Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is a developmental disorder, impairing an individual’s ability to interact with others and behave appropriately. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a spectrum. Dr. Rebecca Landa, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University, said in an interview, “If you meet one person with autism, you meet one person with autism.” Each person with …
Continue reading Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Early Theories to Current Insights
I previously mentioned that maternal diabetes during pregnancy has been related to an increased risk of autism. This is an idea that has been shown in my family; my Mom has Type 1 Diabetes and my brother is diagnosed with ASD Level 1. The role of inflammation in diabetes pathophysiology may be the underlying role …
Continue reading Understanding Intrauterine Inflammation and Autism Risk
This past October, Keith Wargo became the president and CEO of Autism Speaks, an organization dedicated to aiding individuals on the spectrum and their families. Responsible for the management of Autism Speaks, Wargo works to guarantee that the mission of the organization is being fulfilled. Autism Speaks is working to promote greater understanding and acceptance, …
Continue reading Keith Wargo: Leading Autism Speaks Into a New Era
In 1998, Andrew Wakefield published a paper, claiming that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine caused symptoms including intestinal inflammation, among other things that led to the consequent development of autism. This paper was scientifically flawed and even fraudulent due to data misrepresentation. Wakefield claimed that autism arose as a result of intestinal inflammation …
Continue reading Vaccine Safety: Fact vs. Fiction in Autism Research
As a researcher, one thing I have always been fascinated with, is how the autistic brain differs from the neurotypical brain. How specific environmental stimuli in the brain of an autistic child compares to the response occurring in a neurotypically-developing child. Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Dr. Geraldine Dawson, the …
Continue reading Early Interventions in Autism: A Conversation with Dr. Geraldine Dawson
Dr. Rebecca Landa is a professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University and a highly influential autism researcher. She also founded the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Her research has focused mainly on the neuropsychological communication and language processes of autism throughout an …
Continue reading The Importance of Person-First Language: Dr. Rebecca Landa’s Perspective
I recently had the wonderful opportunity to interview Dr. Wendy Chung, the director of clinical research at SPARK and a supervisor of education in human genetics at Columbia University Medical School as well as a Kennedy Family Professor of Pediatrics in Medicine. By managing the research study of autistic individuals, Dr. Chung evaluates opportunities to …
Continue reading Understanding Autism Through Research – An Interview with Dr. Wendy Chung
This past week I was really happy because my brother came home to visit for a week and a half. The Saturday before he left, my Dad decided that he wanted all of us to go to the beach to see the sunrise. Let’s go back to 6:20 a.m. Saturday morning; everyone is ready to …
I always hear my parents talking to doctors who constantly say, “He’ll grow out of it.” My parents say that my brother will eventually mature and therefore he will better utilize the skills to improve his quality of life. Some studies have found that children who were diagnosed with autism as a toddler may not …
I do not have Autism, but looking at my brother I feel that we sometimes have similar characteristics. I am sensitive to overstimulation. I get frustrated easily when too many things are going on. I become irritable and tend to feel restless in these situations. I often have difficulty identifying my feelings. Hence, I …
Continue reading Why Does My Brother Have an Autism Diagnosis and I Don’t?