Search Results for: autism

Salk Scientists Unlock New Secrets of Autism Using Human Stem Cells

/ Karen Ring / Leave a comment

Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder whose mental, physical, social and emotional symptoms are highly variable from person to person. Because individuals exhibit different combinations and severities of symptoms, the concept of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is now used to define the range of conditions. There are many hypotheses for why autism occurs in humans … Continue reading Salk Scientists Unlock New Secrets of Autism Using Human Stem Cells

Mini-Brains Help Unlock Autism’s Secrets

/ Todd Dubnicoff / 1 Comment

Some diseases like sickle cell anemia, an inherited blood disorder, can be traced to a single known genetic mutation. But other diseases like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are so varied in their symptoms and severity that pinpointing the underlying cause is extremely complicated. People with autism typically have difficulties communicating with the world around them, … Continue reading Mini-Brains Help Unlock Autism’s Secrets

Creating a Genetic Model for Autism, with a Little Help from the Tooth Fairy

/ cirmweb / Leave a comment

One of the most complex aspects of autism is that it is not one disease—but many. Known more accurately as the autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, experts have long been trying to tease apart the various ways in which the condition manifests in children, with limited success. But now, using the latest stem cell technology, … Continue reading Creating a Genetic Model for Autism, with a Little Help from the Tooth Fairy

Cranking it Up to Eleven: Heightened Growth of Neural Stem Cells Linked to Autism-like Behavior

/ cirmweb / Leave a comment

Autism is not one single disease but a suite of many, which is why researchers have long struggled to understand its underlying causes. Often referred to as the Autism Spectrum Disorders, autism has been linked to multiple genetic and environmental factors—different combinations of which can all result in autism or autistic-like behavior. But as we … Continue reading Cranking it Up to Eleven: Heightened Growth of Neural Stem Cells Linked to Autism-like Behavior

Stem cell stories that caught our eye: fast track marketing in Japan, a 3D cell tour and autism

/ Don Gibbons / 2 Comments

Here are some stem cell stories that caught our eye this past week. Some are groundbreaking science, others are of personal interest to us, and still others are just fun. Event showed great progress, but Japan nipping at our heals. The San Diego Union Tribune’s Brad Fikes seemed to be enjoying covering the Stem Cell … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: fast track marketing in Japan, a 3D cell tour and autism

Stem cell stories that caught our eye: need for mature fat, Down syndrome, autism and those sweet pup faces

/ Don Gibbons / Leave a comment

Here are some stem cell stories that caught our eye this past week. Some are groundbreaking science, others are of personal interest to us, and still others are just fun. Embryonic stem cells and that sweet puppy face. Could altered stem cells give our pups those floppy ears and adorable faces? Research from Humboldt University … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: need for mature fat, Down syndrome, autism and those sweet pup faces

Video: Reversing autism in the lab with help from stem cells and the tooth fairy

/ Todd Dubnicoff / 4 Comments

I look at my son a lot and feel like he’s trapped inside his own brain. Circuits are going crazy. He can’t figure it out. Of course, I can’t figure it out. And I think he deserves to have a voice…He’s never said I love you. He’s never said “Mom” with any meaning…I feel like … Continue reading Video: Reversing autism in the lab with help from stem cells and the tooth fairy

A mother’s plea – find a stem cell therapy to help my son escape autism

/ cirmweb / Leave a comment

When a mother says “I’ve never heard my son speak, never heard him tell me he loves me” it’s hard not to feel deeply moved. Those are the words that Jennifer Bidlovski used to describe her son Milo, who has a severe form of autism spectrum disorder, in a video presentation she made to our … Continue reading A mother’s plea – find a stem cell therapy to help my son escape autism

Photo of the week: neurons reveal possible clues to an autism syndrome

/ cirmweb / Leave a comment

Last week we wrote about work from the lab of Ricardo Dolmetsch at Stanford University who generated neurons from the skin of people with a form of autism. The goal is to compare those to neurons from people without autism to see where the differences lie and search for drugs to erase those differences. Postdoctoral … Continue reading Photo of the week: neurons reveal possible clues to an autism syndrome

Autism syndrome modeled in lab dish points to future therapy

/ cirmweb / Leave a comment

Here’s a major stumbling block in developing therapies for human diseases — it’s hard to find a fix if you don’t really know what’s wrong. Take autism spectrum disorders. By now doctors are pretty good at identifying signs of the disease, but without access to brain cells researchers don’t really know what’s going wrong. That’s … Continue reading Autism syndrome modeled in lab dish points to future therapy