Increased Gray Matter and Abnormal Mirror Neuron System Functioning in Children with Autism

A study led by Manzar Ashtari, Ph.D., from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, and presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) suggests that the inability of autistic children to relate to people and life situations in an ordinary way may be the result of an abnormally functioning mirror neuron system.




The study uses a novel imaging technique to study autistic children and found increased gray matter in the brain areas that govern social processing and learning by observation. The amount of gray matter in the left parietal area of the brain correlated with IQ in the control children but not in autistic children. Decreased gray matter in the amygdala region of the brain correlated with severity of social impairment.



The abstract of the study Gray Matter Enlargement in Children with High Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome Using a Novel Method of Diffusion Based Morphometry is available on line. The study included 13 male patients diagnosed with high-functioning autism or Asperger syndrome and an IQ greater than 70 and 12 healthy control adolescents. Average age of the participants was about 11 years. Each of the patients underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a technique that tracks the movement of water molecules in the brain..

DTI is traditionally used to study the brain's white matter, as well as the brain fibers. However, Dr. Ashtari's team applied it to the assessment of gray matter by employing apparent diffusion coefficient based morphometry (ABM), a new method that highlights brain regions with potential gray matter volume changes. By adding ABM to DTI, the researchers can detect subtle regional or localized changes in the gray matter.

In addition to the gray matter abnormalities linked to the mirror neuron system, the results of this study revealed that the amount of gray matter in the left parietal area correlated with higher IQs in the control group, but not in the autistic children.

"In the normal brain, larger amounts of gray matter are associated with higher IQs," Dr. Ashtari said. "But in the autistic brain, increased gray matter does not correspond to IQ, because this gray matter is not functioning properly."

The autistic children also evidenced a significant decrease of gray matter in the right amygdala region that correlated with severity of social impairment. Children with lower gray matter volumes in this area of the brain had lower scores on reciprocity and social interaction measures.

"Impairments in these areas are the hallmark of autism spectrum disorders, and this finding may lead to greater understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of the core features of autism," said study co-author Joel Bregman, M.D., medical director of the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism.

Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States and typically appears during the first three years of life. Children with autism are hindered in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 1.5 million Americans have autism.

Co-authors are S. Nichols, Ph.D., C. McIlree, M.S., L. Spritzer, B.S., A. Adesman, M.D., and B. Ardekani, Ph.D.

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Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis 2007 Conference Report

Autism and Behaviour Analysis ONTABA Conference 2007

By: Taline Sagharian

November 28, 2007

The Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis (ONTABA) www.ontaba.org held their annual conference on November 15 and 16, 2007. The two-day conference provided an exciting opportunity for attendees to learn some of the most up-to-date and innovative methods of incorporating Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) techniques in various significant issues including autism.

During the Awards Ceremony segment, retired MPP Shelley Martel was presented with an honourary lifetime ONTABA membership award in recognition of her outstanding dedication and commitment to families and individuals with autism and in supporting ABA in Ontario . Ms. Martel said that she is thrilled to continue her involvement with the autism community and feels that there is great merit in developing an accreditation process for professionals working in the field of autism and ABA . “This is necessary to assure parents that high quality treatment services are being delivered to their children and that the money being invested in recruitment, training and retention, is being well-spent,” said Ms. Martel. “Models of regulation have been developed in other jurisdictions and we should examine those models to determine what would work in Ontario .” When asked why it would be paramount for the government to recognize and work with ONTABA in this development process, she said; “Since ONTABA has the expertise in behaviour analysis, it only makes sense for the Ontario government to work with ONTABA in developing any such criteria."

In his opening remarks, Dr. James Porter, now past president of ONTABA, announced the birth of the Canadian Association for Behaviour Analysis Inc. (CABA), for which he is the founder and will serve as its first president. The website will be uploaded in the next 48 hours http://www.cdnaba.org:80/ . “The primary focus will be on creating a national voice for behaviour analysis and behaviour analysts,” he said. “This includes helping to establish ethical, accountable behaviour analysis services with quality assurance in all provinces -- all regions -- from one end of Canada to the other through certification of behaviour analysts throughout Canada .”

