Exit Eden, Enter Dr. Oz Booty Call

Great article by Val ...

Autism News: Exit Eden, Enter Dr. Oz Booty Call

An upcoming Dr. Oz show will probably sensationalize autism, while maintaining only the most politically correct dialogue with regard to scientific findings. For many it might provide an hour of nothingness, to be added on to all the other fantasies that can be engaged upon in front of what can sometimes be referred to as the 15 minute fame idiot box.

Oh, the meanderings within the autism opus when it comes our media darlings, ones so recognized as infinitely informed; the ones who only allow the political correct agenda!

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Virtual Desktop Program Helps Connect The Autism Spectrum

Virtual Desktop Program Helps Connect The Autism Spectrum

Andrew Gajkowski, 17, is living with autism. The disorder impacts every aspect of the bright Phoenix teenager's life and affects how Andrew interacts with the world and how the world interacts with Andrew. Autism Spectrum Disorder affects one in every 110 American children under the age of eight. While great strides have been made in the treatment and teaching options for those living with ...

Proposed Conn. law targets bogus autism therapists

Proposed Conn. law targets bogus autism therapists

A group of Connecticut legislators and children's advocates are pushing for a law making it illegal to falsify autism treatment credentials, prompted by a bogus therapist who bilked schools and parents of more than $600,000.

Evidence-Based Practices and Autism

Evidence-Based Practices and Autism

Interventions for autism are increasing being held to standards such as ‘evidence-based practice’ in psychology and ‘scientifically-based research’ in education. When these concepts emerged in the context of adult psychotherapy and regular education, they caused considerable controversy. Application of the concepts to autism treatments and special education has raised additional concerns. An analysis of the benefits and limitations of current approaches to empiricism in autism interventions is…

Autism and Alzheimer's Drug - Namenda

Possible Miracle Autism Drug

A West Des Moines psychiatrist claims to use a "miracle drug" that improves symptoms of autism.

Dr. Randall Kavalier prescribes the drug "Namenda," which is designed for and marketed to Alzheimer's patients, to children who have autism or who suffer from brain injuries. Dr. Kavalier claims that Namenda clears up the interference among signals to nerves in the brain. Dr. Kavalier said that while elderly brains have long finished developing, children's brains are still being molded. He said that, in many cases, after children swallow a few pills, "They light up. I mean, they turn on."

Before you read any further, you should know (and Dr. Kavalier acknowledges) that many other child psychiatrists disagree. They think it may be dangerous to prescribe Namenda for something other than what it was intended. Channel 13 News received an email from an anonymous person who claimed to be the parent of an autistic child. They said that their child suffered "months of horrible side effects" as a result of taking Namenda. That being said, Dr. Kavalier insists that "it's like patients start talking... suddenly."

Greg and Stacy Brakefield believe in Namenda. Three years ago, a trip to a water park hotel was out of the question for the couple from New Germany, MN. Their daughter, Mackenzie, suffers from a brain injury. She nearly suffocated as an infant. Stacy said, "We were told she wouldn't walk. She wouldn't see. She wouldn't really be a very normal functioning kid."

One year later, the Brakefield's son, Josh, was born with autism. Greg and Stacy said that they found their miracle in Namenda. "It is a miracle drug," said Stacy. "Am I going to say it's a cure for either one of the things my kids have? I wouldn't say cure. I'd say it's a thing to help the journey be easier. That's what I'd call Namenda."

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Lupron chemical restraint?

Is lupron just a chemical restraint?

Since it was first proposed by Mark and David Geier, Lupron therapy for autism has been criticized heavily. Do a google search—if your results are like mine, the first hit is a blog post by Kathleen Seidel “Playing with Fire“. Ms. Seidel has done much to expose the questionable methods used by the Geiers to promote Lupron as a therapy for autism. Her list of Lupron links is quite valuable for anyone considering this therapy. Top amongst those is a blog post by Prometheus at the Photon in the Darkness blog, exposing the questionable science behind the supposed testosterone/mercury connection.

More: http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2009/05/is-lupron-just-a-chemical-restraint/

Top 5 Autism Drugs

The Top 5 Autism Drugs. I am not sure if this is top 5 most helpful or top 5 most profitable for drug companies. Being a dad who has paid for some of these drugs, my guess is the later.

5 Top Drugs for Autism

• SSRIs
• Anti psychotic (old)
• Anti psychotic (new) - Risperidone
• Anti-convulsants
• Stimulants – Ritalin
  

Article: http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/Drugs-medication-for-autism/2011/01/12/id/382640

Dolphin Therapy Studies are Methodologically Flawed.

More data confirming that dolphin therapy may be fun, but it's hard to call it a treatment. (It's also dangerous)

As for the presumed curative powers of swimming with dolphins, researchers at Emory University who reviewed the dolphin therapy studies concluded that every one purporting to document positive health effects was methodologically flawed.

FULL ARTICLE: NY TIMES: Fido’s No Doctor. Neither Is Whiskers.

Baclofen, STX209 and Autism

Baclofen, STX209 and Autism

One night in 2006, Kathy Roberts rushed her autistic daughter, Jenny, to the hospital. Nothing had been able to stop the young woman, then in her mid-20s, from vomiting. Jenny had recently suffered several major seizures and her entire gastrointestinal system was going haywire.

To try to calm Jenny's GI tract, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital prescribed baclofen, an antispasmodic drug that is also being studied as a potential treatment for alcoholism and other addictions. The drug relieved Jenny's vomiting, but it did something else too — a completely unexpected and welcome side effect.

"Within 24 hours, I saw a change," says Roberts. "Right away, I saw that it was globally calming. I've always described a state that she would get into where it seemed like she wasn't comfortable in her own skin, and was trying to crawl out. I saw that calmed down."

Roberts, founder of the Giant Step school for children with autism in Southport, Conn., called Mark Bear, professor of neuroscience at MIT and advisory board member of Giant Step. In 2005, Bear had co-founded a drug company called Seaside Therapeutics to develop treatments for autism and other developmental disorders. Roberts told Bear about baclofen's effect on her daughter, and a new line of research was born.

In September, Seaside announced positive results from a phase II clinical trial of STX209, an experimental drug that is chemically related to baclofen. In the trial, which was not blinded or placebo controlled, STX209 led to a reduction in agitation and related emotional outbursts in autistic people. Such behavior is common in people with autism — often, a result of anxiety caused by extreme sensory oversensitivity or frustration over being unable to communicate their needs. To cope, autistic people often develop behavioral mechanisms, include tantrums, social withdrawal or repetitive behaviors like rocking or hand flapping.

STX209, while not a cure, appeared to ease anxiety. "We're seeing reductions in a lot of types of outbursts and irritable behavior, along with increased communication and social behavior," says Dr. Randall Carpenter, co-founder, president and CEO of Seaside.


Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2010/12/01/how-a-new-version-of-an-old-drug-may-someday-help-treat-autism-and-addiction-too/#ixzz16tSJxkbc