The Future of Neuroscience
Autism is the most common of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and affected 1 in 88 children born according to a March 2012 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the United States, it was estimated that 1 in every 54 boys and 1 in every 252 girls were diagnosed with autism. Symptoms such as stunted development of behavior, thinking, and/or social skills that usually occur between about 18 months and the age of three, but the growing problem with autism, however, is that it affects every individual differently.
Autism
Autistic children do not develop everyday language skills that the normal brain adapts to. Signs that may appear include a lack of speech or speech that is delayed, little or no eye contact, non-interest in constructing peer relationships, repetitive motions or lack of creative play. Despite the setbacks, not all aspects of their brain are affected. A child with autism may have better motor skills than cognitive skills or vice versa. Sudden or unplanned events and changes in daily routine can also upset a person with autism because it may be difficult to adapt. This includes a minor schedule tweak such as doing an activity before another or unexpected loud noises.
Over the past years, it has been proven that autism is becoming more prevalent. The increase may be occuring because better detection is uncovering more cases and/or because the actual number of autistic children are growing. There is no "specific" cause of autism because there are so many different genes and environmental factors that play into the development of autism. Studies have pinpointed certain genes that, alone, may be the cause of autism. Environmental factors may also occur before and after birth. These include events during pregnancy such as deprivation of oxygen to the child's brain or maternal disease.
There is no cure for autism, but monitoring behavioral changes and utilizing forms of treatment early on in a child's development can improve social and behavioral skills dramatically. The sooner autism is diagnosed, the better the success rate for autism treatment plans. These may include classes that are specifically designed for autistic children by helping them process information accordingly. Prevention of autism, however, can start even before conception. The age of the father, if it is too high, may increase the chance of the child developing autism. Diseases such as influenza and exposure to air pollution during pregnancy can increase the risk by two times! There is also a possibility that taking prenatal vitamins or eating a diet that supplies folic acid can help prevent the development of autism in a child during pregnancy.
The Blood Pressure Drug that Could Help Autistic Children
French researchers discovered the use of bumetanide, a drug commonly used to relieve high-blood pressure, to cure autism. They used it on subjects that displayed symptoms of autism, specifically, genetically altered mice and also rats that were given valproic acid. The drug, in theory, flips a “switch” on the chemical GABA that helps in the development of a child’s brain during pregnancy. Flipping the switch near birth increases the chance of preventing autism. The study is currently only being investigated in mice and rats, so over time, there is hope that a similar product can lead to the discovery of a cure for autism.