Malcolm Stanley, executive member of the Ontario Autism Coalition (OAC) www.ontarioautismcoalition.com made a presentation on day two of the conference for which he received a standing ovation. The presentation pointed out that the ONTABA brand is based in the quality of ABA service and that there are dangers in the organization not being involved in ABA implementation strategies in Ontario . "Appropriation of the ABA concept by politicians and unqualified service providers weakens not only ONTABA but threatens the overall quality ABA service provided to all Ontario children (with autism)", said Mr. Stanley. “The OAC strongly urges ONTABA to aggressively 'police' the use of ABA-based word marks and concepts in the Ontario marketplace”, he said. The OAC is also pushing for ABA to be implemented under the guidance of ONTABA member professionals and offered a number of possible solutions such as the development of a professional college. "A key step in this process is the achievement of an agreement with the Provincial government to put in place a college for ABA professionals and ensure proper credentialing of ABA service providers," he said. "This strategic goal must be achieved by ONTABA before school programs are set up which ignore or disallow the presence of ONTABA and its members."

There was an abundant flow of energy throughout the two days. Indeed, it has been a remarkable year for autism in Ontario . There is no question that the newly formed relationship between autism advocates and ONTABA provides the critical backbone in the fight for the implementation of authentic ABA in our province. The first step in achieving this goal is for Ontario to embrace the existing international standards of board certification for those practicing ABA . However, qualifications specific to both autism and ABA expertise requires that the individuals overseeing the implementation of ABA for autism not only meet the international board certification standards, but that they also carry autism experience as outlined in the Autism SIG Guidelines for ABA Consumers http://www.behavior.org/autism/ABAAutismSIG_Gdlns_2007.pdf .

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Not Traditional Chicken Pot Pie!

Tuesday nights are kinda crazy in the Chiappini house. The children stay at school until 3:30 so my youngest one can stay for "stretch and grow". After I pick them up they have a bit of time to play and get some homework done then it's onto Karate and Ice Skating. T. takes the oldest to Karate and I take the youngest to Skating. We aren't able to get back home until about 7:30 or so. Makes dinner time kind of late. We have tried to eat before but it is just too rushed. So now we are eating after. T. gets home early than us so he usually makes dinner on Tuesday. I wasn't kidding when I said it was hectic!

Last night we had a great idea. Let's finish up the gravy and part of a rotisserie chicken that we had over the weekend. I pulled out some frozen pie crust and let that thaw all day so all he had to do when he got home was to heat the chicken with the gravy and a can of potatoes (must be some old hurricane supplies, can't imagine why I would have those???!!!) and some chopped up onion. Put it in the pie shell and topped it and egg washed it and plopped it in the oven until the pie crust was done.

Wasn't that a nice fast and easy way to use up the leftovers and make a good dinner?

As Always...

Happy Entertaining!!!

Judy
www.nofearentertaining.com

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UN Committee Calls for World Autism Day, April 2

The United Nations Third Committee has approved, without a vote, a resolution sponsored by Qatar, calling on the General Assembly to designate April 2 as World Autism Day. Qatar, as the primary sponsor of the resolution issued a press release which follows. It is encouraging to see autism issues being moved on to the world stage. This kind of attention should help encourage those national governments, including the Government of Canada, which are doing little or nothing to address the autism crisis in their countries. It is no surprise that Autism Speaks, with co-founders Bob and Suzanne Wright, is at the forefront once again, in raising autism awareness, with a focus on addressing the real needs of autistic children and adults. Congratulations and a note of appreciation to Qatar the nation which has been the primary sponsor for the World Autism Day resolution.

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York PRESS CONFERENCE BY QATAR ON WORLD AUTISM DAY RESOLUTION

Member States should break the “barrier of shame” of people suffering from autism and raise international awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of the brain disorder, which was estimated to affect 35 million people worldwide, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations, urged this afternoon during a Headquarters press conference.

