[Note: Shared for #AutisticHistory archive purposes. This is NOT An Autistic Ally.]

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Biological Markers Found in the Blood of Newborn Infants Who Later Develop Autism

New Hope for Screening Tool Development

Dr. Karin Nelson presented this important abstract titled Neuropeptides and Neurotrophins in Neonatal Blood of Children with Autism, Mental Retardation or Cerebral Palsy at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology held in San Diego, California last May.

A collaborative effort between the California Department of Health Services/California Birth Defects Monitoring Program and the National Institutes, the California Department of Developmental Services, California Department of Health Services/Genetic Disease Branch and the M.I.N.D. Institute, this study has shown findings that could provide hope for developing a new screening tool for autism.

By conducting laboratory tests on blood samples from newborn children the investigators found that children who were later diagnosed with autism or mental retardation, when compared to children without these conditions, had higher levels of four specific proteins (V.I.P., NT-4, CGRP and BDNF) crucial to nervous system development, at the time of birth.

The proteins selected for study were known to have a role in regulating growth and development of the brain during gestation and proteins that are known to contribute to long-term memory, learning and responses to sensory stimuli as these aspects of behavior are particularly important in autism.

Key Findings and Implications

Strikingly higher levels of four substances crucial in nervous system development in children with autism were found. The same high levels were seen in children with mental retardation, suggesting a similar biological process. Elevated levels of the four substances were found in 95% of children with autism and/or mental retardation. Children with cerebral palsy had biomarkers similar to healthy children.

Next Steps

If these findings are replicated in further studies, children who are at risk for these conditions can be identified very early and a various interventions tried. The investigators will confirm results by looking at blood samples from additional children. They want to develop a database of children with these conditions so that they can look at other ways in which they are alike or different in order to find additional clues about the causes.

Cure Autism Now is currently working with the investigators to provide additional funding for this crucial research as well as to allow them full use of the AGRE sample as one method of replicated results.

The complete New York Times article on these findings is available at http://www.nytimes.com Neuropeptides and Neurotrophins in Neonatal Blood of Children with Autism, Mental Retardation or Cerebral Palsy Karin B. Nelson, M.D., J.K. Grether, Ph.D., James M. Dambrosia, Ph.D., Lisa A. Croen, Ph.D., Ben F. Dickens, Ph.D., Robin L. Hansen, M.D., Terry M. Phillips, M.D.

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Note/Warning:

Autistic people have fought the inclusion of ABA in therapy for us since before Autism Speaks, and other non-Autistic-led autism organizations, started lobbying legislation to get it covered by insurances and Medicaid. 

ABA is a myth originally sold to parents that it would keep their Autistic child out of an institution. Today, parents are told that with early intervention therapy their child will either be less Autistic or no longer Autistic by elementary school, and can be mainstreamed in typical education classes. ABA is very expensive to pay out of pocket. Essentially, Autism Speaks has justified the big price tag up front will offset the overall burden on resources for an Autistic’s lifetime. The recommendation for this therapy is 40 hours a week for children and toddlers.

The original study that showed the success rate of ABA to be at 50% has never been replicated. In fact, the study of ABA by United States Department of Defense was denounced as a failure. Not just once, but multiple times. Simply stated: ABA doesn’t work. In study after repeated study: ABA (conversion therapy) doesn’t work. 

What more recent studies do show: Autistics who experienced ABA therapy are at high risk to develop PTSD and other lifelong trauma-related conditions. Historically, the autism organizations promoting ABA as a cure or solution have silenced Autistic advocates’ opposition. ABA is also known as gay conversion therapy.

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[Note: Autism is NOT a disease, but a neurodevelopmental difference and disability.]

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Fact: Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism.

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