Delaying Parenthood Increases Risk for Autism in Children

Parents over 40 years old have a higher chance of having an autistic child, according to a new study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, CA.

Women over 40 years have a 30 percent greater risk and men over 40 years have a 50 percent greater risk of having a child born with autism than parents ages 25 to 29. The researchers are uncertain why risk increases with age.

Lisa Croen and her colleagues analyzed 132,844 birth records from Kaiser Hospitals in northern California between 1995 and 1999. They adjusted for factors like the parents' educational levels, race and ethnicity before they concluded that parents' ages increases the risk for autism.

This study appears in the April issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Asperger’s schools can help children with Asperger's Syndrome, high-functioning Autism, and other conditions of the Autism Spectrum Disorders. Cedars Academy offers a year-long Asperger’s school and Talisman offers a semester-long academic Asperger’s school.

Researchers Studying Mood Disorder Treatments

Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia are conducting a major new study on adolescents with Asperger Syndrome. This disorder affects about one in 280 Australians, a rate higher than the world average.

Lake-Hui Quek and others are trying to determine why young people with Asperger Syndrome experience high levels of mood disturbances and anxiety. They hope to develop new interventions specifically designed for Asperger Syndrome.
Currently, they are conducting trials of specialized cognitive-behavior therapy among adolescents with the syndrome.

Check out Your Little Professor - a friendly and helpful site - for parents of children with Asperger's or Autism.

Book Strikes Blow for Imperfect Kids

You might expect a book called "Shut Up About... Your Perfect Kid" to be a confrontational attack on parents who say their kids are perfect. In reality though, the book was written to encourage parents whose kids struggle with everything from Asperger's to ADHD.

"The book approaches with honest and humor the dashed expectations and Herculean challenges that can come with have a child with disabilities Among other things, the sisters write about the dreaded calls from schools, visits to the hospitals and the yin and yang of medication and therapists."

The sisters are Gina Gallagher and Patty Konjoian, whose daughters have been diagnosed with Asperger's and bipolar disorder respectively. Though much of the book contains their personal stories, they also talked to over 50 other families while conducting research for the book. The over-arching message of the book is that "while my daughter may be imperfect, she is wonderful..." Read more at Telegram.com.