STUDY SHOWS SOME KIDS with AUTISM SHOW IMPROVEMENT M a R C H 2015
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Newsletter of Kadlec Neurological Resource Center STUDY SHOWS SOME KIDS WITH AUTISM SHOW IMPROVEMENT M a r c h 2015 Some Kids with Autism Show 2 | Improvement by Age 6: Study Prescription for Caregivers & 3 | Autism Conference Save-the-Date Non-Drug Options Can Help Curb 4 | Delirium in Hospital Patients, Study Finds 5 | Library Resources 6 | March 2015 Calendar 7 | Variété 2015 8 | Neuro Connections / MTHFR www.kadlec.org/knrc Kids with Autism Show Improvement... Some Kids With Autism Show Improvement by Age 6: Study 20 percent experienced gains in daily functioning, 11 percent had less severe symptoms, researchers say HealthDay News — More than 10 percent of preschool-age "You can have a child over time who learns to talk, socialize and children diagnosed with autism saw some improvement in their interact, but still has symptoms like flapping, rocking and repetitive symptoms by age 6. And 20 percent of the children made some speech," Szatmari said. "Or you can have kids who aren't able to talk gains in everyday functioning, a new study found. and interact, but their symptoms like flapping reduce remarkably Canadian researchers followed 421 children from diagnosis over time." (between ages 2 and 4) until age 6, collecting information at four The interplay between these two areas - symptom severity and points in time to see how their symptoms and their ability to adapt ability to function - is a mystery, and should be the topic of more to daily life fared. research, Szatmari said. "Between 11 and 20 percent did remarkably well," said study leader One take-home point of the research, Szatmari said, is that there's Dr. Peter Szatmari, chief of the Child and Youth Mental a need to address both symptoms and everyday functioning in Health Collaborative at the Centre for Addiction and children with autism spectrum disorder. Mental Health in Toronto. "If it were my kid, I would want adaptive functioning to improve However, improvement in symptom severity and [feel] symptoms are less important," he said. "Adaptive wasn't necessarily tied to gains in everyday functioning determines your place in the world." functioning, Szatmari said. Eleven percent of the Only 66 of the study participants were girls, and children experienced some improvement in Szatmari found they had less severe symptoms and symptoms. About 20 percent improved in what more improvement in symptoms than boys. The experts call "adaptive functioning" - meaning earlier the children were diagnosed, the more how they function in daily life. These weren't likely they were to show improvement in necessarily the same children, he said. functioning, the study found. 2 Autism Improvement (cont’d) & Caregivers The findings were published online Jan. 28 in the journal JAMA For parents discouraged by the relatively small percentage of Psychiatry. About 1 in 68 children in the United States is affected children in the study who showed improvement in either area, by autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and boys more so than girls, Adesman noted that kids diagnosed earlier with autism may be according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. more severely affected. Also, parents shouldn't generalize the ASD is a group of developmental disabilities marked by social, study findings to children who are older when diagnosed, as they communication and behavioral difficulties. Symptoms can range may be less severely affected, he said. from mild to severe, and the condition is thought to be lifelong. Szatmari added that parents who suspect their child shows Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral symptoms of autism, such as an inability to interact or speak pediatrics at Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York in New properly, should seek an evaluation. ■ Hyde Park, N.Y., called the new research well done and said it Kathleen Doheny yielded some important points for parents and doctors. HealthDay Reporter "This study highlights not only the variability of autism symptom severity among young children with ASD, but also the variability in adaptive functioning such as self-care skills," said Adesman, who wasn't involved in the study. APRIL’S TOPIC | Demystifying Dementia: UNDERSTANDING HOW TO BE A CAREGIVER What support does the caregiver need to give and receive at the different stages of Alzheimer’s disease? What is happening in the brain of someone with Alzheimer’s type dementia and how does that impact your caregiving? RICHLAND April 30, 2015 | 6:00-8:00 PM | RED LION This is a FREE event. Space is limited. Pre-registration required. Save the Date For more information, or to register for this event, visit kadlec.org/knrc or call (509) 943-8455. SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON AUGUST 11-12, 2 015 