New Study on Autism

I know we have families dealing with this and I found this interesting.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/07/10/autism.genes.ap/index.html

The findings also may help explain why intense education programs do help some autistic children -- because certain genes that respond to experience weren't missing, they were just stuck in the "off" position.
"The circuits are there but you have to give it an extra push," said Dr. Gary Goldstein of the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, which wasn't involved in the gene hunt but is well-known for its autism behavioral therapy.

I am going to have to agree with this to a certain extent. My grandson was like that. Once he learned sign language, it opened up communication in such a way it was exactly like flipping a switch to the "on" position. He began to speak using sign at the same time. He began to live in our world little by little then and less in his own. I have to think the key is finding what works for them to make that breakthrough.

At Kennedy Krieger, Goldstein thinks the work may provide a gene-level explanation for why some children already are helped by intense therapy.

"We have trouble getting through to these children, but with repeated stimulation we can do it," he said. "These are circuits that have an ability not so much to recover but to work around the problem."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/07/10/autism.genes.ap/index.html (Bolded by me)

I'm so glad they are really making strides in Autism research. I imagine this information could apply to a lot of disorders in many ways. Thanks for the info, SS. :blowkiss:

Here's an ABC video about the same study:
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=8761877&ch=4226714&src=news

WOW... interesting article!!!:clap: