UCSF Autism and Neurodevelopment Program Greetings from the ANP team We have had another busy and productive year. Thanks to many of your efforts, our clinical programs have experienced tremendous development and research studies have been very active and successful. Just a couple of months ago, we introduced the UCSF Autism NeuroGenetics Clinic (ANGC), a collaborative clinic that brings together autism expertise in neurology and genetics. The newly formed ANGC is now taking place monthly, making it easier for our families to receive coordinated care. We continue to work closely in psychiatry, psychology, genetics and neurology to bring together our clinical programs for unified evaluation and treatment that is informed by the latest research findings. We also use the inspiration from our weekly ANP seminars to drive our clinical care. The ANP research community is pushing the boundaries of what is known about autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. The addition of our beautiful new neuroscience building at the UCSF Mission Bay Campus allows us to enjoy innovative techniques for neuroimaging and behavioral studies. Our scientists are studying adult outcomes for individuals with autism. We are also investigating brain activity in agenesis of the corpus callosum, 16p11.2 genetic variations, and dyslexia. Meanwhile, our labs are conducting studies of mouse models and stem cells for gene mutations associated with autism. Finally, we have ongoing intervention trials with computer training tools, standard medications, and nutritional supplements. We will highlight these topics as well as the ongoing studies and recent publications in this newsletter. As we continue to seek new treatments, we welcome your ideas and your ongoing support of our mission to integrate personalized care with innovative research and education for individuals and families with autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities. FALL 2012 Tips of the Trade “Motherese” Can Help Language Development Auditory Support Strategy: Young children with language delay may benefit if you speak very slowly and clearly with an emphasis on the most important word(s)—similar to the way you talk to a baby. We call this “motherese.” Visual Support Strategy: When possible, show or point to what you are talking about to enhance comprehension. Combined Auditory/Visual Strategy: If your child sight reads words, you may be able to use sight reading to foster phonics and spoken language by pointing to and reading words aloud to help your child see what he is hearing.
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UCSF Autism and Neurodevelopment Program
Greetings from the ANP team We have had another busy and productive year. Thanks to many of your efforts, our clinical programs have experienced tremendous development and research studies have been very active and successful. Just a couple of months ago, we introduced the UCSF Autism NeuroGenetics Clinic (ANGC), a collaborative clinic that brings together autism expertise in neurology and genetics. The newly formed ANGC is now taking place monthly, making it easier for our families to receive coordinated care. We continue to work closely in psychiatry, psychology, genetics and neurology to bring together our clinical programs for unified evaluation and treatment that is informed by the latest research findings. We also use the inspiration from our weekly ANP seminars to drive our clinical care. The ANP research community is pushing the boundaries of what is known about autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. The addition of our beautiful new neuroscience building at the UCSF Mission Bay Campus allows us to enjoy innovative techniques for neuroimaging and behavioral studies. Our scientists are studying adult outcomes for individuals with autism. We are also investigating brain activity in agenesis of the corpus callosum, 16p11.2 genetic variations, and dyslexia. Meanwhile, our labs are conducting studies of mouse models and stem cells for gene mutations associated with autism. Finally, we have ongoing intervention trials with computer training tools, standard medications, and nutritional supplements. We will highlight these topics as well as the ongoing studies and recent publications in this newsletter. As we continue to seek new treatments, we welcome your ideas and your ongoing support of our mission to integrate personalized care with innovative research and education for individuals and families with autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities.
F A L L 2 0 1 2
Tips of the Trade “Motherese” Can Help
Language Development Auditory Support Strategy: Young children with language delay may benefit if you speak very slowly and clearly with an emphasis on the most important word(s)—similar to the way you talk to a baby. We call this “motherese.” Visual Support Strategy: When possible, show or point to what you are talking about to enhance comprehension. Combined Auditory/Visual Strategy: If your child sight reads words, you may be able to use sight reading to foster phonics and spoken language by pointing to and reading words aloud to help your child see what he is hearing.
UCSF AUTISM AND NEURODEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FALL 2012
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Recent ANP Research Findings
Dr. Stephen Bent’s Lab
Fumiko Hoeft’s Lab
Dr. Elysa Marco’s Lab
Dr. Weiss and colleagues have identified a DNA sequence variation on chromosome 5. The gene SEMA5A, located near this variation, shows reduced expression in individuals with autism. Her team is currently following up on this finding to look for additional evidence for the role of SEMA5A in autism and how it might be connected to other autism susceptibility genes.
Dr. Marco’s laboratory has recently published a paper looking at how children with autism process simple touch information. This work reveals brain processing differences that occur as early as 50 milliseconds after feeling touch and also suggests that observing real-life responses to sound and touch may be more informative for understanding brain processes than clinical labels such as “autism” or “PDD, NOS.”
Dr. John Rubenstein’s Lab Dr. Rubenstein’s lab has shown that a loss of a specific gene Dlx1 results in an imbalance of brain excitation/inhibition that will help researchers in the field understand the underlying brain function of individuals with autism and epilepsy. Beyond looking at how the alteration in a single gene affects brain structure, Dr. Rubenstein and his collaborators explore the way that neurons talk to each other using mouse models.
