Autism
Autism, ADHD, and Anxiety: the rise in autism & an approach to diagnosing & treating children
Dr Trenna Sutcliffe is a developmental behavioural paediatrician and the founder and medical director of the Sutcliffe Clinic in the San Francisco Bay Area. At her clinic, she partners with families to provide care for children facing behavioural challenges, developmental differences, and school struggles.
In this episode, Dr Sutcliffe shares her inspiring journey into developmental and behavioural paediatrics. She discusses her pioneering work at Stanford and her expertise in autism, ADHD, and anxiety—often referred to as the “three As.” Dr. Sutcliffe explores the diagnostic processes, the overlap and comorbidities of these conditions, and the importance of personalized treatment plans that address medical and environmental factors.
She offers valuable insights into the changing prevalence of autism, the impact of evolving diagnostic criteria, and the variety of therapies and medications available to support children and their families. Dr. Sutcliffe also addresses the challenges in accessing care and emphasizes the critical need for a holistic approach that bridges healthcare and education
Experts debunk myths around autism detox treatments
Misinformation about “autism detox treatments,” which claim to remove toxins and heavy metals from the bloodstream, is circulating online. These products, often made from zeolite, are unapproved by the FDA and can pose serious health risks. Dr. Alycia Halladay of the Autism Science Foundation discusses the dangers and myths surrounding these treatments.
The Hidden Struggle: Masking in Autistic Women and Girls
This talk sheds light on the often hidden and misunderstood experience of masking in women and girls with autism. Masking is the process by which individuals with autism hide their symptoms to fit into societal norms. Many girls begin this behavior in childhood, attempting to meet the expectations of their family members and friends. As they grow older, this behavior intensifies, making it very challenging to seek diagnosis or support.
The talk explores both a personal journey and insights from top autism researchers and organizations specializing in women and girls, aiming to start a conversation about the prevalence of masking and its profound impact.
Masha’s journey is a testament to resilience. As a young immigrant, she overcame trauma, undiagnosed neurodiversity, and homelessness on her path to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Unfortunately, her success was taken away due to deteriorating health. However, by mastering perseverance, she has rebuilt her dreams from the ground up.
Today, Masha is the Founder of the 24-Hour Pause for Peace—a worldwide concert uniting hearts with music and love, guided by future generations. She works within PEAC Institute, an international NGO, alongside a member of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize-winning team and other extraordinary, like-minded individuals. This mission invites the world to witness a day where peace is not just a hope, but a reality.
No Evidence That Maternal Sickness During Pregnancy Causes Autism
A new study from NYU Langone Health suggests that maternal sickness during pregnancy does not cause autism in children. While previous research indicated a link between a mother’s health conditions and a child’s risk of autism, this study found that many of these associations can be explained by factors like genetics, pollution, and healthcare access.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health discovered that the few conditions truly associated with autism were actually complications with the fetus. These complications were early signs of autism rather than causes. “Our study shows no convincing evidence that maternal diagnoses cause autism,” said Dr. Magdalena Janecka, an associate professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Published in Nature Medicine, the study analyzed over 1.1 million pregnancies in Denmark. Unlike the fragmented medical records in the U.S., Denmark’s centralized health records allowed researchers to examine each mother’s diagnoses comprehensively. They focused on 236 diagnoses that occurred in at least 0.1% of pregnancies.
Lead author Dr. Vahe Khachadourian highlighted that the study is the first to thoroughly explore the mother’s entire medical history, controlling for multiple conditions and confounding factors. Researchers cross-checked maternal diagnoses with children’s autism risk, accounting for factors like the mother’s age and sociodemographic status.
The study found 30 maternal conditions statistically associated with autism. However, by including siblings of autistic children in the analysis, researchers determined that many of these conditions were influenced by genetics and environmental factors, not maternal sickness.
One key finding was that paternal diagnoses were just as related to child autism as maternal diagnoses, suggesting strong familial factors at play. The only maternal diagnosis strongly associated with autism was pregnancy complications related to the fetus, likely early signs of autism rather than causes.
Dr. Janecka emphasized that this research could alleviate guilt for mothers of children with autism. “Many mothers feel they did something wrong during pregnancy. Showing that these things don’t cause autism is important and may lead to more effective support for autistic children and their families.”
Autism is a developmental disorder marked by challenges in social interactions and repetitive behaviors, affecting about one in every 54 children in the U.S. Symptoms vary widely but can include reduced eye contact, reluctance to play, repeating gestures or sounds, and indifference to temperature extremes.