“ Qatar shares the concerns of a number of countries about the high rate of autism in children in all regions of the world,” Mr. Al-Nasser said. His comments come almost a month after the General Assembly’s Third Committee (Social, Cultural and Humanitarian) approved a draft resolution, 1 November (see Press Release GA/SHC/3899), introduced by Qatar’s delegation and co-sponsored by 50 Member States, to designate 2 April as World Autism Day. Once the draft resolution is adopted by the General Assembly, as expected, the Day will be observed annually starting in 2008.

Joining the Ambassador today was Bob Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks, a United States-based non-governmental organization that works to raise awareness of autism and fund research for its causes, prevention and treatment. “Combating autism is going to require worldwide effort. It is not politically, geographically or economically centred. It is an equal destroyer,” he said.

In the last two and a half years, Autism Speaks spent an estimated $60 million on scientific and medical research, he noted. In the United States, children diagnosed before the age of three and then properly treated had a 50 per cent chance of graduating from public school at an appropriate age level. However, many African-American and Hispanic children, and children from non-English-speaking households, were not diagnosed until age seven.

Suzanne Wright, also co-founder of Autism Speaks, said 1.5 million people had the complex brain disorder in the United States, and a new child was diagnosed with it every 20 minutes. An immediate global response was needed to address the epidemic, she urged.

During the Second Annual International Forum for Children with Special Needs held in Doha in April, Autism Speaks and Qatar’s Shaffalah Centre, which assists disabled children, announced plans to launch an Autism Speaks Programme in Qatar.

Also during the press conference, Jacqueline Aidenbaum Brandt, a mother of an autistic son, shed light on her personal experiences, including the misconception society had of the brain disorder and the concerns of parents of autistic children. She said people often mistook an autistic child for an unruly or poorly behaved one, blaming the parent instead of the disorder for the child’s behaviour. Caring for an autistic child was complex, as parents were left to grapple with whether the child would one day be independent, and how he or she would be cared for after the parents had died or were no longer able to do so.

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Autism Dad Kavchak Asks Canadian Health Minister For REAL Autism Action

For several years Andrew Kavchak, parent of an autistic child/child with autism, has campaigned relentlessly for a National Autism Strategy. As the father of an autistic child Mr. Kavchak understands the need for a National effort to address Canada's autism crisis.

While movement appeared headed in that direction last year with the passage of the Andy Scott/Peter Stoffer private member's motion and the debate on Shawn Murphy's initiative, the momentum toward a National Autism Strategy has been stopped cold, as intended, by the neo-conservative ideology of the Harper government and Health Minister Tony Clement.

In his polite letter to Health Minister Clement Andrew Kavchak draws on the example of our American neighbors to try and kick start the Harper government's feeble National Autism Strategy.

Good luck Andrew. You will need it, or a change of government, to revive any prospect of a real National Autism Strategy in Canada.

......................................................

Hello Minister Clement,

Please see the information below from the US government about its latest initiative in dealing with the autism crisis.

Is there any chance that the Canadian federal government might take any similar action in recognizing the need for some federal leadership in developing a national autism strategy?

You may recall that exactly a year ago the House of Commons voted in favour of a motion that called for the creation of a National Autism Strategy. The proposed strategy had four components...three of which involved consultation and cooperation with the provinces. Under your watch, no consultation or cooperation has happened so far...at least, none that is known to the community. Perhaps the creation of such a "new interagency autism coordinating committee" could prove useful in turning the empty words of the motion into meaningful reality and provide some hope for the community?

Andrew Kavchak
Ottawa, ON
__

HHS Secretary Leavitt Announces Members of the New Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- HHS Secretary Mike
Leavitt announced today the members appointed to the Department of Health
and Human Services' new Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. This
committee coordinates efforts within the department to combat autism
spectrum disorder through research, screening, intervention, and education.
The committee will facilitate the efficient and effective exchange of
information on autism activities among member agencies, and coordinate
autism-related programs and initiatives.

