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Tuesday, November 24, 2020
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Google Builds The Largest Autism Genome Database

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largest autism genome databaseAutistic spectrum disorders (ASD) have still unidentified causes, no matter the amount of research conducted in this field.

It affects billions of people world – wide and no matter how profound the studies went into finding underlying trigger factors, the truth is we are still knee deep in the mystery of exact causes and adequate prevention therapies and intervention treatments.

In this trail of thinking, we cannot but salute the initiative of both awareness organization Autism Speaks and tech giant Google for partnering up to build the largest autism genome database.

A press release dating yesterday announces this incredible collaboration in creating a tool that will be valuable to all autism researchers in the world, in an effort to combine big data usage with medical research:

Autism Speaks will store data from AUT10K on Google Cloud Platform. Most significantly, this database will be an open resource to support autism research. Autism Speaks has accumulated the largest private collection of DNA samples, known as the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) from 12,000 autism cases with diagnoses and detailed phenotyping. AGRE has been a strategic resource for the autism research community for over 15 years and is valued at $25 million dollars. The amount of data collected by AUT10K creates unique challenges for storing, analyzing, and providing remote access to the research. Google Cloud Platform provides the engineering innovation needed to address those challenges. Connecting biological discoveries with the very best in large-scale cloud storage and computation will advance the field of genomics research.

This collaboration is not only worth $50 million dollars (the value  of the Ten Thousand Genomes Program (AUT10K)), but is one of the finest examples of business, technology and medicine joining hands in order to make this world a better, healthier place.

According to the news, this collaboration may open doors to finding causes and treatments like never before. Tech scientists and medical scientists alike praise this initiative and consider it a game changer. And, if all works out, Google may move forward from building the largest autism genome database and close similar partnerships to deal with cancer, AIDS and other diseases we only begin to understand today.

In the words of autism researcher Dr. Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele from the Vanderbilt University autism research institute,

Only by understanding autism risk can we begin to develop treatments that target not just the symptoms but the root causes of autism spectrum disorder.

It looks like Google and Autism Speaks are set to change the world and give hope to billions of autistic people and their families. While this is not the first time medicine and technology (together with cloud computing and Big Data usage) join forces towards treating different diseases, this particular partnership is something to look forward to.

New Study Sheds Light on Autism: Mice and Missing Protein Genes

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mice autistic behaviorAutism spectrum disorders affect billions of people all over the world and are still under heavy research. Many specialists tried to identify the true causes of autism and find some treatments to alleviate the patients’ suffering, but to this day, nobody could pinpoint the specific triggers, nor provide the world with 100% full proof therapies.

Some of the most debilitating aspects of autism are induced by the cognitive – communication – behavioral triad of impairments. To some degree, all these components are affected at different levels of severity in almost all patients. A new study sheds light on autism and, more to the point, on the repetitive behaviors specific to autistic patients, opening the doors to more advanced genetic research in the future.

A team of neuroscientists at NYU Langone Medical Center reported recently the results of a study they conducted on mice lacking a specific protein gene called Cntnap4. Simply put, missing this gene means missing the protein. Mice not presenting the protein or presenting it in lower levels than normal, also presented abnormal levels of two essential chemicals which are vital to the optimal function of our brains: dopamine (the neural chemical responsible with the pleasure sensations) and GABA (the substance that lowers down our neural activity and regulates muscle tone). The mice that showed imbalances in these substance levels also showed autistic – like behaviors, displayed as following:

[quote]Mice that lacked the gene for this critical brain protein were found to obsessively groom their fellow animals’ fur into mohawk-like styles, suggesting a link between genetics, brain function and autistic behaviors[/quote]

Now as funny as it is to see with your own eyes mohawk – like mice hairdos, the link between the missing gene and the development of repetitive, autistic – like behaviors cannot be neglected. Finding reliable results to support the theory of genetic mutations as the main cause for autism is a hard feat for scientists, but not an-impossible-to-reach goal.

Past research involved other genetic theories and potential treatments. Genome mapping is a science with a mind – blowing potential. However, regarding autism as a spectrum disorder, scientists have been still in the dark so far. Now that this new study sheds light on autism, we are in support of the future studies trying to finally answer so many questions and actually find a cure. According to doctor Gordon Fishell,

There have been many candidate genes implicated in contributing to autism, but animal and human studies to identify their action have so far not led to any therapies.”Our research suggests that reversing the disease’s effects in signaling pathways like GABA and dopamine are potential treatment options

New Study Says Autism Begins in the Womb

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Autism Begins in the WombThere have been new causes of autism discovered in the past few months, which are starting to shed some light in the darkness that surrounds one of the most peculiar and common child developmental disorders, autism. Right now, a new study proposes for the first time ever, that autism begins in the womb. This new finding could turn everything we knew about autism upside down.

Autism Begins in the Womb

Up until now, the origins of autism have been debated by scientists all over the world. What we know about autism is that it is linked to brain chemistry and abnormal brain biology. Genes seem to have a say in the development of autism, but some have also suspected that a gluten diet may contribute to autism and, also, even mercury poisoning and vaccines.

A study published in the PLoS computational Biology advocates that pollution could have a role in the development of autism, but no specific toxins were named. 100 million US health insurance claims have been studied and the conclusion was that for every 1% increase in genital births defects in a district, the rate of autism in that particular area increased by almost 300%.

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine analyzed the brain tissue of young kids with autism and the findings were quite interesting. It was discovered that key genetic markers across many layers if brain cells were missing in the brains of autistic children and also that genetic flaws were occurring in focal patches of the brain tissue.

In short, in children suffering from autism, the process of creating six distinct layers with specific brain cells had been disrupted, thus causing the development of autism. The focal patches still need further studying, but their discovery is amazing, as the area where they occur is the size of a pencil eraser.

If you have anything to comment on this matter, please do so in the comment section below.

In the Past Two Years Autism Rates have Soared 30%

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autism rates have soaredA new study found proof that autism starts in the womb; the better we understand autism, the closer we’re getting to finding a cure or treatment. And a cure or treatment is exactly what the world needs, because a recent study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed that autism rates have soared 30% in the past two years.

Autism Rates Have Soared 30% in the Past 2 Years

The study revealed that the number of children in the US who suffer from autism spectrum disorder has soared 30% in the past two years, which is very worrisome. The surveillance report showed that autism rates have soared – 1 in 68 children now has ASD (autism spectrum disorder), compared with 1 in 88 children in the year 2012.

For these finding, researchers have analyzed data from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network – a system that collects data from community sources. The CDC states that the way they’ve been collected the data does not differ from previous reports, so we are certain that the findings reflect reality.

The report also revealed that the autism spectrum disorder is five times more common among boys than girls and it is also much more common among white children than black or Hispanic ones.

The majority of the children with autism are diagnosed with the ASD after the age of 4, but some are diagnosed as early as 2. The report also revealed that the level of intellectual ability of the children who suffer from ASD has increased over the past decade – they have an average or above average IQ.

What are your thoughts on CDC’s estimation that 1 in 68 children in the United States have autism? Why do you think that autism rates have soared? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below. If you have any concern about how your child acts or interacts with others, please take action!

 

New Causes Of Autism Discovered

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autism new causesIt seems that the science world is on a never ending road to discoveries. These new discoveries help the world by shedding some light on unknown causes of serious illnesses. Last week we were talking about the fact that overweight women have increased risks of developing ovarian cancer. In the most recent studies, scientists discovered that one of the causes that lead to autism could be of environmental origins, more precisely the environmental toxins. These new causes of autism can trigger this serious development disability.

Autism affects the intellectual ability of an individual, the attentiveness, the motor skills and also causes sleep disorders and stomach problems.  Autism is usually visible in children of 2-3 years old and the statistics are that 1 in 88 children develop autism, with an increased number of 10% every 40 years. Boys are more likely to develop autism.

Scientists are still debating the new causes of autism and also study genetics and mutations that affect the development of the brain. The other causes of autism are the parental age, the child’s conception period, if there was any oxygen deprivation during the pregnancy period. But scientists agree that the environmental toxins are the new causes of autism they are focusing on at the moment.

New Causes Of Autism are still being debated

Andrey Rzhetsky, a professor of genetic medicine at the University of Chicago, analyzed data from 100 million children from different U.S states in order to measure the autism rates and their intellectual disabilities. They also studied the genital defects of boys because scientist believe this could indicate if the parents have been exposed to any environmental toxins like lead and pesticide.

The scientists have not yet identified the exact environmental toxins that are the new causes of autism. They believe that chemicals found in plastic materials, food cans and other products may lead to the development of this illness. They also study the effects of air pollution as a cause of autism.

 

Female Who Are Suffering From Autism Spectrum Have More Masculine Qualities?

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At Cambridge University autism research center the team of researchers has found many similarities between structural anomalies and autism spectrum in female brains and the neuro-biological characteristics are also different between males and females. According to the study there is only primary difference between the brains of female and male suffering from autism, which need to have more study for female.

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The male who are suffering from this autism are strangely in the proportion of 2:1 or 3:1. But according to the author the difference in gender shows samples closer to 8:1. According to neuroscientist Maleg-Chuan Lai, that autism is mainly based on males. The sample found for male or from male cannot be said same as the females. Lie also said that in future the research should be more exact for both male and female. So, there should be more attention needed for clinical and research communities regarding female on the spectrum of autism.

 Researchers found that those female and male who are suffering from autism spectrum have structural difference in brain and then compared both the results of developing peers. Researchers found that the size of male brain is bigger than their body ratio, but the female brain consist of higher white matter which provides and maintains connection of different region of brain. Females who are suffering from autism have different cognition, hormonal biochemistry and brain growth.

According to other researchers the sample contains high functioning subject’s only and no neurological disorder. But according to Jeffrey Anderson at university of Utah has done mapping of the brain of Temple Grandin. And there is difference in size of facial blood vessels.

As we all know that the male female venous sinuses are different but confusing, according to Anderson the difference in white matter between male and female are believable.

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