AUTISM RESEARCH

October 28, 2003

Hi to All,

Some very interesting research going on as stated below. Has anyone had

any experience and or knowledge in these areas. Jump right in Jane E.

we know you have all the secrets stashed away (ha). Would be GR8 to

hear what others have to say about these medical treatments.

CC: me in your replies PLS.... r_d_meyer@...

Thanks,

Bob

***********************************************************************

AutismConnect wrote:

> Hello,

>

> Contents:

>

> 1. Latest news

> 2. Adam’s Week

> 3. AutismJobs

>

> Key addresses:

>

> 1. www.autismconnect.org

> 2. www.autismjobs.org

> 3. www.autismcymru.org

>

> 1. The latest Autismconnect news items include a number of significant

research findings on autism and related disorders and various events around the

world.

> In Moscow, scientists have discovered that the drug, cerebrolysin - which

previous researchers had shown to have a beneficial effect in treating

Alzheimer's disease - may also help children with autism. Nineteen children with

autism and eight with Asperger's syndrome, aged two to eight years, were treated

with cerebrolysin in an inpatient clinic. The research team found that the

therapy resulted in improvement of cognitive functions (expressive and receptive

speech), fine motor and play skills. Cerebrolysin is believed to mimic a

naturally occurring growth factor in the body, resulting in the generation or

support of nerve cells in the brain.

>

> I was very interested to hear about this latest study because exactly two

years ago, a team from Rush University in Chicago and the Epilepsy Services in

Illinois announced that it had shown Aricept - another drug (also known as

Donapecil) used to ease the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease - might be effective

in treating some children with autism. The leader of that team, Dr Chez,

said that investigators had seen a clear improvement in both the understanding

of language and expression in children with autism during a brief treatment with

the drug. Dr Chez told a conference that the idea of using the medication on

autistic children had occurred to them after noticing that many of the problems

of speech and comprehension which affect these children can also been seen in

Alzheimer's sufferers. Aricept works by increasing the amounts of the

neurotransmitter, acetylcholine - considered essential for the mental processes

involving learning and speech - in the frontal lobes of the brain.

>

> Talking of language in autism, Dr Ralph-Axel Mueller, psychology professor at

San Diego State, published a study in this month's American Journal of

Psychiatry which he says may offer a more comprehensive model for the

development of the disorder – especially autistic individuals’ problems with

language. Dr Mueller found that, when people with autism make simple finger

movements, activity in the brain is more widely distributed than it is in

healthy subjects, and he said this suggested that, for people with autism,

early-developing functions, such as simple movements, use up more brain

resources and " crowd out " later-developing and more complex skills, such as

language abilities and other executive functions.

>

> Meanwhile, in another very intriguing study, researchers in the United States

and Japan announced on October 23 that they had found a genetic mutation which

causes obsessive-compulsive disorder and other mental illnesses, and said that

some patients had a second mutation that made their conditions worse. Dr Norio

Ozaki of Fujita Health University School of Medicine in Toyoake, Japan and

colleagues at several US institutions - including the University of Pittsburgh

and Yale University – The researchers analysed DNA from 170 people, including 30

patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 30 with eating disorders such

as anorexia and 30 with seasonal affective disorder - which can cause depression

and other symptoms in dark winter months. They also looked at the DNA of 80

healthy people. The researchers discovered a specific mutation in the human

serotonin transporter gene, hSERT - which helps to control how the body uses

serotonin, a message-carrying chemical or neurotransmitter linked with mood - in

two patients with OCD and their families, but not in other patients.

>

> They interviewed relatives of the patients and found that six of the seven

people with the mutation had an obsessive-compulsive disorder and some also had

Asperger's syndrome, anorexia, social phobia or were abusers of alcohol. A

second mutation was found in hSERT in two patients, giving them a " double dose. "

These patients and their siblings had especially difficult-to-treat versions of

OCD, the researchers said.

>

> This study fascinates me, because I have long suspected a connection between

OCD and autism (as you will see from Autismconnect’s lively Discussion forum on

OCD, which is still open), and this latest research may suggest a concrete

physiological link between the two disorders.

>

> Sadly, on the news front, the spectre of abuse of autistic children while in

care or in special education has reared its ugly head once again. The mother of

a 14-year-old autistic boy, whose death sparked a debate over the use of

restraints on institutionalised patients, has just sued the facility which cared

for him and the hospital where he died. The lawsuit claims that Bancroft

Neurohealth Inc. in Haddonfield and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia caused

Goodman's death on February 6, 2002, by first mishandling him and then

failing to provide proper medical care once he fell mortally ill. The lawsuit

describes Bancroft's care of the boy as " horrific, inhumane and barbaric. "

died from aspiration pneumonia, which his family believes he contracted

while at Bancroft under heavy restraints and sedation for months at a time.

