MACSS New Research/Resources

Autistic Brain Structure Dramatically Different from Normal Brain- Readers will need to sign up for a free Medscape account to view this article. Medscape Medical News, 2011-05-31

Recurrence Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Baby Siblings Research Consortium Study

Antihypertensive Shows Promise for Autism - Readers will need to sign up for a free Medscape account to view this article. Medscape Medical News, 2011-10-6

Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 14 Sites, United States, 2008 - This report, released March 29th, 2012, provides updated autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence estimates from the 2008 surveillance year, representing 14 Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) sites in the United States. For 2008, the overall estimated prevalence of ASDs among the 14 ADDM sites was 11.3 per 1,000 (one in 88) children aged 8 years who were living in these communities during 2008. The extent to which these increases reflect better case ascertainment as a result of increases in awareness and access to services or true increases in prevalence of ASD symptoms is not known.

De novo mutations revealed by whole-exome sequencing are strongly associated with autism - 
This research abstract, released online April 4th, 2012, describes a study in which scientists identified several gene mutations that they agree sharply increase the chances that a child will develop the disorder.  The scientists also identified further evidence that the risk increases with the age of the parents, particularly the father.

Proposed DSM-5 criteria for a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder