New MRC study to look at the role of environmental risks in development of autism
Main Category: AutismArticle Date: 08 Jul 2004 - 13:00 PDT
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opinions'New MRC study to look at the role of environmental risks in development of autism'
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Funding for a new study to find out more about the role of environmental risks in the development of autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD), was announced by The Medical Research Council (MRC) today, Thursday 8 July. It is one of four new awards for research projects using a variety of approaches to study autism.
The environmental research, led by Professor Jean Golding at the University of Bristol, will investigate the association of ASD with immunisations, problems with delivery, maternal and infant infections, fetal exposure to toxins, and maternal diet. Whether other conditions, such as coeliac disease or digestive problems, play a role in the development of ASD will also be considered.
The £400K study will be one of the largest investigations of environmental risk factors in ASD and will analyse lifestyle and genetic influences by studying data from the 14,000 children already taking part in the 'Children of the 90s' study. The 'Children of the 90s study' was set up to understand the ways in which the physical and social environment interact with genetic inheritance to affect children's health, behaviour and development.
Professor Golding said:
"Because of the number of children we'll be looking at, and the quality and type of data available, our study should help find the answers to a number of currently unanswered questions about the environmental risks for developing autism spectrum disorders."
Overall the awards total £1.6M for autism research. They have been funded out of the £2.75M allocated by the Department of Health and the Scottish Executive to take forward the recommendations of the 2001 MRC Review on Autism. The remaining funds will be used to support more grants in the near future.
The other three high-quality projects funded include a collaborative brain imaging study, led by Professor Declan Murphy at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, aimed at unravelling the differences in brain function that give rise to ASD, and studies led by Dr Kate Nation, at the University of Oxford, and Dr Tony Charman, at the Institute of Child Health, London, to understand more about how cognition, or the ability to take on board and process information, relates to behaviour in people with ASD.
Health Minister, Dr Stephen Ladyman, said:
"It is very important to take forward good quality research into autistic spectrum disorders. I warmly welcome the MRC's announcement about funding for these four interesting projects."
Professor Colin Blakemore, Chief Executive of the MRC, said:
"I'm very pleased to announce the funding of this important research. The MRC's 2001 Review of Autism Research, identified some of the successes in autism research but also highlighted current gaps in knowledge. These wide ranging, high-quality studies are the first to be funded out of the money allocated by the Department of Health and the Scottish Executive, specifically to address those gaps."
The MRC has always funded research into autism through its own grant schemes, and it is currently spending around £1.3m a year. It will continue to do so outside of the Department of Health and Scottish Executive funding allocation.
Further information
For further information, or to arrange an interview, contact the MRC Press Office on 020 7637 6011
Notes to editors
ALSPAC, The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, (also known as the Children of the 90s) is a unique ongoing research project based in the University of Bristol. It enrolled 14,000 mothers during pregnancy in 1991-2 and has followed the children and parents in minute detail ever since.
Professor Declan Murphy, of the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, will use imaging techniques to examine the differences in the brain anatomy of adults with autism, compared with adults who do not have autism, to see if the symptoms of autism result from particular brain abnormalities, and if so what causes them. The study involves the establishment of a multi-centre collaboration, which brings together, for the first time, people with autism and expert teams in genetics, psychology, medicine, and neuroimaging. The work will provide a platform for future work to understand how brain abnormalities arise and change over time, and how this is affected by genetic and environmental factors.
Dr Kate Nation, of the University of Oxford, will use a new methodology to explore language and communication in people with ASD. This is important because little is currently known about how well language is processed and understood across the autistic spectrum, especially in those with no speech. In the short term, improved evaluation of language processing will help target the most appropriate treatments for individuals, and, in the long term, will provide a basis for identifying and understanding the links between genes, brain development and behaviour.
Dr Tony Charman, of the Institute of Child Health, aims to understand more about how cognition, or the ability to take on board and process information, in people with ASD relates to their behaviour. The study of 130 twelve year olds will look at whether, and to what extent, impairments in different aspects of cognition, such as processing emotions or social orientation, are associated with the core behavioural features of ASDs, such as repetitive behaviours and difficulties in communicating. Through this, different subgroups of patients may be identified making it easier to target the most appropriate treatments for them.
The MRC Review of Autism Research was published in December 2001.
