An (nearly) 800% increase in autism incidence in England over 20 years
Analysis of a national primary care database covering millions of patients in England recorded a nearly 800% increase in autism diagnoses between 1998 and 2018. Researchers from the UK observed a greater increase in diagnoses in females and those where intellectual disability was not a part of the symptom profile. They were not able to pinpoint the precise reasons for the increase in cases but suggest a combination of factors such as increased reporting and use of the autism diagnosis accounted for the changes. They also highlighted a real increase in prevalence as a potential explanatory factor.
Russell G, Stapley S, Newlove-Delgado T, Salmon A, White R, Warren F, Pearson A, Ford T. Time trends in autism diagnosis over 20 years: a UK population-based cohort study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2021 Aug 19. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13505.
Cobalamin (vitamin B12) is a promising intervention for autism
The potential usefulness of cobalamin (vitamin B12) as an intervention for autism has been known about for quite a while. A new research paper has synthesized the existing research on cobalamin use and autism and provides scientific gold-standard support for the positive effects of such an intervention for some. Vitamin B12 is an important compound in various metabolic reactions that have a long history in relation to autism including the folate, methylation and redox pathways. It is perhaps not surprising then, that supplementation with vitamin B12 among 17 studies examined, was generally associated with positive behavioral and biochemical changes in autism. Importantly, adverse effects of supplementation were found to be minimal and minor.
Rossignol DA, Frye RE. The Effectiveness of Cobalamin (B12) Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Pers Med. 2021 Aug 11;11(8):784. doi: 10.3390/jpm11080784
Full-text: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/11/8/784/htm
The biology of regressive autism?
Developmental regression into autism is now increasingly accepted as part of the case history of some with autism. A new small-scale study out of China has reported finding a potential biological signature associated with regressive-onset autism as compared to non-regressive onset. The study analyzed the blood serum of 60 children with autism (both with & without a history of regression) and compared them to 36 controls. They found that the level of a compound called Retinol Binding Protein 4 (RBP4) correlated with history of regression. Although preliminary, such work starts to fill an important research gap looking at the biology of regression in autism.
Chen J, Chen J, Xu Y, Cheng P, Yu S, Fu Y, Du Y. Retinol-binding protein 4 in combination with lipids to predict the regression phenomenon of autism spectrum disorders. Lipids Health Dis. 2021 Aug 26;20(1):93. doi: 10.1186/s12944-021-01522- 9. PMID: 34446012; PMCID: PMC8390196.
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Autism symptoms don’t always mean autism (and could mean other labels)
It’s long been known that autism traits and behaviors appear as part of various other labels as well as being integral to a diagnosis of autism. A new editorial and research study reiterate this fact and the importance of a thorough clinical investigation before a diagnosis of autism is arrived at. The editorial by two very well-known names in autism research and practice stresses how a core feature like social functioning difficulties should not on it’s own be interpreted as autism. The research study stressed how some autistic symptoms can be an important part of some cases of schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Lord C, Bishop SL. Let's Be Clear That "Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms" Are Not Always Related to Autism Spectrum Disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 2021 Aug 1;178(8):680-682. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.21060578.
Deste G, Vita A, Nibbio G, Barlati S, Penn DL, Pinkham AE, Harvey PD. Autistic symptoms in people with schizophrenia: Neurocognitive, socio-cognitive, clinical and real-world functional characteristics of individuals without autistic features. Schizophr Res. 2021 Aug 4;236:12-18. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2021.07.037.
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