Slade McLaughlin, a lawyer for ’s mother, said: " He was put into what I'd

call a prison-type setting, bound, over-medicated, allowed to lay on the floor

in a semi-comatose state, never allowed outside, never allowed to socialise or

to dress or feed himself, to the point where he didn't have much humanity left

in him. " Bancroft have denied the allegations.

>

> Meanwhile, in Austin, Texas, a safety officer at a middle school who shackled

an autistic child to his desk was fired on October 17. The boy’s grandmother,

Flora Flisowski, said her grandson, for whom she cares, told her he had spent

two hours with one end of a pair of leg irons around his leg and the other

attached to his desk. Flisowski questioned what would have happened if there had

been a fire when her grandson was secured to his desk. The shackling came three

weeks after her grandson was disciplined for switching on what was described as

a hot plate in a closet near science classrooms at Austin, Flisowski noted. The

boy said he had been mesmerised by the glow from the heating element, she added.

" He does not realise what he’s doing. He was just looking at a red light to him.

He has no fear. He does not understand danger. " She said she had not learned

about the incident and his three-day detention until the next day, when the city

fire marshal appeared at her home and informed her that her grandson would be

jailed if it happened again.

>

> 2. In my latest Adam’s Week column, " Teaching the police about autism, " I

report on a very important meeting I attended recently in London devoted to the

problems which may arise when autistic individuals come into contact with law

enforcement professionals. What can be done to avoid unnecessary conflicts and

misunderstandings when these encounters occur? Read my column and find out.

>

> 3. We are delighted to announce the following vacancies on autismjobs.

>

> Positions in this issue are:

>

> * Teaching Assistants

> * Development Officer

> * Play therapist

>

> To find out more about these jobs:

>

> * Read this newsletter and click on the links within each advert.

>

> To enquire about placing an advert:

>

> * Send an e-mail with your contact details to support@... .

> * We would also appreciate it if you would forward this e-mail to any

employers who you know are recruiting.

>

> Adam Feinstein, Editor, AutismConnect

>

> PS - unsubscribe details are at the bottom of this newsletter

>

> =====================================================================

>

> Employer : Beverley School and Service for Children with Autism

> Job title : Teaching Assistants

> Region : North East England

> Salary : see below

> Closing Date : 7/11/2003

> Job Ref. : AJ3

> Full/Part : Full

>

> Job Function : Teaching

>

> Follow this link to learn more about this employer -

http://autismconnect.c.tep1.com/maabA5Paa1Cjma6dxEsb/

>

> Job Description

> Required for January 2004, Teaching Assistants (Scale 3)

>

> One permanent (30 hours) and two temporary posts (30 hours and 15 hours) are

available.

>

> It may be possible to arrange an earlier start for some of the successful

applicants.

>

> Salary based on Scale 3, pro rata for 30 or 15 hours per week, 39 weeks per

year (term time plus PD days).

>

> Casual “supply” work is also available (paid at Scale 2).

>

> Beverley School is developing its role as a centre of excellence for children

with autistic spectrum disorders (asd). We have about 80 pupils on roll, age 3 –

19 years. We also provide support and advice to colleagues working with children

with asd in other schools.

>

> This is a successful specialist school, and a major building programme was

recently implemented to improve our facilities. We have already done a great

deal to build a skilled and well-motivated staff team, and we are looking to

further strengthen this team by appointing more teaching assistants on permanent

and fixed term contracts. Some of the posts need to be on temporary contracts

because they are linked either to funding for extra support for individual

pupils, or part of the cover arrangements for staff on leave/secondment.

>

> The successful applicants will work in a challenging but rewarding and

supportive environment. We have achieved Investor in People recognition, and

will provide an induction programme (to give an introduction to the specialist

approaches we use) and good continuing professional development opportunities.

>

> We are also interested in hearing from people who wish to be considered for

casual “supply” assistant work at the school.

>

> Contact Headteacher for application pack.

>

> Follow this link to learn more about this employer -

http://autismconnect.c.tep1.com/maabA5Paa1Cjma6dxEsb/

>

> ===============================================================

> Employer : Ceredigion Social Services

> Job title : Development Officer

> Region : Wales

> Salary : Point 26-33 [£19,185 - £24,048] pro rata

> Closing Date : 21/11/2003

> Job Ref. : AJ 1

> Full/Part : Part

>

> Job Function :

>

> Follow this link to learn more about this employer -

http://autismconnect.c.tep1.com/maabA5Paa1Cjna6dxEsb/

>

> Job Description

> DEVELOPMENT OFFICER – services to adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

[ASD] Based in Aberystwyth

> 18.5 hours p.w.

>

> This is a 3 year post initially with a view to permanence.