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Visitor Opinions (latest shown first)
Total 25 opinions, latest 20 shown. For all opinions, click through to the full thread.Autism (Spectrum Disorder) Vs. AD/HD
posted by frederick on 25 Feb 2011 at 10:34 pmthe symptoms of Autism are suspiciously absent until vaccines are administered. Parents report a normal developing child until vaccination, then Autistic symptoms were immediate.
AD/HD is a separate disorder with clinically different symptoms. I think we could benefit from an honest empirical study to evaluate any correlation between children subjected to ultrasounds ineutro and the prevalence of AD/HD later in childhood. The rise in occurance has to be from something.
Autism And Ultrasound
posted by gwendolyn on 3 May 2010 at 6:20 pmAs a Ph.D. in the field of speech and hearing, I have worked for over 40 years with children who have autistic like behaviors. In the beginning, the specialists believed they were deaflike. Programs from Central Institute for the Deaf which were designed by McGinnis were recommended for teaching them. Then, Hortense Barry described this disability as childhood aphasia and courses to teach these children were conducted at Children's Hospital in D.C. by Gil Herer . They were run by George Washington University and the pre-school students were most successful in
their progress.
Central Auditory Disability was a term frequently used.
When I heard on a newscast over the weekend that patients wanting an abortion could be required to have an ultrasound before aborting, all of a sudden I thought "We never had so many young children diagnosed with this type of a disability and MAYBE the introduction of the ultrasound has damaged the development of the embryonic ear. " Their inability to process sound and connect it to vision, motor, speech, and behavior could be the result of damage by the frequency, volume,of the sound waves. I do believe that further good scientific research is required by all the foundations, universities, and government agencies since, what I have have been able to find so far is not adequate
Fetal Ultrasounds
posted by Andrew Hartshorn on 4 Jan 2010 at 9:30 amMy two daughters both had ultrasounds for their four children. And both stopped the ultrasound when the fetus tensed into a severe form during the ultrasound. It was clearly affecting the fetus in an alarming way. I don't know of a connection with autism, but it would not surprise me.
Ultrasound
posted by da1 on 13 Jan 2009 at 7:51 amI really do not know ..I am really scared since I had many US with my pregnancy...how to notice the autism and at what age....help
It Is The length Of The Ultrasound Not How Many
posted by sonograms on 7 Dec 2008 at 11:59 amThat causes the cavitation bubbles. Newer machines have safety on them so they do not get HOT which is what causes the bubbles, but MOST offices have the OLD machines so be careful to have SHORT sonograms not a MOVIE.
Sound Recognition
posted by Ronald Houghton on 29 Apr 2008 at 9:39 amMy granddaughter is a speech therapist working with young children.
She told me recently a new study has shown that children past the age of two lose the ability to hear certain sounds,much like adults unable to hear the devices used to drive teenagers from certain areas. Whales and other mammals hear sounds beyond our adult ability.In part what I'm saying is this. Sound is one of the first senses that is developed in a fetus and how acute it is is not known. If this high frequency ultrasound is heard or sensed what possible good effect could it have?
Ultrasound used by the navy drives whales @#$%.Also if ultrasound be is causing or contributing to rise in autism might not sound therapy help?
Ron
Ultrasound And Microwaves
posted by Magneto on 9 Feb 2008 at 2:37 pmSue said: "Concerning ultrasounds being hot, consider that microwave ovens cook with sound waves that vibrate so fast that it cooks the food."
Sue, I empathize about your children. However, I'm not sure how their condition is related to ultrasound use, which you seem to intimate.
Also, the microwaves to which you are referring are not sound waves but light waves, t.i. they are electromagnetic radiation like that used in cellular and cordless phones and "wireless internet" and not like the sound waves used in ultrasound. There are significant differences between those two types of radiation and their effects on the human body. The heating phenomenon is only somewhat similar to one of the effects of ultrasound.
Nevertheless, you are correct in that we all should avoid exposure to environments and eatibles which are known to cause health issues.
Autism / Sonograms /Sonar - Whales
posted by avalee cohen on 23 Jan 2008 at 4:50 pmI heard on the radio today that the US Military does research on Whales using Sonar. Many marine biologists are conscerned that this is causing brain damage to these mammals. Many are concerned about sonograms (also a form of sonar or sound waves) which are done on mammals (baby fetus) in a water environment. There needs to be more research done !! The similarities seem eerie.
