Genetic tests, to help better diagnose Autism

To better understand patient having neurodevelopmental disorder, researcher suggest genetic test.

Autism affects information processing in the brain, by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize. It is still not well understood how it occurs, with symptoms gradually begin after the age of six months. By the age of two or three, become established and tend to continue through adulthood. People having this kind of disorder have impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior.

A highly heritable condition, involving patients who display moderately less attachment security. A new genetic tests, developed to better understand and help diagnose autism. Researchers from Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, found the use of two diagnostic tests may help find the genetic mutations potentially linked to ASD, study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Study author Stephen Scherer, of the Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto said, “Ultimately, what we want to do is subcategorize different forms of autism so we can give specific kinds of treatments.” Regardless of the fact they perform similarly, however, more labs and clinicians are favoring whole-exome sequencing.

“The first thing parents want to know is why autism came about in their kid, and 10 years ago, we couldn’t tell them anything.” “Now, for at least 15 percent [of parents], we can tell them something. That’s really important,” Scherer added.

With new study, several ethical, legal, and social issues emerge. With the commercial availability of tests and adequate understanding of how to use test results, given complexity of autism’s genetics.
University of Missouri reported, using chromosomal microarray analysis and whole-exome sequencing, researchers were able to test children with autism spectrum disorder for elusive genetic mutations.

As of now, there is still no known cure for autism, however, Families and the educational system are the still main resources for treatment. Main goals for treating are to lessen associated deficits and family distress. Including the increase quality of life and functional independence and that treatment is typically tailored to the child’s needs. IMAGE/GETTY

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