| Autism Science Foundation News - Vol 1, Issue 2: May 22, 2009 |
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Dr. Ami Klin of the Yale Child Study Center, Dr. Paul Offit of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and ASF President Alison Singer.
"Science and Sandwiches" Program Makes Delicious Debut
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On May 12, the Autism Science Foundation's first "Science and Sandwiches" meeting took place in New York City. The inaugural lunchtime event featured Dr. Ami Klin, who, along with several colleagues, published a paper in the March 29 edition of the journal Nature entitled "Two-year-olds with Autism Orient to Non-Social Contingencies Rather than Biological Motion". Dr. Klin is the Director of the Autism Program at the Yale Child Study Center and is a member of the Autism Science Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board. Discussion revolved around this new work's role in both diagnosis and treatment, as well as the importance of respecting the individuality of people with autism.
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| Chicago Tribune Runs Front Page, 2-Part Series on Junk Autism Science
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This week, the Chicago Tribune ran a front page, 2-part series, debunking the myth that a powerful castration drug called Lupron could help children with autism.
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Top Science News |
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UCLA scientists have discovered a variant of a gene called CACNA1G that may increase a child's risk of developing autism, particularly in boys. The researchers traced the genetic markers to CACNA1G, which helps move calcium between the cells. They discovered that the gene has a common variant that appears in the DNA of nearly 40 percent of the population.
Vaccines are among the most effective prevention tools available to clinicians. However, the success of an immunization program depends on high rates of acceptance and coverage. There is evidence of an increase in vaccine refusal in the United States and of geographic clustering of refusals that results in outbreaks.
Parents Ask: Am I Risking Autism By Vaccinating my Children? -- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities
If we were to compare risks mathematically, the risk of death or disability as a result of not vaccinating a child, while small, is significantly larger than the (probably near zero) risk of causing an autism spectrum disorder by immunizing. Some parents may say, "I don't care how small the risk is, I don't want to take it with my child." But the truth is if you refuse to take one immensely small risk, you are exposing your child to a much larger one; the risk of contracting and suffering severe complications of a disease from which protection is readily, cheaply, and almost painlessly available. |
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| Support the Autism Science Foundation |
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Please help support the Autism Science Foundation through our "First 100 Days" campaign. As a brand new organization, ASF needs startup funds and resources to catalyze high-quality research. During these challenging economic times, it is hard to ask for a donation (and even harder to make one), but we have no choice: Autism affects 1 out of every 150 individuals, and we don't know why. We must find out what causes autism and develop new treatments that will help children, teens and adults. We can't afford to waste a single dollar continuing to chase disproven theories, like a vaccine/autism connection, and we need to channel as much money as possible to the research. That's the mission of ASF.
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