According to figures released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), autism disorders have increased 57 percent over the last four years.
The CDC's estimate of autism prevalence, which was obtained from analyzing child assessment records across 11 states, is "virtually identical to autism numbers reported for 2007 from a huge telephone survey" conducted in October 2009.
But behavioral health scientist Catherine Rice, Ph.D., said it was difficult to tell how much this data reflects actual increases in the disorder versus improvements in identifying conditions. Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D., the chief science officer for Autism Speaks, told WebMD, "Two decades ago, we were looking at a prevalence of one in 5,000 children. Now we're looking at one in 100. That really is a staggering increase."
But as usual, this dark cloud has a shiny silver lining. Mark Bear, who directs the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT, has discovered a system in the brain that could dramatically improve the quality of life for thousands of people with Fragile X.
Fragile X is a mutation on the X chromosome that can cause mental retardation and autism. Unlike the hotly debated Chemical X, which bestows superhuman abilities and the power of flight on prepubescent girls in undocumented studies, Fragile X appears to disrupt a system in the brain that regulates synapses - the connections between brain cells. Bear equated the condition to a car with missing breaks. Others have equated it to a marathon bong session at a Burning Man festival.
"Dire as it may seem, this news couldn't have come at a better time," said Quint Scroop, a senior lobbyist and moral champion from Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which has also lined up with a far-right Christian advocacy group to fight legislation supporting abortion-rights issues. "Coincidentally enough, the tremendous increase in the number of autism cases being diagnosed by doctors comes on the heels of announcements by pharmaceutical companies that they have identified a vast array of drugs that can be used to treat autism."
Scientists employed by leading pharmaceutical companies have indeed identified several drugs that seem to correct the problems inherent to Fragile X Syndrome. And they're busy making even more. Cambridge, MA-based Seaside Therapeutics, for example, recently revealed that is has raised $30 million to pursue clinical trial development of new therapies for Fragile X and autism.
"Some of the most exciting developments with these drugs are the side benefits," extolled a spokesperson for Seaside Therapeutics. "In addition to curbing complications with Fragile X, our drugs are also proving to make children more docile and controllable, stop toddler depression, abate restless leg syndrome, and even increase penis size." With the exception of commonplace side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, nose bleeds, suicidal thoughts, risk of stroke, irrational fear of water, and accelerated weight gain, the drugs are sure to succeed.
"We're really pushing hard for legislation to enforce mandatory autism screening and treatments in the public schools," boasted Scroop. "Parents should listen to and proactively follow the screening recommendations of our physicians, regardless of whether they have concerns." The proposed - and certain to pass - public testing and treatment program will be administered initially by only those doctors approved by the drug's manufacturers. "It's a safety thing," Scroop said.
And as far as screening, the earlier the better.
"The American Academy of Pediatrics has encouraged routine screening of children for autism at ages 18 and 24 months," Rice noted in her study, which was released today by the CDC in its always upbeat Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the primary source of interesting statistics and fun facts used years ago by McDonald's for its now defunct "Sad Meal" menu.