"This important committee will play a key role in coordinating autism
research, services, and education related to autism spectrum disorder,"
Secretary Leavitt said. "I'm pleased that its members bring to the
committee a wide range and great depth of expertise, including research and
program administration, advocacy and personal experience with the
condition."

Authorized under the Combating Autism Act of 2006, the Interagency
Autism Coordinating Committee advises the HHS Secretary and the Director of
the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Secretary Leavitt delegated the
authority to establish the committee to the NIH, which designated its
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to lead this activity.

The committee chair is Thomas R. Insel, M.D., director of NIMH.

"The committee's first priority will be to develop a strategic plan for
autism research that can guide public and private investments to make the
greatest difference for families struggling with autism," Dr. Insel said.

HHS is active in fostering research and making the results available to
aid people with autism.

Among the activities:

NIH funding and expertise support the Autism Centers of Excellence
program, which the agency launched after the Combating Autism Act was
passed, to seek the causes of autism and new treatments for the disorder.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supports a
multi-state collaborative study to help identify factors that put children
at risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and other developmental
disabilities. The five-year study, called SEED (Study to Explore Early
Development), is currently enrolling participants.

CDC has reported findings from the first and largest summary of autism
prevalence data from multiple U.S. communities. These findings, which found
autism spectrum disorders in approximately one in 150 children in these
communities, was reported by the Autism and Development Disabilities
Monitoring Network, which was designed to provide more consistent and
reliable estimates.

Federal members of the new panel:

Duane Alexander, M.D., is director of the National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development at NIH. The Institute supports research on all
stages of human development, from preconception to adulthood, to better
understand the health of children, adults, families, and communities.

James Battey, M.D., Ph.D., is director of the National Institute on
Deafness and Other Communications Disorders at NIH. The Institute supports
biomedical and behavioral research and research training in the normal and
disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and
language.

Ellen Blackwell, M.S.W., is a health insurance specialist of the
Division of Community and Institutional Services, Disabled and Elderly
Health Programs Group, Center for Medicaid and State Operations, Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services where she serves as an expert on
policies that affect individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

Margaret Giannini, M.D., F.A.A.P., is director of the HHS Office on
Disability. Dr. Giannini serves as advisor to the Secretary on HHS
activities relating to disabilities. She is also a member of the Institute
of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and fellow of the American
Academy of Pediatrics.

Gail Houle, Ph.D., is associate division director of the
Research-to-Practice Division, Early Childhood Programs, Office of Special
Education Programs, Department of Education where she oversees programs for
children with disabilities and their families funded through the Individual
with Disabilities Education Act. Her expertise focuses on services for
children with autism spectrum disorders.

Larke Huang, Ph.D., is senior advisor on children and a licensed
clinical-community psychologist who provides leadership on federal national
policy pertaining to mental health and substance use issues for children,
adolescents and families for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration.

Thomas Insel, M.D., is director of the National Institute of Mental
Health at NIH. The Institute's mission is to reduce the burden of mental
illness and behavioral disorders through research on mind, brain, and
behavior.

Story Landis, Ph.D., is director of the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke at NIH. The Institute's focus is directed
toward reducing the burden of neurological disease through research on the
normal and diseased nervous system.

Cindy Lawler, Ph.D., is scientific program director of the Cellular,
Organs, and Systems Pathobiology Branch, Division of Extramural Research
and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at NIH.
The Branch plans, directs, and evaluates the Institute's grant program that
supports research and research training in environmental health.

Patricia Morrissey, Ph.D., is commissioner of the Administration on
Developmental Disabilities at the Administration for Children and Families,
which seeks to improve services to and assure that individuals with
developmental disabilities have opportunities to make their own choices,
contribute to society, have supports to live independently, and are free of
abuse, neglect, financial and sexual exploitation, and violations of their
legal and human rights.

Edwin Trevathan, M.D., M.P.H., is director of the National Center on
Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) at CDC. NCBDDD is
focused on identifying the causes of and preventing birth defects and
developmental disabilities, helping children to develop and reach their
full potential, and promoting health and well-being among people of all
ages with disabilities. Dr. Trevathan is representing Julie Gerberding,
M.D., M.P.H., director of the CDC, on the committee.