We are excited to welcome Dr. Hoeft, an expert in dyslexia and neuroimaging. Her lab, BrainLENS, uses functional MRI, genetic, and mathematical approaches to study typically developing children as well as those with dyslexia and autism. Dr. Hoeft’s studies have recently shown that neuroimaging measures can predict which children with dyslexia will later learn to compensate in their reading skills.
Dr. Lauren Weiss’s Lab
Dr. Bent is the lead investigator of the first-ever fully internet-based randomized controlled trial of an omega-3 fatty acids treatment for autism, with results expected in early 2013. Stay tuned!
Dr. Elliott Sherr’s Lab Dr. Sherr’s lab has contributed many exciting papers in the last year. With Dr. Elysa Marco, he has recently shown that individuals who lack the corpus callosum (the connection between the right and left sides of the brain) have fundamentally slower cognitive processing and reduced brain connectivity. Many autism studies have also shown abnormalities of the corpus callosum.
UCSF AUTISM AND NEURODEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FALL 2012
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Enrolling Studies
• Dr. Bryna Siegel, director of the Autism Clinic for over 20 years, will be retiring from UCSF at the end of 2012. She will continue to evaluate children and study autism through JumpStart Learning to Learn (www.autismjumpstart.org). Dr. Siegel can be reached at [email protected]. We will miss Bryna tremendously but will continue to work closely with her in the coming years on shared projects.
• The UCSF Autism NeuroGenetic Clinic with Drs. Marco and Wynshaw-Boris evaluates and treats children monthly, providing a collaborative evaluation that focuses on finding the underlying cause of your child’s developmental difference. For more information or an appointment, you can call our clinic coordinator, Linda Torres at 415-519-9643.
• The Autism Clinic at Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute with Dr. Hendren cares for children every Tuesday and Wednesday providing in-depth diagnostic evaluation and medication treatment recommendations. For an appointment, call: (415) 476-7500
• The Cognitive and Behavioral Child Neurology Clinic with Dr. Marco takes place every Tuesday and provides a comprehensive neurologic evaluation and investigates causes of neurodevelopmental differences, provides medical management, and works with the family to assemble a treatment team. For an appointment, have your physician fax a referral to: 415-353-2400.
• The Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics Clinic for ADHD and Autism at the Osher Integrative Medicine with Dr. Newmark cares for children daily providing integrative and holistic treatment by combining conventional medicine with nutrition, behavior management, and various complementary modalities. For an appointment, call 415-353-7720.
UCSF Autism and Neurodevelopment Clinics
Can an iPad game improve attention for children with and without neurodevelopmental differences? (CHR #: 10-01940)
• Eligibility: Children, ages 8-12 years, with and without ASD, sensory processing differences, and ADHD.
• Contact: Shivani Desai: 415.640.2680, [email protected] Why are some RASopathy associated features different among affected people? (CHR #: 10-02794) • Eligibility: Neurofibromatosis type 1, Noonan, Costello, or cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome
(CFC); all ages. • Contact: Iris Corbin: 415.476.6988, [email protected] Why do more boys than girls have autism? (CHR #: 10-02794) • Eligibility: ASD diagnosis (Autism, Asperger’s syndrome, PDD-NOS); all ages. • Contact: Iris Corbin: 415.476.6988, [email protected]
Dr. Bryna Siegel’s Lab Dr. Siegel has studied 21-26 years olds with autism followed since age 2-4 years. Some had received early intensive behavioral interventions (EIBI) and some did not. The highest functioning who had EIBI often lost ASD diagnoses; a middle group still met ASD criteria but with improved adaptation. The low group showed no significant difference with EIBI, but parents felt EIBI had been critical.
More Studies! What is the effect of 16p11.2 variations on brain and behavior? (CHR #: 11-06454) • Eligibility:16p11.2 variations and Neurotypical Controls; all ages • Contact: Polina Bukshpun: 415.502.0183, [email protected] What is the relationship between oxytoxin, autism and social function? (CHR #: 11-08189) • Eligibility:children with and without autism who are receiving a clinically indicated lumbar
puncture. • Contact: Brieana Fregeau: 415.502.8039, [email protected] Does oxytocin help communication between parents and children with autism? (CHR #10-04286) • Eligibility: Child (14-28 yrs) and parent/caregiver (30-60 yrs) • Contact: Olivia Lam 415-484-5132 Does the drug memantine help children with autism with communication and socialization? (CHR
#: 10-01867) • Eligibility: ASD diagnosis (Autism, Asperger’s, PDD-NOS); ages 6-12 • Contact: Felicia Widjaja: 415-476-7803, [email protected] Does Vitamin D help children with autism? (CHR #: 11-06899) • Eligibility: Autism; ages 3-8 • Contact: Felicia Widjaja: 415-476-7803, [email protected] Does the digestive enzyme CM-AT help children with autism? (CHR #: 10-03510) • Eligibility: Autism; ages 9-12 • Contact: Felicia Widjaja: 415-476-7803, [email protected]
Have a wonderful Fall!!
The UCSF Autism and Neurodevelopment Program
ANP.ucsf.edu
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