US And Neurological Disorders
posted by Karen on 12 Jan 2008 at 2:29 pmMy sister who has a six-year old autistic grandson, just told me about the possible connection between autism and ultrasound. My daughter who is 22, and had ultrasound before birth, has agenesis of the the corpus callosum. This is a rare disorder, which means that the bundle of nerves connecting the left brain and the right brain did not form.
She has struggled with a variety of learning and motor problems, and has many autistic-like behaviors. To the casual observer, her disability is somewhat hidden, but with her struggles to function, it is ever present and all too obvious.
This disorder cannot be diagnosed without an MRI, which she happened to get a few years ago, because of migraines and motor problems. As a special education teacher, I have since wondered how many of my students have this same problem, but are undiagnosed. As I look over the list of possible causes, I have been unable to find a reasonable cause for her to have this disability. I can only wonder, as I remember how excited her father and I were as we looked at the barely recognizable ultrasound picture, could that have been the cause.
Autism, Ultrasound, Microwaves, And Teflon Aluminum
posted by Sue on 10 Jan 2008 at 5:07 pmI have 2 sons with autism, ages 28 and 21, and a daughter with dyslexia, age 30. I wish I would have had this information when pregnant with them. My advice to any pregnant woman would be to protect you and your baby from everything, except healthy foods and drinks.
Yet, we trust our doctors to 'practice' medicine on us and our developing babies, not giving us all information so we can make an informed choice. Our babies are given injections we know nothing about before we take them home after delivery, thus the possibility of thimeresol (mercury) preservative in the vaccine affecting their new born bodies in who knows what ways.
Concerning ultrasounds being hot, consider that microwave ovens cook with sound waves that vibrate so fast that it cooks the food.
Also, Teflon is aluminum, and aluminum is released, when heated, into food and atmosphere. My autistic son had a hair analysis by a doctor of orthomolecular psychiatry. He was only 8 years old and had elevated levels of aluminum in his body cells. The cause was aluminum cookware and bakeware, and using aluminum on the oven floor to catch drips. Persons with Alzheimer's disease also have high levels of aluminum in their body cells.
Thank You For Such Support!
posted by Christiane on 19 Dec 2007 at 9:18 amThis is my first pregnancy, and have been reading everything I can get my hands on about ultrasounds. "Society" and the "medical profession" seems completely unaware of the lack of proven safety of ultrasounds. The truth of the matter is that the majority of the studies show a distinct increase in fetal abnormalities (abnormal brain development, stunted growth, low birth weight, compromised digestive issues and even miscarriages) among the women who have had ultrasounds. These negative effects are most pronounced and most commonly found in women who've subjected themselves and their babies to *multiple* ultrasounds. Clearly, the effects are cumulative. Though even just 1 ultrasound can present a danger to the unborn child.
I am wholeheartedly against its use in routine examinations. It should be limited to cases of suspected placenta previa (just before birth) to determine if a c-section is the only viable option for a safe delivery. Other than that purpose, I don't see the point. They are by and large not very reliable in detecting abnormalities. In some cases they results in false positives and create unnecessary anxiety and wrongful terminations. I have tried posting my concerns on Pregnancy websites, but the vast majority of women on these boards view their doctors as GODS and they are very quick to completely dismiss these findings. In fact they become very emotional in their debate. They are unwilling to investigate any information that is widely available online. They do not even acknowledge the evidence found in peer-reviewed scientific papers. This is what scares me most. How can we warn women who won't *listen*? Something needs to be done about this.
Ultrasound, ADHD And Lefthandedness
posted by Susan on 20 Sep 2007 at 1:40 amWhen I was pregnant with our eight year old daughter, the OB did an ultrasound at every single prenatal visit . She now has ADHD and is the only left handed person in our entire extended family. I am convinced that the ultrasounds are the cause of her problems. I wish I knew their risks at the time.
Thank You For This Discussion
posted by Julia on 10 Aug 2007 at 4:06 pmAs a musician, Reiki master, and a woman planning pregnancy, I have been questioning the need for ultrasound and fearing the push to have one done. I have been looking for reasons to support my decisions not to have an ultrasound during my pregnancy, and this dicussion has helped me to feel more supported. I know through Reiki the deep connection that music has to our spiritual bodies, and as a musician that sound transmits through many levels. I know the sound used for ultrasound is meant to be inaudible, but this does not mean it cannot be felt, especially by a developing human. To think there may be a link to autism or other issues is even more reason not to use this type of testing. Thank you for posting this!
