The following is an archive of articles that have been removed from the Science News page. We hope you will find this collection useful as a historical reference:


Brain's Fear Center Shrinks in Autism's Most Severely Socially-Impaired

Scientists have discovered a change in the size of the amygdala in children with autism that is associated with deficits in facial expression recognition. The neuroanatomical findings observed in adolescents are linked to social impairments evidenced in early childhood.
12/12/06

Announcement - Call for Scientific Papers

Dr. Abha Chauhan and Science Publications, New York, USA announce a Special Issue of The American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (ISSN: 15533468) on autism spectrum disorders, to be published in 2007.
11/30/06

Scientists Gather to Discuss "Hormones of Emotion"
Translational Medicine Meeting Convenes Top Researchers in Chemistry of Emotional Regulation

Experts met last month to review recent discoveries on how the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin might regulate emotion and complex social behavior, in an Autism Speaks-sponsored gathering in Atlanta. Oxytocin and vasopressin are two peptide hormones found in the brain and shown to participate in social behavior, stress, anxiety and affiliative behaviors including social communication.
11/03/06

Vitamin B12 Injections for Autism Show No Signs of Benefit

In this Psychiatric Times article, preliminary results of a small ongoing study of vitamin B12 injections for children with autism showed no signs of significant benefit, researchers reported on Oct. 30, at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry meeting in San Diego, but they remained hopeful.
10/31/06

Nature Neuroscience Focus on Childhood Developmental Disorders

Nature Neuroscience, a multidisciplinary journal that publishes papers in all areas of neuroscience, has produced a special focus on childhood developmental disorders, including autism. The journal explores different perspectives on the overlap between normal and abnormal development, as well as the commonalities between different disorders. Autism Speaks, Cure Autism Now and March of Dimes are sponsors of this special publication which is available online at no cost through December 2006.
11/01/06

Autism Speaks Hosts Gastroenterology Workshop

Responding to community interest, Autism Speaks hosted a workshop on autism and gastroenterology in Boston on October 13, 2006. The objectives of the workshop were to (1) review current scientific evidence for GI issues associated with autism, (2) develop consensus scientific priorities for autism gastroenterology research, and (3) suggest an approach to establish best clinical practices for autism gastroenterology.
10/17/06

Multi-Center Research Team Discovers Genetic Link to Autism

In a multi-center study of 222 families in the United States, scientists have found a strong genetic link to autism on chromosome 7. The study, in which five large universities participated, was part of the National Institutes of Health Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism, or CPEA .
09/12/06

Autism Speaks Announces New Grants For Researchers Studying Early Intervention Strategies

Autism Speaks is proud to announce a new funding opportunity for researchers studying early intervention strategies for children at risk for developing autism. This new funding initiative reflects the mission of Autism Speaks to fund scientific research into the treatments of autism spectrum disorder, providing researchers with resources in order to help those affected with autism.
09/06/06

New Study Discovers Statistically Significant Link between Abnormally Low Cholesterol Levels and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Finding Leads Kennedy Krieger Researchers Down New Road in Autism Research

A study published in the American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B (Neuropsychiatric Genetics) found that a small subgroup of children with ASD have abnormally low cholesterol levels (hypocholesterolemia), leading researchers to believe cholesterol may play a role in the cause of some cases of the disorder.
09/05/06

Report: Early Abnormality in Autism
Researchers Find Placental Tissue Changes in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders

In search of early markers for autism spectrum disorder, researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found abnormalities in placental tissue from children later diagnosed with the disorder. In a report in the June 26 online issue of Biological Psychiatry, the research team told of finding a three-fold increase in placental trophoblast inclusions, a distinct abnormality, in children with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, compared to a control group of unaffected children.
09/01/06

Animal Studies Show Abnormalities Caused by Excessive Ultrasound
Developing Mouse Embryo Brains Affected; Connection to Autism Remains Unclear

Prolonged and frequent use of ultrasound waves on pregnant mice caused abnormalities in the brain of the developing mouse embryo, Yale School of Medicine researchers reported in the August 7, 2006 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
08/24/06

Understanding the Role of Chromosome 15 in Autism

While it is thought that many genes on multiple chromosomes contribute to symptoms of autism, numerous research studies have focused on mutations of chromosome 15. In order to better explain the relationship between mutations of chromosome 15 and autism, Dr. N. Carolyn Schanen answers some of the most frequently asked questions about chromosome 15 and autism spectrum disorders.
08/16/06

Autism Genome Project Researchers Spearhead New Genetics Discovery

Researchers have found that different genes may be responsible for causing autism in boys than in girls. The findings also support the notion that multiple genes contribute to autism spectrum disorder.
08/03/06

Research Links Autism to Brain Structure
Cells in Amygdala Implicated, According to Autism Speaks-funded Research

A new study published by Autism Speaks-funded researcher David Amaral in the July 19, 2006 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience examined the relationship between the size of the brain structure known as the amygdala and autism-specific behaviors.
07/18/06

Tracing the Origins of Autism: A Spectrum of New Studies

Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP), a monthly journal of peer-reviewed research and news on the impact of the environment on human health, published a survey of recent autism research in its July 2006 issue. EHP is published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
07/01/06

Researchers, Scientists Share New Autism Research Findings

Nearly 900 researchers, scientists, students, parents and others were on hand in Montreal on June 1-3, 2006, at the International Meeting for Autism Research, the largest-ever of leading autism researchers from around the world. Autism Speaks was among the sponsors.
08/01/06

Neurobiology of Autism Workshop Summary Made Available

A summary from the Society of Neuroscience has been made available of a workshop focusing on the neurobiology of autism organized by Autism Speaks board member and Scientific Affairs Committee member Dr. Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom. Experts in diagnosis, neurobiology, neuroanatomy, neuroimaging, animal models and genetics gathered together at the Nov. 11, 2005, program to share the most recent scientific advances in their fields, and outlined the most important questions to answer with future research.
06/25/06