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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: autism

autism stories: 70 news summaries

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(Newser) - A new batch of studies offers strong evidence that genetics plays a role in autism, the BBC reports. The studies in the journal Nature show that most victims have a variation in their DNA in the area that controls how brain cells interact, notes the LA Times. The results raise... More »

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genetics • autism • DNA

OPINION

 Case on 
 Vaccines 
 Far From 
 Closed: Carrey 

Scant, biased evidence not enough to rule out dangers

Apr 22, 09 11:56 AM CDT
(Newser) - The media act as though questions about vaccines’ potential harm to children have all been answered, but that’s based on “a huge leap of logic,” Jim Carrey writes for the Huffington Post. The court convened to rule on the vaccine cases said vaccines hadn’t caused autism... More »

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drugs • autism • public health • vaccine • side effects • Jim Carrey • Campbell Brown • Jenny McCarthy

 Docs Track Autism 
 to Brain's Fever Center 

Batch of neurons may be key to treatment

Apr 7, 09 12:38 PM CDT
(Newser) - Mulling over the evidence that the symptoms of autistic children recede during a fever—long reported by parents and confirmed by a study 2 years ago—two New York doctors had a “eureka moment,” seeing that link as a clue to treating the condition, Time reports. The same... More »

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autism • brain • medical treatment • fever • neurotransmitter • neurons

(Newser) - Vinyl flooring has been linked to the development of autism in children, Scientific American reports. A joint US/Swedish study looking into the effects of household contaminants stumbled upon the result, which the researchers and others stressed was preliminary. It “turned up virtually by accident,” said one scientist. He... More »

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autism • Sweden • scientific study • vinyl • PVC • hazardous chemicals • flooring

Cartoons Could Help Diagnose Autism in Kids

Study finds differences in how autistic toddlers look at moving images

Mar 30, 09 10:18 AM CDT
(Newser) - The way in which toddlers are drawn to animated movement may help facilitate the diagnosis of autism-spectrum disorders, reports the BBC. In the study, children who were developing normally focused on the half of a split-screen that featured an upright animation; children with signs of autism showed no preference between... More »

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autism • animation • psychology • scientific study

commentary

Exposing Autism's Violent Side One Mother's Last Hope

Condition created 'the perfect storm' in him, she says

Mar 26, 09 11:20 AM CDT
(Newser) - After years of painting autism as “beautiful, mysterious, perhaps even evolutionarily necessary,” Ann Bauer has been moved by the transformation of son Andrew into a violent monster to write about the condition’s violent side. Bauer forgave her son’s attacks—which broke three of her ribs—until... More »

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autism • murder • brain • violence • mental illness

 Thai 'Spidey'
Saves Autistic Boy 

Firefighter uses costume to coax boy from ledge

Mar 25, 09 3:22 AM CDT
(Newser) - A quick-thinking fireman in Bangkok rescued an autistic boy from a third-story window ledge this week with a little help from a superhero friend, the BBC reports. The firefighter donned a Spider Man costume he keeps handy for school drills and climbed onto the ledge with a glass of juice... More »

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autism • Spider-Man • firefighters • Bangkok • rescue

Oxygen Therapy Helps Autistic Kids

But despite study, treatment remains controversial

Mar 15, 09 5:59 PM CDT
(Newser) - Pressurized oxygen helps autistic children interact with people and better understand what they're saying, a new study finds. After 40 hours in a decompression chamber, a group of autistic kids aged 2 to 7 showed considerable gains. Experts theorize that oxygen cuts down inflammation and improves air flow to the... More »

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autism • children • treatment

Son With Autism Charged
in Mom's Murder

Kent State professor died after savage beating

Feb 25, 09 2:40 PM CST
(Newser) - The autistic son of a Kent State professor has been charged with her murder, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. On Jan. 29, Sky Walker allegedly beat his mother, Gertrude Steuernagel, so severely that she died a week later from her injuries. Walker, 18, has been found incompetent to manage his own... More »

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autism • murder • family • professor • beatings • Kent State • Sky Walker • Gertrude Steuernagel

'Vaccine Court' Denies Families' Autism Claim

MMR vaccine and thimerosal don't combine to cause autism, panel finds

Feb 12, 09 11:41 AM CST
(Newser) - A special court has ruled that a common vaccine did not cause autism in three children, CNN reports. Three test-case families who claimed the vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella in combination with the preservative thimerosal caused their children’s autism were denied compensation by the panel, which ruled that... More »

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autism • vaccination • vaccine • Department of Health • court • compensation • Michelle Cedillo

 Story-Pitching 
 Octuplets Mom: 
 'Show Me the Money' 

