Increased rainfall, or something linked to it, may be connected to the development of autism, scientists say.

The theory is based on child health and weather records from three US states, California, Oregon, and Washington  but has been greeted cautiously by a UK research charity. The US study found autism rates were higher among children whose states experienced higher rainfall in their first three years.

Link to read  this BBC Health News feature

Source: The work appears in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008;162(11):1026-1034

She seemed to be everywhere. Last fall, actress Jenny McCarthy could be found on a host of American talk shows, including Larry King Live, The View and The Oprah Winfrey Show promoting her book Louder than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism. During the Oprah appearance, she made several controversial claims, including the idea that vaccines had a role to play in causing her son’s autism. “The nurse gave (Evan) the shot… and soon thereafter—boom—the soul’s gone from his eyes,” she said.

Seen by millions of Oprah viewers, hers was a compelling story, [continue reading…]

Recently, Harvard researchers reported that children with autism have a wide range of genetic defects, making it nearly impossible to develop a simple genetic test to identify the disorder. Now, University of Missouri researchers are studying 3-D imaging to reveal correlations in the facial features and brain structures of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which will enable them to develop a formula for earlier detection of the disorder. The researchers anticipate their work also will reveal genetic clues that can direct additional research. Autism is a brain disorder characterized by a complex of social, communication and behavioral difficulties. [continue reading…]