Study follows new siblings of kids with autism

[Guest guest]

Study follows new siblings of kids with autism

Researchers want to examine environmental, genetic factors

Autism is a collection of related neurobiological conditions that is being

reported more often. Researchers are now exploring genetic and environmental

factors that may contribute to the disorders that affect social interactions and

communication. M. e Fallin, an associate professor of epidemiology at the

s Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is the principal investigator

of a multistate study, called the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation,

or EARLI, that is looking at siblings of those with the disorders.

The study is funded federally and by Autism Speaks, a national advocacy and

science organization that will hold Walk Now for Autism Speaks outside M & T Bank

Stadium on Oct. 30. The 5K walk and festival aim to raise funds and awareness.

Fallin discusses the disorders and the study.

Question: How common have autism diagnoses become?

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Answer: The CDC now estimates that 1 in 110 children has some type of Autism

Spectrum Disorder, a term that includes autism, Asperger's and several related

conditions. The prior CDC estimate, from two years earlier, was 1 in 150, but

it's unclear if we're seeing a true rise in ASDs, the result of broadened

criteria or better diagnosis — or a combination of those factors.

Q: What does it mean to have autism?

A: ASDs are a spectrum of neurobiological disorders that affect communication,

social interactions and repetitive behaviors. But what's striking is the range

of function and dysfunction. With classic autism, people might be nonverbal or

display behaviors such as rocking, hand flapping or self-injury. With

Asperger's, they might be extremely verbal but perhaps socially awkward. Many

people with ASDs have sensory difficulties, and some have gastrointestinal

problems. In short, no two people on the autism spectrum are exactly alike, but

all seem to have some level of impaired communication.

Q: Why has it been so hard to figure out a cause? And why are researchers

focusing on genetic and environmental risks?

A: A lot of past research has focused on either a genetic cause or an

environmental cause, but we're moving beyond that one-or-the-other approach.

Scientists have identified multiple genes and mutations that seem to be related

to ASDs, but it's more complex than just genetics. Environmental factors —

whether diet, infections or exposures — may influence how genes are expressed.

ASDs are a varied set of conditions — and they may well have combinations of

genetic and environmental risks. Further, when considering environmental factors

that may combine with genes, both experiences of the mother during pregnancy and

of the child during early life may be relevant.

Q: What will you learn from the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation

that you are participating in?

A: Research shows that younger siblings of a child with ASD have a higher rate

of ASDs themselves. So we are enrolling mothers who have a child with ASD, then

following them at the start of a new pregnancy until that new baby turns 3. This

approach allows us to gather a lot of information as it occurs during pregnancy

and early life, which increases the accuracy of the data. As we gather

information about maternal health, diet, behavior and environmental exposures,

we're also getting biological samples, including blood and hair. All this gives

us important genetic and environmental data so that many risk factors can be

considered in the same study. Once the baby is born, the child will receive free

developmental assessments from 6 months until age 3. The families get reports on

their child's development, so if any red flags arise, parents can take that

information and seek early intervention, which is key to getting the best

outcome for a child. EARLI is a major undertaking, being conducted here in

land, in Pennsylvania and in California. We want to enroll a total of 1,200

mothers over the course of the 10-year study.

Q: Could the study help you prevent or better treat autism?

A: EARLI can't prevent ASDs for the families who participate. But the free

developmental assessments can assist families in seeking early intervention if

their new child is showing signs of a delay. Results from EARLI won't be

available for a number of years. But in time, we hope that EARLI does uncover

risk factors for autism, potentially leading to prevention or better treatment

in the long term.

For more information about EARLI, go to http://www.earlistudy.org