| An Introduction to
the Organisation | Aims, Objectives & Activities
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What is Autism?| How You Can Get Involved Autism Morning Lecture 2002
– AUTISM YEAR
2002.
The International AUTISTIC Research Organisation
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An Introduction to the Organisation by our
Director/Secretary/Founder AUTISM is a
dysfunction of the brain, the cause of which seems to be genetic. The area in
the brain which we noted with a SPET (Single Photon Emission Tomography) scan
investigation through my initiation and under the guidance of Professor Mark
S George MD et al, are mainly in the right lateral temporal and right, left
and mid-frontal lobes. The cerebellum, which is the hind brain is also abnormal in AUTISTIC cases;
this revelation was previously seen by researchers, Professors
Margaret Bauman MD, Thomas L Kemper MD, Eric Courchesne MD, et al. AUTISM may
be caused by brain damage in some cases, but in most individuals it is
determined right from the day of conception. An abnormal cell structure seems
to occur as the baby develops, resulting in abnormal circuiting in the brain
throughout life, i.e. in the areas of the brain already mentioned and
possibly in other parts still need to be discovered. Evidence is also found
that the corpus collosum in AUTISM is reduced in size and the parietal lobes
are abnormal, M.S. Brian Eggas et al 1995. AUTISM is characterized by impairments in reciprocal social interaction and communication, and restricted and stereotyped patterns of interest and activities. The genetics of this disorder is complex, probably involving the action of several genes. A two stage genome project has been recently completed by the International Molecular Genetic Study in AUTISM (IMGSA). A region on chromosome 7q provided the most significant result with a maximum multipoint lod score (MLS) of 2.5. Five additional regions on chromosomes 4,10,16,19,22 provided an MLS>1. (IMGSA, cca. 1999.) In 2000 multiple adjoining genetic markers were seen (a genome-wide significant level, P=0.038), a susceptibility region, which is missed with conventional approaches. (J. Ott et al). Last year, 2001, a second gene was discovered in Rome that may increase the risk of a child developing AUTISM three fold. The gene that produces protein reelin has srecently been associated with the bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Back in 1995, a positive associaton between AUTISM and two c-Harvey-Ras (HRAS) genes were documented by Josianne Herault et al. In 2000 multiples adjoining genetic markers were seen (a genome-wide significant level, p=0.38), a susceptibility region, which is missed with conventional approaches. (J.Ott et al.) In 2001, a second gene was discovered in Rome that may increase the risk of a child developing AUTISM three fold. The gene that produces protein reelin has recently also been associated with the bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. When the human genome project reaches its completion, many more questions may well be answered in connection with the AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS. AUTISM is more prevalent than had previously been thought. According to recent reviews, there appears fairly good agreement that the AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS affect approximately 60, and narrowly-defined AUTISM 10-30, per 10,000 children under 8. The prevalence of AUTISM among adult populations is not known. These estimates make AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS far more common than generally recognised. (MRC-2001). Since the recognition of AUTISM in 1943 by Leo Kanner in the U.S.A. and the ASPERGER SYNDROME, HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM, classified as ATYPICAL AUTISM (DSM-IV, 1994) by Hans Asperger in 1944 and CHILDHOOD DISINTEGRATIVE DISORDER (CDC)/HELLER’S SYNDROME/LATE ONSET OF AUTISM first mentioned by Theodor Heller, a Viennese educator, in 1908, scientific endeavours in the 1990’s have led us nearer towards the possible causes of AUTISM, however, there is still a great deal of work to be done to reach the ultimate goal.
AUTISM can occur in all classes and races, and also in mixed raced families.
Although AUTISTIC children/adults often look healthy and attractive, their visual and auditory concept is distorted, hence they are not able to make sense of the world around them. This gives rise to their inability to communicate with their peers, parents, and other people, such as difficulties to recognise or show facial expressions, gestures, or even notice a change in someone's tone of voice. Problems with feeding or toilet training are also common. Many AUTISTIC individuals also exhibit unusual behaviour, such as head banging, rocking, strange ritualistic and repetitive behaviour. We are here to encourage and raise
funds for research, so that one day we will be able to avoid AUTISM occurring
and to be able to treat the condition successfully. The organisation's logo, showing the
two question marks, symbolises the eagerly awaited answer by both the
Researcher and the AUTIST. The black question mark is the researcher who asks
"why do you see the world the way you do ?" The red question mark
is the AUTIST who asks "why can you not see the world my way ?" The
AUTISTIC question mark is upside down indicating a confused world. The red
colour indicates the urgency for research to help the AUTIST to emerge out of
a confused world. If the question marks are switched the
other way, the confused world seen by the AUTIST, certainly seems normal to
him\her, but the individual who is not afflicted with AUTISM certainly seems
very different to the AUTIST. The incentive to create a charity for
encouraging research into AUTISM sprang into my mind following the BBC
television programme Horizon, based on the enkephalins and endorphins.
