More Insight into Autism Subtypes We all know that more than one type of autism is epidemic throughout our world, but connecting the patterns we see with objective measures in labs or radiology images has been challenging. This study claims to see two particular patterns of brain structure/function that account for about 25% of the…
The complexity and simplicity of influencing future generations’ autism and ADHD rates grow clearer with this study which demonstrates how genetics and gut bacteria interact to affect whether a child develops autism or ADHD. Chinese researchers identified links between the activity of different immune and neurologic genes with the presence of different bacteria in infant…
As anyone caring for children with autism would tell you, there are many forms and triggers for this distressingly common condition. Today’s focus article used computer modeling creatively in order to tease out four main subtypes of autism which might allow researchers to better identify both predisposing factors (like genetics) and external contributors to the…
Everyone wants big news from Autism research, but this was not the biggest news of the year that we might hope for. In fact, for those of us in functional and natural medicine, it was quite disappointing that some natural therapies got a negative report. So how do I, functional medicine doctor who has seen…
For many years now, both medical professionals and parents of children diagnosed with ADHD have assumed that the primary mechanism of action for most ADHD medications are its effects in the brain areas responsible for attention. Now a study suggests that the medications work in other parts of the brain, those involved with reward and…
A New Pathway for Autism Therapy In the ongoing story of autism, researchers may have discovered a brain area which plays a key role in the outworking of autism as well as its connection with higher rates of epilepsy. Learning of such novel mechanisms for autism pathology can be as exciting as reading a well-written…
In the ongoing story of autism, researchers may have discovered a brain area which plays a key role in the outworking of autism as well as its connection with higher rates of epilepsy. Learning of such novel mechanisms for autism pathology can be as exciting as reading a well-written mystery novel. Often it is the…
For a variety of ‘reasons’, ADHD has become a hot topic not just in pediatrics but also in adult medical care. While the earlier debate about the causes and true frequency of ADHD in children continues, this study highlights some major flaws in the research on adult ADHD which should make us pause before overmedicating…
Natural Focus: How Saffron Improves Concentration for ADHD Who would have thought that saffron, a culinary spice prominent in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, could be an effective therapy for ADHD? showed the benefits of a therapeutic dose of saffron in children and adolescents with ADHD compared to a pharmaceutical stimulant. In fact, the…
News You Can Use: Western Diets, Autism, and ADHD No one should be surprised that the health of a pregnant mom and what she puts in her body can affect the health and development of her developing baby. For decades, medicine has been aware of the effects of smoking, alcohol, various medications, and nutritional deficiencies…