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Autism is a disorder characterized by extreme withdrawal,
and a severely impaired ability to interact socially. The
conventional wisdom is that about one in every 1,000 children
suffers from autism, but several recent studies have suggested
that the incidence is much higher. Whether infants are born
autistic or develop the disorder later has been hotly debated.
Studies have pointed to a genetic component, but symptoms
don't normally develop until age 1 or 2.
Researchers found that children with mental retardation or
autism are more likely to have high levels of four particular
brain chemicals that can be detected in the blood shortly
after birth. The finding could help in the diagnosis and treatment
of the neurological conditions, which often are not recognized
until a child is several years old.
The researchers measured levels of eight brain proteins in
newborn blood samples from 64 children who were later diagnosed
with autism, 66 with mental retardation, 65 with cerebral
palsy, and 54 healthy (control) children. They found that
four of those chemicals -- vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP),
calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), brain-derived neurotrophic
factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin 4 (NT4) -- were elevated in
children with autism or mental retardation.
Most children with autism or mental retardation had concentrations
of two or more of the measured neuropeptides or neurotrophins...that
exceeded the level indicated. Few children with cerebral palsy
and no control child did.More research is need to determine
if testing newborns could help distinguish which youngsters
will go on to be diagnosed with autism or mental retardation.
American Academy of Neurology Annual
Meeting in San Diego, California March 4, 2000
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