Geoff Ferguson - October 25^th 2018
Fragile X syndrome is a genetic condition that can cause a range of developmental problems. The condition is caused by a mutation in the FMR1 gene, which helps to regulate the production of the protein FMRP. This protein plays an important role in the development of synapses.

Some of the difficulties caused by this syndrome can be helped with therapy, special education and drugs, but the underlying condition cannot currently be cured. However, gene engineering may at some stage provide a way to restore the expression of the mutated gene and so better regulate the production of FMRP.

Does a mother's anxiety increase her infant's risk of reflux?

A recent Australian study showed that first-born infants of mothers with a mental health problem were nearly five times more likely to be admitted to hospital with reflux. This was especially the case if the mother experienced anxiety.

Dr Kristi Poppi - July 4th 2017

Green et al (2017) have published a 3-year follow-up of their randomized controlled study of an early intervention for infants at familial risk of developing autism. The follow-up shows reduced overall severity of autism prodromal symptoms for those at-risk infants receiving the treatment and enhanced parent-child dyadic social communication over this period.

Geoff Ferguson - February 28^th 2017

We know that institutional deprivation at a very early age can lead to disorders in the child’s neurodevelopment and mental health. What is less clear is how these problems might continue into later life. The latest report¹ from the English and Romanian Adoptees study follows into young adulthood adoptees who experienced severe early global deprivation.

Kristi Poppi - January 17^th 2017

A recent study looked at brain responses to biological motion that may predict treatment outcome in young children with autism

Geoff Ferguson - December 12^th 2016

It is well known that there is a positive correlation between breastfeeding an infant and their intellectual development. What has been less studied are any possible links between breastfeeding and the incidence of autism.

Kristi Poppi - September 20^th 2016

A recent review by Szatmari et al (2016) has looked at the latest research on high risk (HR) infant siblings and highlighted areas that need to be further explored.

Over the last decade there has been a growing interest in the younger siblings of children with autism, as various studies have shown that these siblings are at higher risk of developing this disorder. The aim in studying these HR siblings is to gain a better understanding of the genetic and environmental components of ASD and to discover possible early markers.
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Guest post by Kristi Poppi - June 15^th 2016

Hallam Hurt, a neonatologist in Philadelphia and her colleagues conducted a longitudinal study in order to explore early childhood experience and later brain structure. The researchers published the study in 2010 demonstrating that childhood experience shapes the developing brain.
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Kristi Poppi - May 17^th 2016

A recent article by Dr. Boorady describes anxiety in children and highlights the importance of treating anxiety disorders in young children.

This is the second in a series of posts by consultant paediatrician Dr Denise Challis. Dr Challis specialises in neurodevelopment and neurodisability, and lectures regularly in the UK and abroad. She is the immediate Past President of the Association for Research in Infant and Child Development.

In this series of posts, Dr Challis draws upon over 40 years of experience to provide an introduction to the aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of autism.

These extracts are taken from the recently published book 'Changing Destinies'¹.

In her first post Dr Challis began by describing this disorder. She continues here by discussing diagnosis.

Clinical features

At present it appears that two patterns of presentation of autism are evident. The first occurs in infants who have never demonstrated “normal” eye contact, maternal bonding behaviour, or interpersonal interaction. The second is in toddlers who started well and who might even have developed early language skills but who then started to regress from around thirteen to twenty-four months, before slowly regaining some of their lost skills. Read more