THREE RIVERS CONVENTION CENTER TH CONFERENCE MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE 11 ANNUAL CONFERENCE, PRESENTED BY KADLEC NEUROLOGICAL RESOURCE CENTER For more information, call (509) 943-8455 or visit www.kadlec.org/knrc. 3 March 2015 Non-Drug Options Can Curb Delirium... Non-Drug Options Can Help Curb Delirium in Hospital Patients, Study Finds Simply reminding patient each morning of date, place can help, researchers found HealthDay News— Delirium is a common and troubling symptom "Delirium can be the source of anxiety for many patients and for critically ill hospital patients, and medications are often used their families and often they wish that there was a pill that would to ease the condition. But a new study suggests that non-drug make the patient's symptoms go away," Hshieh added. "Our study alternatives are available. demonstrates that there are effective strategies for preventing According to the study authors, delirium — a sudden onset of delirium and treating patients that don't rely on medications." confusion — is common among older hospital patients and raises It's estimated that 29 percent to 64 percent of elderly their risk of falls, physical decline and longer hospital stays. hospital patients suffer delirium, but the condition is likely The researchers, from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, underdiagnosed, the researchers added. reviewed 14 studies that assessed the use of drug-free strategies to They estimate that drug-free prevention methods could prevent reduce delirium in older patients at 12 hospitals around the world. 1 million cases of delirium a year in the United States, and save Those methods included proper nutrition and hydration, adequate Medicare $10 billion annually. sleep, daily exercise, activities to improve thinking and memory and Two experts agreed that alternative telling patients where they are, and the date and time, every day. approaches are needed. These techniques appeared to reduce patients' odds of delirium "The use of and falls. They also led to shorter hospital stays, according to the medications to control study published online Feb. 2 in JAMA Internal Medicine. delirious behavior is "Delirium is a major problem at many hospitals and preventing its common, but poses downstream consequences, including falls, is a priority," Dr. Tammy other problems for Hshieh, of the hospital's Division of Aging and the Aging Brain the patient, including Center, said in a hospital news release. actually increasing risk for 4 www.kadlec.org/knrc Curb Delirium (cont’d) & Library Resources further illness," said Dr. Gayatri Devi, a neurologist specializing in have access to their glasses or hearing aids to alleviate visual or memory disorders at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. hearing difficulties while in the unfamiliar confines of the hospital. She said that the "simple interventions" outlined in the study "are She said hospital visitors can play a vital role, too. "Family members, not only cost-effective, but also humane and a welcome addition friends or even paid assistants should attempt to spend as much in treating our ailing elders." time with these hospitalized older patients as possible to chat, Dr. Gisele Wolf-Klein is director of geriatric education at North answer questions and hold them onto reality," Wolf-Klein said. Shore-LIJ Health System in New Hyde Park, N.Y. She said that The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more about delirium. ■ interventions mentioned in the study are "already known to health Robert Preidt care workers, but need to be further emphasized and recognized." Wolf-Klein added a few other measures that she believes can help keep delirium at bay. They include "making sure elderly patients OFFICE & LIBRARY Monday-Thursday ��������������������������������� 9:00 AM-5:00 PM HOURS Friday ������������������������������������������������������ 9:00 AM-4:00 PM LIBRARY ADDITIONS ALZHEIMER'S / DEMENTIA HEALTHY EATING COOKBOOKS What If It's Not Alzheimer's?: A Caregiver's Guide To Dementia, American Heart Association Healthy Slow Cooker Cookbook: 200 Low- (3rd Edition), Gary Radin Fuss, Good-for-You Recipes, American Heart Association ADHD The Clean Eating Cookbook & Diet: Over 100 Healthy Whole Food Recipes & Meal Plans, Rockridge Press Taking Charge of ADHD, Third Edition: The Complete and Authoritive Guide for Parents, Russell A. Barkley, PhD Clean Eats: Over 200 Delicious Recipes to Reset Your Body's Natural Balance and Discover What It Means to Be Truly Healthy, AUTISM / LEARNING DISABILITIES Alejandro Junger, MD The Everything Parent's Guide to Children with Dyslexia: Learn the The Eating Well Healthy in a Hurry Cookbook: 150 Delicious Recipes Key Signs of Dyslexia and Find the Best Treamtment Options for for Simple, Everyday Suppers in 45 Minutes or Less, Jim Romanoff Your Child, Abigail Marshall Good