Autism Research and Clinical Trials

According to the The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities , 'There is no known cure for Autism Spectrum Disorders. However, early and intensive education can help children grow and learn new skills. The goal of these efforts is to help with the difficult symptoms of an ASD in a child and to improve the child's skills that help him or her talk, interact, play, learn, and care for his or her needs. Medicines can relieve symptoms and be helpful for some people, but structured teaching of skills (often called behavioral intervention) is currently the most effective treatment.'

Although the The National Institute of Mental Health's (NIMH) investment in autism-related science has quadrupled over the past 7 years from $9.4 million in FY 1997 to $36.2 million in FY 2002, it still dwarfs the amount of money that is spent on other childhood disorders. Fortunately, more money is going towards autism research. Grants totaling $65 million over 5 years were funded in Fall 2002 and Spring 2003 to support a Studies to Advance Autism Research and Treatment (STAART) Network in 8 centers around the United States.

There are a number of clinical trials that are recruiting patients for parents that are interested, including:

• trials on the use of citalopram, secretin, fluoxetine, valproate, and others on early characteristics of autism, diet and behavior, and brain imaging at clinicaltrials.gov
• autism clinical trials at centerwatch.com
• STAART Network Treatment Studies
• The Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism (CPEAs)

And you can get more information on clinical trials for autism from Cure Autism Now.

For more information: Autism.