>

> Applications are invited from suitably qualified and/or experienced people for

this exciting new development post. The post holder will be based in

Aberystwyth but will travel extensively throughout the County. He/she will be

responsible for working closely with colleagues in Social Services Department,

Health, Education and the Voluntary Sector to ensure that adults with Autistic

Spectrum disorders are helped to achieve their potential through the provision

of services appropriate to their individual needs. He/she will also be

responsible for overseeing the implementation of the County’s recently developed

Strategic Vision for Adults with ASD and the forthcoming All Wales Strategy for

Autism being developed by the Welsh Assembly Government. This post will be

jointly managed by Ceredigion Social Services Department, Ceredigion Local

Health Board and Autism Cymru. For an informal discussion relating to the above

post, please contact Wayne , Service Manager, Ceredigion Social Services

Department 01545 572616.

>

> Follow this link to learn more about this employer -

http://autismconnect.c.tep1.com/maabA5Paa1Cjna6dxEsb/

>

> ===============================================================

>

> Employer : Private individual

> Job title : Play therapy with five year old autistic boy

> Region : Midlands

> Salary : to be determined

> Closing Date : 17/11/2003

> Job Ref. : AJ/1

> Full/Part : Part

> Job Function : Play therapist

>

> Follow this link to learn more about this employer -

http://autismconnect.c.tep1.com/maabA5Paa1Cjoa6dxEsb/

>

> Job Description

> Hours: 8 per week, 3.30pm to 5.30pm two days and four hours on Saturday

morning/lunchtime.

>

> We are seeking a lively, fun and inventive play therapist to spend 8 hours a

week with our autistic son. Tom is largely non verbal but making very good

progress using the Son Rise Options method. We have recently returned from an

Intensive week of this therapy in Massachusetts and the results in our son are

very impressive. Tom is a delightful child and loves his specially converted

playroom. He has no challenging " isms " but he does love to bounce on his

trampoline and run around so you need to be fairly mobile and not unfit! We

will give full training in the approach, using books, videos and feedback. We

have been running our programme for 10 months.

>

> It is a child led programme. Please note that although it is intensive (up to

40 hours a week in total) this is not an ABA programme and differs fundamentally

from the ABA approach.

>

> If you would like to make a difference to Tom's life please send us a brief

letter explaining why you are interested and your CV. If you want to know more

by all means email at mark.grabiec@.... Due to the amount of time we

spend in the playroom it's not convenient to telephone us but if you email us

your number we'll gladly call you back to discuss. We're based in Nottingham.

>

> NB we are also looking for volunteers to supplement our programme but this is

a paid position. If you are less experienced and would like training in this

approach in exchange for at least 4 hours a week for three months then please

write and mark your envelope volunteer.

>

> You can find out more about the programme at www.son-rise.org.

>

> Please send CVs to Sirr, 20 Calverton Road, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5

8FH

>

> Follow this link to learn more about this employer -

http://autismconnect.c.tep1.com/maabA5Paa1Cjoa6dxEsb/

>

> =====================================================================

>

> To view all of these jobs and more:

>

> * Visit www.autismjobs.org

>

> To go straight to AutismConnect:

>

> * Visit www.autismconnect.org

>

> To visit our sponsors, Autism Cymru:

>

> * Visit www.autismcymru.org

>

> To unsubscribe:

>

> * Please reply to this e-mail with the word 'unsubscribe' in the title of the

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October 28, 2003

IMO it would make more sense to focus on reducing the exposure to the toxins

which play a role in both autism and Alzheimer's but nobody profits from

reducing exposure.

My oldest nephew has vaccine-induced autism, triggered by the DPT. My mother

has early on-set (noticeable at age 52) Alzheimer's (advanced at age 66). Word

recall is so bad I gave her a set of PECS for use at the nursing home. She has

off-the-charts high nickel level. My maternal grandmother had late onset (90s)

Alzheimer's and we requested an autopsy for Alzheimer's research because my

mother was already showing signs. When I called and asked the pathologist why

they didn't have any info related to aluminum levels he said he was more

concerned about the mercury-Alzheimer's connection. So much so that he, his

wife, and his kids had their amalgams removed, not because they had any overt

toxicity symptoms but because of what he knew from his work in pathology.

They're really big on giving the (mercury-laden) flu shot to folks with

Alzheimer's...

S

> In Moscow, scientists have discovered that the drug, cerebrolysin - which

previous researchers had shown to have a beneficial effect in treating

Alzheimer's disease - may also help children with autism.

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October 29, 2003

Of course it's all right to ask!

IMO=in my opinion

OT=off topic (or occupational therapy)

>

> If it's alright to ask: What does " IMO " and " OT " stand for?

> Thanks.

>

October 29, 2003

If it's alright to ask: What does " IMO " and " OT " stand for?

Thanks.

RE: [ ] AUTISM RESEARCH