FW: [abmd] Fever can loosen grip of autism, says study

[Guest guest]

[abmd] Fever can loosen grip of autism, says study

Fever can loosen grip of autism, says study

Web posted at: 12/3/2007 1:29:3

Source ::: REUTERS

CHICAGO . Fever can temporarily unlock autism's grip on children, a finding

that could shed light on the roots of the condition and perhaps provide

clues for treatment, researchers reported yesterday.

It appears that fever restores nerve cell communications in regions of the

autistic brain, restoring a child's ability to interact and socialise during

the fever, the study said.

" The results of this study are important because they show us that the

autistic brain is plastic, or capable of altering current connections and

forming new ones in response to different experiences or conditions, " said

Dr Zimmerman, a pediatric neurologist at Baltimore's Kennedy Krieger

Institute, who was one of the study authors.

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, was based on 30 children

with autism aged 2 to 18 who were observed during and after a fever of at

least 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 C).

More than 80 percent of those with fever showed some improvements in

behavior during it and 30 percent had dramatic improvements, the researchers

said. The change involved things like longer concentration spans, more

talking, improved eye contact and better overall relations with adults and

other children.

Zimmerman's team said the fever effect had been noted anecdotally in the

past by parents and doctors.

Lee Grossman, president and chief executive officer of the Autism Society of

America, said he had noticed it in his own son, who is now 20.

But he noted in an interview that the study's authors said expanded research

was needed on the fever effect and its implications

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" The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason " . lin

[Guest guest]

Wow! My son has always shown great improvement during fever and is never cranky

like my other kids. I am excited by this research. We never know he has fever

until we feel him because he is so so good.

~By His Grace, and for His Glory~

Crystal