Miracle Mineral Supplement (MMS) is not an autism treatment, it's poison!

Miracle Mineral Supplement (MMS) Is Toxic!

Miracle Mineral Supplement (MMS) is being touted on the Internet as a natural antibiotic and cure-all for a wide range of diseases and afflictions: colds and flu (including swine flu), malaria, cancer, "HIV & AIDS," fungus, and, more recently, autism. But MMS is actually a synthetic industrial chemical - it is a concentrated (28%) chlorine bleach - sodium chlorite. When MMS is "activated," it creates CLO2, chlorine dioxide, a very strong chemical oxidizer and bleaching agent. CLO2 is the active molecule in many water purification systems. It does kill germs, but it is toxic. If you ingest it in the concentrations recommended, it can cause you direct harm.CLO2 is a toxic chemical oxidizer
More @ http://www.cqs.com/mms.htm

Certain Children w/ Autism Show More Improvement Than Others

Certain Children With Autism Show More Improvement Than Others - Yahoo! News

MONDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- About 10 percent of children with autism experience rapid gains in skills -- progressing from severely affected to high functioning -- but minority children with less-educated mothers are much less likely than richer white kids to fall into this group, a new study suggests. 

Analyzing nearly 7,000 California children with autism, researchers from Columbia University in New York City also found that these kids typically display six typical patterns of social, communication and repetitive behaviors and that those whose symptoms were least severe at diagnosis tend to improve more quickly than others. 

"These children follow really different pathways over time, changing at very different paces and according to very different patterns," said study author Christine Fountain, a postdoctoral researcher at Columbia's Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy. "Most children do get better, at least a little bit. But we found it somewhat surprising that about 10 percent improve really rapidly and to a great extent."

Autism May Begin at Very Early Phases of Brain Development | Blog | Autism Speaks

Autism May Begin at Very Early Phases of Brain Development | Blog | Autism Speaks

Ten years ago, my research team found evidence of brain overgrowth in many toddlers who developed autism. Just last year, we published a study showing that the larger brains of young children with autism have an excess number of brain cells, or neurons, in the part of the brain known as the frontal cortex. In the study we published today, we found clues to how this excess occurs. 

Our study found dysfunction in several gene networks that may affect the number of neurons that are generated during the second trimester of pregnancy, when about 40 billion neurons are produced in the developing brain. We also found abnormality in gene networks that affect the number of neurons that survive through the second and third trimesters. Not all early neurons are meant to survive. Some play temporary roles during brain development and are supposed to die off when their job is done. In fact, “apoptosis” or naturally occurring cell death, is a normal and important part of prenatal brain development. By way of analogy, consider the scaffolding set up when constructing a building and then taken down once the building is finished. With autism, one possibility is that some of these “scaffolding” neurons remain. This may contribute to the excess of neurons and abnormal brain wiring. 

These findings are exciting. We’ve known that something happens very, very early in the development of the brain: There are too many neurons in frontal brain regions. Now, we also know some of the genetic basis for this: abnormal gene activity in specific networks. This appears to rule out many speculations about post-natal causes of autism. Instead, it points strongly to prenatal events, at least in a majority of cases. 

Importantly, this gives us hope that, one day, research will find ways to normalize gene activity and related neural growth and function. Normally frontal brain circuits are not fully formed at birth. They develop slowly across childhood. This provides a wide window of opportunity for intervention.

A Mechanism To Improve Learning And Memory

A Mechanism To Improve Learning And Memory: "This process, known as synaptic plasticity, has been proposed as the cellular basis for learning and memory. Indeed, alterations in synaptic plasticity mechanisms are thought to be responsible for multiple cognitive deficits, such as autism, Alzheimer's disease and several forms of mental retardation.

The study by Knafo et al. provides new information on the molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, and how this process may be manipulated to improve cognitive performance. They find that synapses can be made more plastic by using a small protein fragment (peptide) derived from a neuronal protein involved in cell-to-cell communication. This peptide (called FGL) initiates a cascade of events inside the neuron that results in the facilitation of synaptic plasticity. Specifically, the authors found that FGL triggers the insertion of new neurotransmitter receptors into synapses in a region of the brain called the hippocampus, which is known to be involved in multiple forms of learning and memory. Importantly, when this peptide was administered to rats, their ability to learn and retain spatial information was enhanced. "

'via Blog this'

Gene mutation in autism found to cause hyperconnectivity in brain's hearing center

Gene mutation in autism found to cause hyperconnectivity in brain's hearing center: "These effects could be blocked, however, by chemically negating the effect of PTEN loss. One of the pathways regulated by the PTEN protein involves shutting down an intracellular enzyme called mTORC1, which promotes cell growth, among other things. Zador's group found that treating the PTEN-deficient mice for 10 days with the mTORC1-inhibitor rapamycin prevented an increase in dendritic spine number and signal strength."

