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On April 2 of each year, the world celebrates World Autism Day, and the theme of the 2024 World Autism Day celebration is: “Moving from survival to thriving: regional perspectives from the lives and experiences of people with autism.” On this occasion, we present in this report the latest scientific studies on autism disorder.
Since the United Nations General Assembly declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day in 2007, the United Nations has celebrated this day as a means to affirm, promote and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms of people with autism worldwide on an equal and comprehensive basis with others, and this is in accordance with A statement on the United Nations website.
The United Nations says that the General Assembly resolution issued in 2007 (A/RES/62/139) emphasizes the importance of raising public awareness of autism. “Today, 17 years later, we have moved from simply raising awareness to promoting acceptance and appreciation of people with autism and their contributions to society.”
2024 event
The United Nations statement says that this year's celebration aims to bring a comprehensive global perspective on autism by uniquely focusing on the voices and experiences of individuals with autism themselves. In addition to emphasizing the importance of implementing the sustainable development goals for people with autism, so that they can achieve success.
A group of speakers with autism from all walks of life will participate in the event, representing 6 regions: Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America and Oceania.
The following is the latest scientific studies on autism, explaining the summary of the study, the party that conducted it, and the date of its publication:
Avoiding parents' exposure to toxic substances reduces the risk of autism in children
Publication date: March 2024
The organization that conducted the study: The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in the United States
The study showed that parents avoiding exposure to toxic substances can help prevent autism and ADHD in children.
Assessing autism with an eye test
Publication date: February 2024
The entity that conducted the study: University of California-San Francisco in the United States
Scientists have discovered a new way to test for autism by measuring how children's eyes move when they turn their heads. They found that children who carry a different gene linked to severe autism have a specific movement.
The influence of genes on the risk of developing autism spectrum disorder
Publication date: January 2024
The organization that conducted the study: RIKEN Brain Science Center in Japan
Researchers examined the inheritance of autism spectrum disorder by analyzing mutations in the genomes of individuals and their families, and discovered that a special type of genetic mutation contributes to the condition.
Blood pressure medication may reduce anxiety in people with autism
Publication date: January 2024
The organization that conducted the study: University of Missouri-Columbia
Researchers found that propranolol, a drug that treats high blood pressure, can also help reduce anxiety in children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder.
Enlargement of certain areas in children's brains is linked to an increased risk of autism
Publication date: January 2024
The organization that conducted the study: University of North Carolina Health Care in the United States.
The researchers found that enlarged perivascular spaces in children's brains, caused by the buildup of excess cerebrospinal fluid, increased the chance of developing autism later in life by 2.2 times.
People with autism are less likely to succumb to the influence of bystanders
Publication date: October 2023
The party that conducted the study: York University in Canada
One well-established psychological theory states that most of us are less likely to intervene in bad situations when other people are present, which is called the “bystander effect.” This also applies to the workplace.
However, the study showed that people with autism are less likely to be affected by this social contagion than neurotypical people.
The results revealed that they were less likely to remain silent in the face of gross misbehavior or even just everyday mistakes, suggesting the positive aspects of autism and how organizations could benefit from hiring more neurodivergent people.
Encephalitis may cause autism
Publication date: October 2023
The body that conducted the study: University of Maryland School of Medicine in the United States
Severe inflammation in early childhood is a clinically recognized risk factor for autism and schizophrenia. Researchers discovered that inflammation changes the development of brain cells. This discovery could lead to treatments for many different neurodevelopmental disorders that appear in childhood.
Uncovering two pathways for autism in the developing brain
Publication date: August 2023
The entity that conducted the study: Yale University in the United States
Researchers have revealed that two neurodevelopmental disorders, which appear only weeks after the beginning of brain development, are linked to the emergence of autism spectrum disorder. The discovery could help doctors and researchers diagnose and treat autism in the future.
A relationship between autism in children and cardiovascular disease
Publication date: March 2023
The organization that conducted the study: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the United States
Researchers found that autism spectrum disorder is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in general, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Research has also shown that children with autism spectrum disorder have an increased risk of obesity, and obesity has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disorders such as diabetes and dyslipidemia (high levels of cholesterol or fats in the blood).
Children at risk for autism have difficulty noticing audio and video mismatches
Publication date: March 2023
The entity that conducted the study: Rutgers University in the United States
Researchers have discovered that infants typically perceive audio and visual synchrony better than high-risk infants with autism. The study may allow doctors to detect autism earlier and speed up treatment.
Brain wave data and hearing testing for autism diagnosis
Publication date: February 2023
The entity that conducted the study: Rutgers University in the United States
The study showed that brainwave data collected during a routinely performed hearing test for newborns could help doctors detect neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism in early childhood.
Autism may improve with existing medications
Publication date: March 2024
The entity that conducted the study: Rutgers University in the United States
Researchers have analyzed how the brains of people with different forms of autism develop, revealing common underlying mechanisms that may respond to existing medications, opening up areas for effective treatment using existing medications.
More information about autism
Autism spectrum disorders - also known as autism for short - are a lifelong neurological condition that appears in early childhood, regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic status.
It is also a group of diverse disorders that are characterized by some difficulties in social interaction and communication, and have other characteristics represented in patterns of activities and behaviors such as difficulty moving from one activity to another, absorption in details, and unusual reactions to sensations, according to the World Health Organization.
Symptoms of autism
Autism symptoms related to communication and social interaction skills
The child avoids or does not maintain eye contact, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The infant does not respond when his name is called at the age of 9 months.
Facial expressions such as happiness, sadness, anger, and surprise do not appear on the infant at the age of 9 months.
Does not play simple games at 12 months old.
Uses few or no gestures by 12 months (eg, does not wave goodbye).
Does not share interests with others by 15 months.
He does not point to tell his parents about something that interests him at the age of 18 months.
Doesn't notice when others get hurt or upset by 24 months.
Does not notice other children and does not join them in play by 36 months.
Doesn't pretend to be another character, such as pretending to be a teacher or superhero, while playing at 48 months.
He does not do anything specific to interest the family - for example, singing - at the age of 60 months.
Autism symptoms associated with restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests
Children with autism have behaviors or interests that may seem unusual, such as:
Arranging toys or other things and getting upset when their order is changed.
Repeats the same words or phrases frequently.
Plays with toys the same way every time.
Focuses on parts of objects (for example, the wheels in a toy car).
He gets upset by small changes.
Flapping hands or spinning in circles.
Shows unusual reactions to the way things look, smell, taste, look, or feel.
Autism symptoms associated with language and mood
Delayed development of language skills.
Delayed development of movement skills.
Delayed cognitive or learning skills.
Impulsive behavior.
Epileptic disorder or seizures.
Unusual eating and sleeping habits.
Digestive problems (eg constipation).
Unusual mood or emotional reactions.
Anxiety or stress.
Lack of fear or more fear than expected in such a situation.
It is important to note that children with autism may not have all or any of the behaviors listed as examples here.
Source: Al Jazeera + agencies + websites