The International Meeting for Autism Research May 15-17, 2008

John N. Constantino, PhD - Program of Occupational Therapy, Washington University

With the new discoveries in molecular genetics, Dr. Constantino will cover how focusing on clinical, genetic, and neurobiologic features of the broader autism phenotype present in unaffected relatives of individuals with autism will aid in the search for the core genetic components.

Prospective Evaluation of Head Growth in Infants at Increased Risk of Autism
1:30 p.m.

L. Zwaigenbaum and the Baby Sibs Research Consortium, University of Alberta

Researchers studying infant siblings of children with autism have been collaborating and combining their data to better understand the earliest manifestations of autism and how it can be treated at a very early age. In this study, a collaborative network of scientists from 11 sites across North America gathered prospective head growth data on 761 infant siblings and 400 non-risk infants. Head growth was of interest because previous studies have found that children with autism often display an atypical pattern of head growth characterized by normal head size at birth followed by an unusually rapid acceleration of head growth starting at about 4-6 months of age. In this study, it was shown that this atypical pattern of head growth differentiated high-risk infants who went on to develop autism from high-risk infants who did not develop the disorder and non-risk infants. These results suggest that monitoring head growth, which can easily be accomplished during a well-baby visit, could be an early risk marker for autism in infants who have an older sibling with autism.

Media contacts:
Lori Ferme, Rubenstein Communications +1 (212) 843-8291
Adam Pockriss, Rubenstein Communications +1 (212) 843-8286
Dana Marnane, Autism Speaks +1 (917) 882-7472
Paul Burden, Autism Speaks +44 77680 11333
Samantha Gibson, Research Autism +44 7825 554009

The International Society for Autism Research (INSAR), created in 2001, is a scientific and professional organization devoted to advancing knowledge about ASDs, including autism, Asperger’s syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (PDD NOS). The Society's main role has been to run the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), which is an annual scientific meeting to exchange and disseminate new scientific progress among ASD scientists and their trainees. INSAR recently launched a new peer-reviewed journal, Autism Research, to serve both the scientific community and public by rapidly publishing high quality scientific papers to promote advances in this important field of research. To view the journal, visit www.autismresearchjournal.com.