'via Blog this'

Autism, Epilepsy and Self-Injurious Behavior: DSM-5 Autistic Spectrum Disorder Disaster

Autism, Epilepsy and Self-Injurious Behavior: DSM-5 Autistic Spectrum Disorder Disaster: "Has the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Lost It’s Collective Mind? Have the “36,000 Physician Leaders in mental health” ignored history? After all, decades of autism research show self-injurious behavior is a hallmark trait of severe autism.

Hundreds of research studies have been published on autism and self-injurious behavior. Hundreds of papers are written about autistics who present with self-injurious behavior. Thousands of experts have discussed the challenges of self-injury among autistics. Yet, today, you see no mention of self-injurious behavior in DSM-5 autism diagnosis."

'via Blog this'

Allen Frances: DSM 5 Will Lower Autism Rates

Allen Frances: DSM 5 Will Lower Autism Rates: "The people working on DSM 5 have difficulty getting their story straight. First they said they didn't care what impact DSM 5 would have on prevalence rates of the different mental disorders. Their indifference was so profound that the expensive DSM 5 field trials omitted the simple and obvious step of systematically comparing what rates would be using DSM 5 versus DSM IV.

Last week, the New York Times ran a front page story reporting that DSM 5 changes would dramatically reduce rates of autism. This produced an uproar in the autism community and instigated a petition against DSM 5. A more narrowly defined diagnosis, it was feared, would likely result in much reduced school and mental health services."

'via Blog this'

Impact of Revised Autism Definition on Treatments

Revised Definition Could Make Autism Diagnosis, Treatment More Difficult - Health News - redOrbit

U.S. health experts are reportedly considering changing the definition of autism which would likely reduce the rate at which the disorder is diagnosed, while also possibly reducing some individuals’ access to the treatment and social assistance they currently receive.

According to a Thursday report by Benedict Carey of the New York Times, a panel of experts appointed by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) is considering narrowing the definition of the disorder as part of revisions planned for the forthcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

The DSM, Carey says, “is the standard reference for mental disorders, driving research, treatment and insurance decisions. Most experts expect that the new manual will narrow the criteria for autism; the question is how sharply… The psychiatrists’ association is wrestling with one of the most agonizing questions in mental health — where to draw the line between unusual and abnormal — and its decisions are sure to be wrenching for some families.”

One possibility, according to UPI reports, is that autism and related disorders such as Asperger’s syndrome and “pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified” would be combined under one category, identified as “autism spectrum disorder.” The latter two disorders would then be individually stricken from the manual.

“Under the current definition, a person can qualify for the diagnosis by exhibiting six or more of 12 behaviors. With the new definition, one would have to exhibit three deficits in social interaction and communication and at least two repetitive behaviors — much narrower criteria,” according to experts, UPI reported.

More @ http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1112459844/revised-definition-could-make-autism-diagnosis-treatment-more-difficult/

P.L.A.Y. Project: Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters

Easter Seals and Autism » Blog Archive » Studying the P.L.A.Y. Project

The P.L.A.Y. Project (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters) is conducting a two-year, randomized, controlled, and blinded clinical trial on the effectiveness of The P.L.A.Y. Project model of intervention. We at Easter Seals Peoria-Bloomington are pleased to be one of the five Easter Seals affiliates participating.

With research-design guidance from Michigan State University, and community-outreach support from Easter Seals, the study compares the outcomes of 60 children who participate in The P.L.A.Y. Project with the outcomes of 60 children who receive standard, community interventions, making it the largest study of its kind.

Before and after the 12-month intervention, each child is assessed with a battery of tests to measure developmental level, speech and language, sensory-motor profile, and social skills. Year one preliminary results are very promising for the first 60 children involved in the study. Parents participating in The P.L.A.Y. Project reported 15-20 hours per week engaged interaction, and recorded observations demonstrate that the parents:

• were responsive to child’s cues,
• followed the child’s lead, and
• effectively elicited back-and-forth interaction.

An added benefit: parents involved in the P.L.A.Y. project suffered less stress and depression over time. In respect to child-specific progress, scores on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, or ADOS, showed significant improvement in the intervention group’s severity of autism symptoms. That said, there were little significant differences in IQ scores between the study and control groups.

Year two of The P.L.A.Y. Project study will end later this spring, and additional study results will be available in the next year. Until then, if you have questions about our participation in The P.L.A.Y. study, you can contact Easter Seals in Peoria at 309-686-1177 or Bloomington at 309.663-8375.

More @ http://autismblog.easterseals.com/studying-the-p-l-a-y-project/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EasterSealsAutismBlog+%28Easter+Seals%27+Autism+Blog%29

Related: http://www.playproject.org/