In doing a little digging about autism and myotonic dystrophy, Fragile X is a disease that pops right to the top of the screen. This is also a triplet expansion disease and it has a couple of similarities especially to some of the childhood forms of myotonic dystrophy. Fragile x causes mental retardation (Global developmental delay) as well as many of the kids have Autism or Autism spectrum disorder. Here is a review of Autism and Fragile X
What Is Autism?Autism or autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a behavioral diagnosis. The range of symptoms in autism vary and are generally characterized by an impaired ability to communicate and interact socially with other people. Sometimes children will not meet the diagnostic criteria for autism but will have “autistic-like features.”
The diagnosis of autism is usually made by a developmental or general pediatrician, neurologist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other specialist. The diagnosis is made after evaluating the child using a number of different behavioral tools and tests. There is no blood test for autism, and imaging studies such as MRIs don’t diagnose the condition; it is purely a behavioral diagnosis similar to ADHD, ADD, etc.
A not well know secondary effect of a drug that Biogen and Isis are jointly developing may reverse some or all the effects of a specific single gene type of autism. This drug will be entering Human Trials in 2014 if all goes well. In August Biogen and Isis announced a collaboration on a drug that looks extremely promising to treat a form of muscular dystrophy, Myotonic Dystrophy. But it may also reverse the symptoms of autism that occurs in some not well known forms of myotonic dystrophy in children. This could be a sleeper drug that may help with this larger and more pervasive societal problem.
COLD WEATHER and MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY
There is no definitive information on cold weather and it’s effects on patients with myotonic dystrophy vary from person to person. Some individuals have reported problems, and here is some information collected from various resources. Its clear that for some individuals there is a mild moderate effect, for others its more severe. If possible plan long term to move to a more temperate climate without harsh winters.
IDMC-9 will be the most exciting conference for scientific researchers and the place to be for those associated with myotonic Dystrophy. It looks as though the conference will be at the Kursaal Centre. It is scheduled for October 15-20 2013
Social Widgets powered by AB-WebLog.com.