autism

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Jett's Death Sparked Fears for Autistic Son: McCarthy

Activist can't say if Jett also had autism

(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...

New Book Heats Up War Over Autism and Vaccines

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

(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...

Travolta: 'We're Heartbroken'
 Travolta: 'We're Heartbroken' 
Jan 5, 2009 5:00 AM CST

Travolta: 'We're Heartbroken'

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

(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...

Did Scientology Block Meds for Travolta's Son?

Dogma suggests people can cure themselves by following church

(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,...

'I'm Losing Him!'
 'I'm Losing Him!' 
Jan 4, 2009 6:36 AM CST

'I'm Losing Him!'

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

(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...

Could Rain Trigger Autism?
 Could Rain Trigger Autism? 
Nov 4, 2008 9:50 AM CST

Could Rain Trigger Autism?

Surprise link between autism and rainfall

(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...

Denis Leary Slammed for Gay Slur
Denis Leary Slammed
for Gay Slur
Oct 26, 2008 6:29 AM CDT

Denis Leary Slammed for Gay Slur

Blames parents and Catholic Church

(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...

Schools Accused of Abusing Time-Out Rooms

Experts say seclusion rooms being misused to discipline troubled kids

(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...

Denis Leary: Autistic Kids Are 'Just Stupid'

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

(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,” so they...

Autism-Reversing Drugs Show Promise

MIT scientists stumbled onto workaround for misfiring brain system

(Newser) - MIT scientists have discovered one of the mechanisms of Fragile X Syndrome, one cause of autism, and are developing drugs to treat it, NPR reports. The disorder, triggered by a genetic mutation, interferes with the normal links between brain cells, making those networks something like a car without a brakes....

Insurers Balk at Paying for Autism Therapy

Schools now foot the bill, but advocacy group pressing for change

(Newser) - A national autism advocacy group is pushing insurance companies to pick up the tab for intensive new therapies now footed by local school districts, the Boston Globe reports. They say the rising number of autism cases will swamp school budgets and make it unlikely that kids will get the help...

Would-Be Dads Have Ticking Clock, Too

Men's age can affect ability to conceive earlier than women's

(Newser) - When a couple has trouble conceiving, don't necessarily blame the woman and her limited supply of eggs—men's fertility starts dropping even before women's, Time reports. In addition to fecundity issues, older men also risk siring children with higher rates of autism, schizophrenia, Down syndrome and bipolar disorder. Male fertility...

New Study Finds No Vaccine Link to Autism

MMR shot not guilty, say researchers

(Newser) - A new study concludes that a childhood vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella is not linked to autism, reports the Washington Post. Researchers studied bowel biopsies from 38 autistic children and found no link between the vaccine and the digestive problems often associated with autism. The results, which contradict the...

Bipolar Risk Rises With Father's Age

Kids with dads over 30 have greater chance of developing disorder

(Newser) - Children born to fathers older than 30 have an 11% higher chance of developing bipolar disorder than kids with younger dads, and the risk increases with the father’s age, new research reveals. The rate climbs to 37% of offspring of fathers aged 55, Reuters reports, compared to the overall...

Savage Defends Attack on Autistic 'Brats'

Radio host infuriates parents after blaming them for spoiling kids

(Newser) - Right-wing mouth Michael Savage isn't backing down from his remarks characterizing autistic kids as nothing more than "brats," outraging thousands of parents, the New York Times reports. The radio host said in a broadcast last week that autism was a "fraud" and 99% of cases were created...

Study Yields More Clues About Autism

Scientists find genes needed for learning stuck in the off position

(Newser) - Scientists have found six new genes linked to autism, inching closer to a fuller understanding of the disorder and how to treat it, the AP reports. The genes in question are necessary for learning but are essentially stuck in the "off" position. The finding lends credence to the philosophy...

For Top Vaccine Doc, Autism Battle Hits Home

Expert discusses how disorder affects his family

(Newser) - For one of the country's highest-profile vaccine researchers, the accusation that the medical establishment is covering up a link between autism and vaccinations hits a nerve. Peter Hotez's 15-year-old daughter, Rachel, has autism, a fact that colors every aspect of her family's life. Her parents, Peter and Ann, declined to...

Autism Linked to Parents' Mental Disorders

Parents more likely to be ill

(Newser) - A new study of autistic children may provide insight into the causes of autism and its epidemic rates in developed countries. Researchers have found a link between autism and mental disorders among parents—including schizophrenia, personality disorders and clinical depression. Mothers and fathers diagnosed with schizophrenia are about twice as...

Software Brings Autism Therapy Into Homes

Computer network is alternative to expensive, hard-to-get therapists

(Newser) - A Seattle software company is offering new hope to parents of autistic children who struggle to get, and afford, behavioral therapy, which can cost upward of $30,000 a year and isn't usually covered by insurance. Jigsaw Learning has created a game-like computer network, called TeachTown, that provides some aspects...

Autistic Kids Linked to Sperm Donor

Experts warn it's impossible to screen for autism genes

(Newser) - A New York professor who wanted to become a mother contacted a sperm bank and chose sperm from a donor with a high IQ. When her son turned out to be autistic, she contacted other mothers who used the same donor and discovered some of their kids were autistic as...

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