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Autism Crisis Brings Together Top Scientists and Clinicians to Share Recent Findings at National Symposium

Posted on: Wednesday, 31 August 2005, 15:00 CDT

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- An urgent call to increase funding and NIH attention to the ever growing autism epidemic was the overarching message at last week's symposium on environmental factors in neurodevelopmental disorders. The groundbreaking symposium organized by The Coalition for SafeMinds (Sensible Action For Ending Mercury-Induced Neurological Disorders) and the National Autism Association (NAA) brought together key researchers in environmental health sciences and neuroscience to design a roadmap for future research on the role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.

Last year the CDC issued an "Autism Alert" announcing that the reported prevalence of autism spectrum disorders had risen to alarming levels, currently affecting approximately one in every 166 American children. In addition, learning disabilities are thought to impact one in every six school aged child today. A number of recent investigations reveal intriguing data that suggest an environmental insult combined with genetic vulnerability may be responsible for this otherwise unexplained epidemic.

At the symposium scientists described mechanisms by which toxicants may induce damage in the developing brain, impair the immune system and disrupt critical enzyme pathways necessary for normal development. The presentations were followed by a think tank moderated by Dr. Ken Olden, immediate past director of NIEHS, where participants, including representatives and parents from 10 national autism organizations engaged in an active discussion in an effort to redirect autism research into the arena of the environmental factors.

Parents participating in the discussion urged that a major autism education effort must be undertaken in regards to pediatricians, physicians and others in the medical community.

"We must continue to educate clinicians regarding the importance of appropriate assessment and treatment of the medical conditions affecting children with autism," said Lyn Redwood, president of SafeMinds. "Because the diagnosis of autism is considered a mental health disorder, these children's medical problems are often overlooked and not covered by insurance."

Both scientists and the parent community called for an increase in funding for therapeutic trials using clues from documented of cases of recovered children, establishing a standard protocol for such trials and further intensive study of treatments such as chelation.

A final document describing the road map for future research is being developed and will be submitted to NIH and Congress with requests for funding. (The final document will be available at http://www.safeminds.org ).

For more information about the symposium or SafeMinds, contact Stephanie Morris at 202-628-7772 or at smorris(At)venturecommunications.com.

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The Coalition for SafeMinds stands for Sensible Action For Ending Mercury-Induced Neurological Disorders. SafeMinds supports research on the potential harmful effects of mercury and thimerosal. Its mission is to end the health and personal devastations caused by the needless use of mercury, especially mercury in medicines.

http://www.usnewswire.com

Source: U.S. Newswire

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