Peter van Dyck, M.D., M.P.H., is associate administrator of Maternal
and Child Health at the Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA). Dr. van Dyck oversees HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau,
which seeks to improve the health of mothers, children, and families,
particularly those who are poor or lack access to care.

Elias Zerhouni, M.D., is director of the National Institutes of Health.
A world renowned leader in the field of radiology and medicine, Dr.
Zerhouni has spent his career providing clinical, scientific, and
administrative leadership. He leads the nation's medical research agency
and oversees the NIH's 27 Institutes and Centers with more than 18,000
employees.

Non-federal members:

Lee Grossman is president and CEO of Autism Society of America (ASA)
and the parent of a young adult son with autism. Mr. Grossman is also the
chair of the ASA Foundation and a member of the ASA Environmental Health
Advisory Board.

Yvette Janvier, M.D., is the medical director for Children's
Specialized Hospital in New Jersey. Dr. Janvier is also a clinical
assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson
Medical School. Her specialties are autism and developmental and behavioral
pediatrics. Dr. Janvier is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Christine McKee, J.D., has developed and manages an in-home therapy for
her autistic child, creating and/or assembling all of the therapy related
materials. Ms. McKee participates in monthly consultations with a Board
Certified Behavior Analyst/Speech Pathologist. She applies the therapeutic
measures in her daily parenting and childcare routines.

Lyn Redwood, RN, MSN, is co-founder and president of the Coalition for
Safe Minds. Ms. Redwood is also on the board of the National Autism
Association. She became involved in autism research when her son was
diagnosed with pervasive development disorder in 1999. She is a nurse
practitioner with 25 years of experience.

Stephen Shore, Ed.D., is executive director of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Consulting. Drawing on his experiences as an individual with an autism
spectrum disorders diagnosis, Dr. Shore presents and consults
internationally on adult issues pertinent to education, relationships,
employment, advocacy, and disclosure. He also serves on the board of the
Autism Society of America, as board president of the Asperger's Association
of New England, and is on the board of directors for Unlocking Autism, the
Autism Services Association of Massachusetts, MAAP Services, The College
Internship Program, and the KEEN Foundation.

Alison Tepper Singer, MBA, is executive vice president of Autism Speaks
and is a member of the board of directors. Prior to joining Autism Speaks,
Ms. Singer spent 14 years at CNBC and NBC where she served in several
positions. She has both a daughter and an older brother with autism, giving
her long-term, personal experience with the disorder.

The following Web page provides links to additional information on the
Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, including information about
upcoming meetings and highlights from meetings of the prior committee:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-funding/scientific-meetings/recurring-meet
ings/iacc/index.shtml

NIMH's mission is to reduce the burden of mental and behavioral
disorders through research on mind, brain, and behavior. More information
is available at the NIMH Web site, http://www.nimh.nih.gov.

NIH -- The Nation's Medical Research Agency -- includes 27 Institutes
and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting
basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the
causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more
information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

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Zucchini Boats with Ricotta-Basil Mousse

Shilpa's Zucchini Boats with Ricotta-Basil Mousse

6 zucchini
cooking spray
1 cup fresh basil leaves (finely chopped)
1 cup (8 ounces Ricotta Cheese)
1/2 cup flat leaf parsley (finely chopped)
1/4 cup grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
2 tablespoons hot water
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1.Preheat oven 450 degrees

2. Cut each zucchini in half lengthwise; scoop out pulp (leave 1/4 inch shell)

3. Arrange zucchini shells in single layer in a 13 x 9 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray

4. Combine basil and 7 other ingredients, stirring well with a whisk. Divide mixture evenly among shells, pressing gently.

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Missing 17 Year Old Youth With Aspergers Found Safe in Manitoba

Sometimes the news is good. RCMP are reporting that a 17 year old youth with Asperger Syndrome who had gone missing without gloves or a toque has been found safe. He is receiving medical attention but is reported to be in good health.

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