Medical Community Does Not Tell All Risks
posted by Krista on 4 May 2007 at 4:48 pmI am three months pregnant, and have started studying what I can do for my child. Especially because the care I was getting from a GYN/OB office seemed a bit off. The doctors there are very lax about their approach to ultrasounds; my first appointment at 7 weeks I had a vaginal ultrasound to see if I was really pregnant. The doctor didn't even perform a blood test. Now reading about ultrasounds and the dangers of them, it makes me so mad that the doctors didn't even express that side of the issue. I felt I could not make an informed decision at that office because they would not give me the information. I thought the medical community was supposed to help their patients.
Avoiding Ultasounds
posted by Kim Peters on 18 Apr 2007 at 1:39 pmI can't believe there is no louder outcry about what I see as an epidemic. Years ago when I was having babies, I remember reading about how ultrasound could have an effect on the developing eggs in a developing girl in utero. This seems as though it could also be a plausible effect. It seems as though a whole generation has been affected rather recently. I avoided US for this reason. I have 4 kids, age 19 to 9. and never had one. Doctors did not like to go along with this at all! However, I also told them that I would not abort, so why did it matter. I believe US has a valuable place in medicine, just as long as its not to make home movies for mommies.
Medical Intervention
posted by Connie Everest on 26 Mar 2007 at 9:03 amI wonder if a study has ever been done to link countries with high incidence of Autism to those with lower numbers and if there is a link to use of prenatal ultrasounds. I also wonder if pregnant women were made aware of the effects on the fetus(like a high screeching sound)if they would subject their unborn children to this .
Thank God Someone Else Is Thinking
posted by Amber Havens on 21 Mar 2007 at 7:46 pmWe need our voices to be heard. I agree with all of you. What is scariest is this keepsake ultrasound that is going on.....and few even know these ultrasound machines have not even been approved by the FDA. I think there is a link between the rise of autism and the overuse of ultrasound. When I told my friend not to have a keepsake ultrasound because of my concerns she thought I was crazy. Someone needs to raise this issue.... but the overuse of ultrasound is making the medical profession too much money.
Link Between Prenatal Ultrasound And Autism
posted by Caroline Rodgers on 9 Mar 2007 at 4:37 amI have written "Questions about Prenatal Ultrasound and the Alarming Increase in Autsim," which is available at midwiferytoday.com. In the article, I make the point that the little-known thermal effects of ultrasound interupt key enzyme reactions, which can cause devastating effects in developing fetuses. It is my opinion, based on extensive research, that prenatal ultrasound is both risky and highly invasive to unborn children.
Where's The Media On This?
posted by joan moon on 9 Feb 2007 at 5:45 amIf 1/150 children developed cancer I am sure it would not only be an an epidemic but would attract the attention of the media as to why? If there are causes within our environment that could be controlled until the studies came in - they should be controlled and shouted from the rooftop or at least controlled within the medical establishment.
As a certified nurse midwife, and knowing how many ultrasounds some women get, it seems like an initial retrospective study could be performed to at least begin the quest for an explanation. In the meantime, I am going to tell my daughter who is planning a pregnancy to be vigilant about avoiding the latest, fanciest tools in the medical tool chest....and to trust birth. She doesn't need to know the sex or the due date by way of US. If she is aware of her menstrual cycle she can have the due date easily at hand (first day of last menstrual period minus subtract three months and add seven days. She may want to know if the baby has abnormalities but she states she would not abort so why would she have an ultrasound to see if there were abnormalities? There are blood tests to screen for problems which can be followed up with an amniocentesis (which also is not risk free). These are the three major reasons for US and then of course there's the fourth - the 3d image to see how the baby looks in utero. All these are exciting for the parents but what parent would risk autism if they thought there might be a link? If there does prove to a relationship between US and autism it will be a national tragedy and I believe a black mark on a medical system that has never been able to pull itself up in the world stats for infant morbidity (illness) and mortality (death). Whew...thanks...I needed to get that off my mind!
Autism And Teflon
posted by Allan Rydberg on 30 Aug 2006 at 5:55 amOnly bird owners and pet shops seem to know that pet birds and teflon cookware cannot co-exist. The fumes from the hot teflon will kill pet birds. DuPont, the maker of teflon freely admits this fact.
I wonder if fumes from teflon cookware could contribute to the rise in autism.
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