AUGUSTA, Maine After hitting some bumps during the setup of the Affordable Care Act, advocates say they are regaining momentum in their effort to expand private insurance coverage for the treatment of autism. But while the movement to require insurance companies to offer the often-expensive coverage has brought relief to thousands, a state-by-state patchwork of regulations can create confusion for families, cut off coverage too early for some and leave affordable therapy out of reach for many, advocates say. Applied behavioral analysis, which often involves teaching children skills by breaking them down into smaller sets, is widely viewed as the most effective way to help autistic children succeed. But it can cost families without insurance tens of thousands of dollars a year. And insurance companies say providing coverage will force them to raise premiums. Colleen Jankovich of Omaha, Neb., was forced to stop her son's ABA treatment after weeks because insurance wouldn't pay for it. Her 11-year-old son, Matthew, is nonverbal and requires 24/7 care. But she believes things might have been different with early intervention. "We shouldn't have to choose between treating our children and putting food on the table or bankrupting our family if we choose to pay … Continue reading →

TORONTO Canadian scientists say theyve unraveled the genetic code to autism, piecing together what they believe is the formula that could identify the condition earlier on in childhood. Researchers at the Hospital for Sick Children say their new research released Monday could hold the key to early identification and treatment for autism. Weve known for a long time that genes and genetics are involved in autism but its been very difficult for us to figure out which genetic alterations actually manifest as autism or not, lead researcher, Dr. Steve Scherer, told Global News. Scherer is a senior scientist and director of the Sick Kids Centre for Applied Genomics. What weve done here is figure out a genetic formula which allows us to predict with reasonable accuracy which of those genetic changes will lead to autism and which ones will not, he said. Scherer even said the research is a game-changer and likely the most significant findings to come out of the lab within the decade. READ MORE: Despite some funding, a diagnosis of autism is a huge financial burden In the year-long study, Scherer and his team followed a hunch and decided to look into existing data on genetics. After … Continue reading →

It's not every day you see a mouse with a mohawk. But that's what researchers saw while studying mice that had a genetic mutation linked to autism. The mohawks that the mice were sporting actually resulted from their "over-grooming" behavior, repeatedly licking each other's hair in the same direction. The behavior resembles the repetitive motions displayed by some people with autism, and the researchers say their experiments reveal a link between the genetic causes of autism and their effects on the brain, suggesting potential avenues for treating the disorder. Mice that have a genetic mutation linked to autism groom their hair into mohawk-like hairstyles. "Our study tells us that to design better tools for treating a disease like autism, you have to get to the underlying genetic roots of its dysfunctional behaviors, whether it is over-grooming in mice or repetitive motor behaviors in humans," study researcher Gordon Fishell, a neuroscientist at NYU Langone Medical Center, said in a statement. Autism is a spectrum of developmental disorders that involve social impairments and communication deficits. People with autism may also engage in repetitive behaviors, such as rocking or hand flapping. [ Beyond Vaccines: 5 Things That Might Really Cause Autism ] In … Continue reading →

Researchers studying a genetic mutation linked to autism recently saw mice with mohawks. Yes, mohawks. This study was published in the journal Nature. The mohawks, according to NBC News, were a result of excessive grooming. The mice were licking each others fur in the same direction repeatedly, making the mohawks. This behavior of repetitive motion is displayed by some people with autism. These experiments have revealed a link between the genetic causes of autism and the effect on the brain. These findings could lead to a potential treatment for the disorder. Autism is defined as a spectrum of developmental disorders that includes both social impairments as well as communication deficits. Autism is also commonly characterized by repetitive motions like rocking or hand flapping. The mice groomed one another and all of them that had this genetic mutation linked to autism groomed each other's hair in the same way. The overgrooming, according to RedOrbit, has always been a telltale sign in experiments. The behavior has already been linked to the behavior that stops children from developing normal social behavior. Researchers plan to further study how the production of proteins affects the brain in this way. Their ultimate goal is to potentially … Continue reading →

At 38-years-old, Kenyetta Brasher was busy with life; traveling and visiting relatives, teaching fitness and yoga, and practicing Latin dance moves. When her eyes started bothering her, she simply thought she needed new glasses. When she began having headaches and was a bit clumsy, she just thought she was overtired and needed more rest. But as she was getting ready for bed one Sunday night in 2008, reality struck home. She felt irritable, restless, and a bit dizzy. Her husband noticed she was mumbling in response to questions or not answering at all. As he watched, she tried to pull up the covers and her arm flopped around. Alarmed, he realized the left part of her body was drooping and raced her to Memorial Hermann. Doctors there diagnosed Brasher with an ischemic stroke and treated her with medication. A thrombolytic, or clot-busting agent, tPA, is the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the urgent treatment of ischemic stroke. If given intravenously in the first three hours after the start of stroke symptoms, tPA has been shown to significantly reverse the effects of stroke and reduce permanent disability. Brasher was most likely was suffering mini-strokes or … Continue reading →

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) May is recognized as National Stroke Month. The American Heart Association reminds stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., and the leading cause of adult long-term disability. Time is of the essence in recognizing symptoms and getting treatment because two million brain cells die during every minute of a stroke. Use the F.A.S.T. method to recognize a stroke when you see it happening. F -- FACE Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? A -- ARMS Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? S -- SPEECH Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or strange? T -- TIME If you observe any of these signs (independently or together), call 9-1-1immediately. Risk factors can be medical like high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Strokes can also be caused by lifestyle risks like smoking and drinking too much alcohol. More: May is National Stroke Month … Continue reading →