These peptides - the enkephalins, a short chain of opiate building blocks of
protein/amino acids - the endorphins (internal morphines) - are found in our
brain and help the body handle pain. Although the programme shown over
twenty years ago did not mention the AUTISTIC condition, I felt that brain
chemistry in AUTISM may well be an important area to be pursued. I contacted
all the professionals who were interviewed in this programme. All answered
kindly but regretting that more research in AUTISM was not undertaken at that
time. Eventually I was referred to our medical adviser of today, Professor
Edward M Ornitz MD, by one of the professionals who took part in the
Horizon programme. Professor Ornitz too emphasised the importance of
neurophysiological and biochemical research into AUTISM. Our medical adviser
has been a great help, especially his assistance as regards side effects
caused by major tranquillisers. He advised us during these early days of
possible irreversible neurological impairment that can be caused when these
neuroleptics are taken for a long period of time. The impairment is called
tardive dyskinesia, a movement disorder. These drugs are known under the
heading of Thorazine, Stelazine, Mellaril, Haloperidol, Largactil, etc. We were only a small group of parents
at that time which became a registered charity in 1981 under the name of
"Research Group Fund for Autists". In 1984 Dr David F Horrobin MA, DPhil,
BM, BCh of Scotia Pharmaceuticals UK/Canada made findings of abnormal
essential fatty acids in individuals with AUTISM. We liaised with several professionals
and parents overseas and soon realised that we were no longer a group but an
organisation. By 1986 we were known as "The INTERNATIONAL AUTISTIC
RESEARCH ORGANISATION". As the organisation continued to grow
it became a company in 1990 under the name of "AUTISM Research Ltd"
with "THE INTERNATIONAL AUTISTIC RESEARCH ORGANISATION" as its flag
name. At the end of 1990 I initiated a SPET scan study on five of our
AUTISTIC adult members under the guidance of Professor Mark S George MD, et
al at the Middlesex Hospital in London. We were only too delighted to inform
our members by June 1991 that this particular project revealed a finding in
AUTISM. The revelation "Cerebral Blood Flow Abnormalities in Adults with
Infantile AUTISM", these findings, NEVER SEEN BEFORE were
included in the publication of Neuroactivation and Neuroimaging by MS
George, HA Ring, DC Costa, PJ Ell, K Kouris and PH Jarritt published by
Springer-Verlag, London, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Paris, Tokyo, Hong
Kong, Barcelona, Budapest. A year later, in 1992, the article Cerebral
Blood Flow Abnormalities in Adults with Infantile AUTISM appeared in The
Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases, Maryland USA for which we
assisted with a colour illustration of the findings. The article was written
by the same authors, as mentioned above. The new technology of high resolution
brain single photon emission tomograpghy (SPET) was used. Prior to the
investigation, our AUTISTIC members were given an intravenous injection
(average 10Bq/kg) of 99 Tcm-HMPAO while sitting with their eyes open without
talking in a quiet room. They were scanned 15 minutes later, and it was noted
that the total perfusion was significantly decreased in all of our AUTISTIC
subjects. In addition to the globally decreased perfusion, our AUTISM group
also had regionally decreased flow in the right lateral temporal and right,
left and mid frontal lobes compared to controls. In 1992, the organisation was in a
position to make a £14,000 grant for an AUTISM service and for research by
supporting Dr Vanessa Moore, Research Psychologist at Southampton
General Hospital, under Dr Christopher J Rolles of the hospital's Paediatric
Unit. Among the very important tasks dealt
with, Dr Moore established an assessment database to collate information,
setting standards for diagnosis and comparisons for scoring systems. This is just one example of the work
which is carried out. There is, of course, a tremendous amount of
co-operation not just between researchers and experts in the UK but also
worldwide. In all the work we have done and will continue to do, we are
privileged to have the household names of Lesley Garrett and Luciano
Pavarotti as our patrons Scientific endeavours in the 1990’s
and the beginning of the New
Millennium have led us nearer towards the possible causes of AUTISM; however, there is still a great deal of work to be done to reach
the ultimate goal. RESEARCH IN AUTISM
IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! . C Copy Right. Contact Details: |