Identities of Autism: Genetic Testing

Here researchers David Ledbetter, PhD, and Christa Lese Martin, MEd. discuss the "identities" of autism, a condition which cannot be linked to any one factor but may be the result of thousands of different factors. Also covers genetic testing for autism, which can uncover risk factors and point to clues for treatment.

Background

Emory University and Emory Healthcare are involved in extensive work in researching and treating autism.

Ledbetter is a Professor of Human Genetics and the Director of the Division of Medical Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine.

Martin is an Associate Professor of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine.

Credits

This video was produced by Emory Photography & Video. For more information on Emory's photo and video production work, visit http://photo.emory.edu

For More Information:

"The autism family album" (Emory Health, Spring 2009)
http://whsc.emory.edu/home/publications/health-sciences/emory-health/spring09...

"Do vaccines cause autism?" (Emory Health, Spring 2009)
http://whsc.emory.edu/home/publications/health-sciences/emory-health/spring09...

Emory Autism Center
http://www.psychiatry.emory.edu/PROGRAMS/autism/

Emory Genetics Laboratory
http://genetics.emory.edu/egl/

Marcus Autism Center
http://www.choa.org/default.aspx?id=5575

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• autism
• emory university
• emory healthcare
• causes of autism
• genetic cause of autism
• genetics
• human genetics
• medical genetics
• testing for autism
• autism test
• genetic risk for autism
• fragile x
• fragile x testing
• autism in families

[emullinix]

@j19m12k14d1 This is all great information!!! Thanks for sharing!

[jannikmt]

autisum is about as much of a disease as your right ear...

[Ayatron34]

If Autism is a disease than it's a disease responsible for my artistic talents. So go to hell Emory University and take your treatment with you.

[j19m12k14d1]

Autism's symptoms result from maturation-related changes in various systems of the brain. How autism occurs is not well understood. Its mechanism can be divided into two areas: the pathophysiology of brain structures and processes associated with autism, and the neuropsychological linkages between brain structures and behaviors. The behaviors appear to have multiple pathophysiologies

[j19m12k14d1]

Autism has a strong genetic basis, although the genetics of autism are complex and it is unclear whether ASD is explained more by rare mutations with major effects, or by rare multigene interactions of common genetic variants. Complexity arises due to interactions among multiple genes, the environment, and epigenetic factors which do not change DNA but are heritable and influence gene expression.

[j19m12k14d1]

It has long been presumed that there is a common cause at the genetic, cognitive, and neural levels for autism's characteristic triad of symptoms. However, there is increasing suspicion that autism is instead a complex disorder whose core aspects have distinct causes that often co-occur

[j19m12k14d1]

The earliest well-documented case of autism is that of Hugh Blair of Borgue, as detailed in a 1747 court case in which his brother successfully petitioned to annul Blair's marriage to gain Blair's inheritance. The Wild Boy of Aveyron, a feral child caught in 1798, showed several signs of autism; the medical student Jean Itard treated him with a behavioral program designed to help him form social attachments and to induce speech via imitation

[j19m12k14d1]

A few examples of autistic symptoms and treatments were described long before autism was named. The Table Talk of Martin Luther contains the story of a 12-year-old boy who may have been severely autistic. According to Luther's notetaker Mathesius, Luther thought the boy was a soulless mass of flesh possessed by the devil, and suggested that he be suffocated.