sfari.org/autism-blog/title/an-illness-by-any-other-name http://sfari.org/autism-blog/title/an-illness-by-any-other-name Ready or not, here come genetic tests for autism http://feeds.simonsfoundation.org/~r/SimonsFoundation/~3/344124057/ready-or-not-here-come-genetic-tests-for-autism <p>Late in June, an announcement appeared on the website of GeneDx, a genetic testing company based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. It was highlighted in red with a single word: “new”.</p><p>“As of June 20, 2008 GeneDx offers Tiered Testing Panels for Individuals with Autism [and] Autism Spectrum Disorders,” it proclaimed.</p><p>An accompanying information sheet</p> Late in June, an announcement appeared on the website of GeneDx, a genetic testing company based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. It was highlighted in red with a single word: “new”.

“As of June 20, 2008 GeneDx offers Tiered Testing Panels for Individuals with Autism [and] Autism Spectrum Disorders,” it proclaimed.

An accompanying information sheet

]]> http://sfari.org/news/ready-or-not-here-come-genetic-tests-for-autism Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:42:00 -0400 http://sfari.org/news/ready-or-not-here-come-genetic-tests-for-autism http://sfari.org/news/ready-or-not-here-come-genetic-tests-for-autism