Mom seeking $2M for tale

Feb 2, 09 4:05 AM CST
(Newser) - The single mom who gave birth to octuplets to increase her brood to 14 is seeking $2 million to tell her story, reports the Times of London. Nadya Suleman, 33, plans to negotiate with Oprah and Good Morning America's Diane Sawyer. She is also seeking diaper sponsorship and other lucrative... More »

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Iraq • autism • in vitro fertilization • baby • multiple births • corporate sponsorship • octuplets • Nadya Suleman • implanted embryos • fertility medicine

 Jett's Death
 Sparked Fears for
 Autistic Son: McCarthy 

Activist can't say if Jett also had autism

Jan 16, 09 11:48 AM CST
(Newser) - The Travolta tragedy hit close to home for former Playmate Jenny McCarthy, whose autistic son also suffers from seizures. “My heart went out to them—such compassion and understanding for what they’ve gone through,” McCarthy told Access Hollywood. “Looking at Jett, I cried out of fear... More »

MORE ABOUT:
John Travolta • autism • seizure • Kelly Preston • Jett Travolta • Jenny McCarthy

New Book Heats Up War
Over Autism and Vaccines

'Lightning rod' pediatrician's book is latest salvo in vicious debate

Jan 13, 09 11:21 AM CST
(Newser) - A pediatrician’s book is making new waves in the battle over autism and vaccines, the New York Times reports. Paul Offit has received death threats from some who argue that vaccines can cause autism, but his book, Autism’s False Prophets, backs vaccines and says those who oppose them... More »

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health • autism • vaccination • vaccine • debate • Paul Offit

 Travolta: 'We're Heartbroken' 

Jett was 'the most wonderful son,' anguished actor says on website

Jan 5, 09 5:00 AM CST
(Newser) - In his first public message on the tragic loss of his teenage son, anguished actor John Travolta said his family is "heartbroken" by Jett's death, but will "cherish" the too-brief time they had with him "for the rest of our lives." Jett was "the most... More »

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John Travolta • autism • Bahamas • Kelly Preston • Jett Travolta

 Did Scientology 
 Block Meds for 
 Travolta's Son? 

Dogma suggests people can cure themselves by following church

Jan 4, 09 9:01 AM CST
(Newser) - Scientology dogma opposes medication for seizures and does not acknowledge the existence of autism, a condition that many believe John Travolta's son suffered, reports the New York Post. It's not known if Jett Travolta, who died suddenly in a Bahamas vacation condo, was taking medication for his seizures. But Scientology,... More »

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Scientology • John Travolta • autism • seizures • Autism Society of America • Jett Travolta

 'I'm Losing Him!' 

Paramedic tells of Travolta's desperate moments trying to save dying son

Jan 4, 09 6:36 AM CST
(Newser) - "Help me, help me, I'm losing him!" John Travolta pleaded with a paramedic who discovered the actor pumping the chest of his dying 16-year-old son at a Bahamas resort. As he struggled to save the boy, lying unconscious on the floor of his bathroom, the actor was anguished... More »

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Scientology • John Travolta • autism • Bahamas • Kelly Preston • Jett Travolta

 Could Rain Trigger Autism? 

Surprise link between autism and rainfall

Nov 4, 08 9:50 AM CST
(Newser) - US counties with higher rates of rainfall also have higher rates of autism, according to a controversial new study published by the American Medical Association. Pollutants in the precipitation, longer periods spent watching television, lower levels of vitamin D, or some other environmental factor linked to rainfall may trigger autism... More »

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television • autism • rain • American Medical Association • medical study • precipitation • Autism Society of America

Denis Leary Slammed
for Gay Slur

Blames parents and Catholic Church

Oct 26, 08 6:29 AM CDT
(Newser) - After stirring up a storm with his comments on autism, actor Denis Leary in now in trouble for defending his use of the word "fag," reports the New York Post. The Rescue Me star blamed his parents and the Catholic Church for his use of the gay slur... More »

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gay rights • autism • Denis Leary • Matt Dillon • gay slur

Schools Accused of Abusing Time-Out Rooms

Experts say seclusion rooms being misused to discipline troubled kids

Oct 18, 08 8:45 AM CDT
(Newser) - The practice of locking misbehaving children in school "time-out rooms" is troubling a growing number of parents and educators, the AP reports. The rooms—often tiny converted storage spaces—are meant to give kids a place to calm down, but experts say they are being used instead to discipline... More »

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education • autism • children • school • discipline • classroom

Denis Leary: 
Autistic Kids
Are 'Just Stupid'

Comedian's caustic book says disorder is all in parents' heads

Oct 15, 08 11:15 AM CDT
(Newser) - Denis Leary is not a sensitive man. His new book, Why We Suck, seems bound to offend people, the New York Post reports, particularly autistic people. Leary asserts that autism is booming because parents “want an explanation for why their dumb-ass kids can’t compete academically,”... More »

MORE ABOUT:
autism • comedy • book • comedian • offensive • Denis Leary

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